Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Illinois educational, guidance, and career counselors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $49,720 and $82,890, with a median of $62,420.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 17 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $55,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 11 | $50,408 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $64,418 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $66,488 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois University | Program Adviser (Academic Advising) | 2 | $49,989 |
| The Principia Corporation | Assistant Registrar | 2 | $48,427 |
| University of Illinois | Assistant Director Graduate & International Programs | 2 | $64,662 |
| Augustana College | Area Coordinator | 1 | $43,888 |
| Board of Trustees, University of Illinois, on behalf of University of Illinois Springfield | Associate Graduate Academic Advisor (Online/Onground) | 1 | $58,000 |
| Chicago Public Schools | School Counselor | 1 | $73,787 |
| Crimson Education USA Inc. | Senior Strategy Consultant | 1 | $66,000 |
| ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY | Program Coordinator for Student Relations | 1 | $50,408 |
| Millikin University | Asst Director of Supplement Instruction & Tutoring Services | 1 | $50,303 |
| North Park University | Senior Academic and Retention Advisor | 1 | $55,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Graduate Academic Advisor (Online/Onground) at Board of Trustees, University of Illinois, on behalf of University of Illinois Springfield$58,000SpringfieldWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726046
- Program Adviser (Academic Advising) at Northern Illinois University$47,278DeKalbWage Level IDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26047-642879
- School Counselor at Chicago Public Schools$73,787ChicagoDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-640947
- Program Coordinator for Student Relations at ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY$50,408NormalWage Level IDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-551864
- Asst Director of Supplement Instruction & Tutoring Services at Millikin University$50,303DecaturWage Level IDecided Jan 8, 2026I-200-25365-519247
- Substitute Registered Behavior Technician at Special Education Services$56,090ChicagoWage Level IDecided Jan 6, 2026I-200-25364-515188
- Assistant Director Graduate & International Programs at University of Illinois$66,488ChampaignWage Level IIIDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-312299
- Senior Academic and Retention Advisor at North Park University$55,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Aug 6, 2025I-200-25211-209610
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.8 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.3 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.2 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Service Orientation
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
- 02
Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
- 03
Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
- 04
Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- 05
Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
- 06
Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
- 07
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- 08
Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+3.5%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for educational, guidance, and career counselors in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$64,730
Compare Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Illinois with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Illinois is $62,420.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors?
- The Illinois median is -7.2% versus the BLS national figure of $67,290.
- What is the salary range for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $44,890 and the 90th-percentile at $110,580, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.5% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.