State comparison · 2025
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs Tennessee
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In Tennessee, $59,960. After cost-of-living, the gap is 19.8% — not 44.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+44.3%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+19.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $86,500
- p25
- $63,910
- p75
- $119,790
- p10
- $51,890
- p90
- $136,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -68%
Tennessee
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $59,960
- p25
- $48,460
- p75
- $69,820
- p10
- $42,410
- p90
- $84,550
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +300%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.