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State comparison · 2025

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs West Virginia

Occupation

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In West Virginia, $55,520. After cost-of-living, the gap is 26% — not 55.8%.

Nominal pay gap
+55.8%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+26%
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%
See full breakdown for California

West Virginia

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors

Median
$55,520
p25
$44,700
p75
$62,220
p10
$37,940
p90
$73,090
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
89.5
See full breakdown for West Virginia

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.