Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Iowa. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Iowa 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 $48,310 and $65,820, with a median of $56,540.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Iowa: 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: $46,675. 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 | 12 | $45,876 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $46,675 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Iowa | Residence Hall Life Administration Coordinator | 4 | $53,518 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Residence Life Coordinator | 4 | $45,000 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Program Specialist for Student Innovation and Leadership | 2 | $50,876 |
| Northwestern College | Graduate Enrollment Specialist | 2 | $44,990 |
| Des Moines Independent Community School District | School Counselor | 1 | $59,669 |
| Kirkwood Community College | Study Abroad Advisor | 1 | $69,210 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Information Technology Program and Enrollment Management Spe | 1 | $39,957 |
| Upper Iowa University | Assistant Director International Admissions | 1 | $46,675 |
| William Penn University | At-Risk Student Advisor and Mentor | 1 | $41,787 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Residence Hall Life Administration Coordinator at The University of Iowa$53,518Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-698180
- Graduate Enrollment Specialist at Northwestern College$44,990Orange CityWage Level IDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-572272
- Residence Hall Coordinator at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$46,752AmesWage Level IDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-572283
- Residence Life Coordinator at University of Northern Iowa$45,000Cedar FallsWage Level IDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-567046
- International Admissions Counselor at University of Northern Iowa$43,888Cedar FallsWage Level IDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-567050
- Residence Life Coordinator at University of Northern Iowa$45,000Cedar FallsWage Level IDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-567048
- Residence Hall Life Educational Coordinator at The University of Iowa$53,518Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Jan 7, 2026I-200-25365-518044
- At-Risk Student Advisor and Mentor at William Penn University$41,787OskaloosaWage Level IDecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25317-405902
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 Iowa
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.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Residence Hall Life Administration Coordinator at a median of $53,518.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Hall Life Administration Coordinator | The University of Iowa | 3 | $53,518 |
| Residence Life Coordinator | University of Northern Iowa | 3 | $45,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Iowa 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Iowa is $56,540.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors?
- The Iowa median is -16.0% versus the BLS national figure of $67,290.
- What is the salary range for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $43,470 and the 90th-percentile at $77,110, 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.