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DATA PROFILE · 2024

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary in North Carolina

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$57,100
Mean annual$56,920
Range (10th to 90th)$38,580 to $74,840
North Carolina employment9,630
State vs national-16.1% vs national

Salary distribution

Where North Carolina educational, guidance, and career counselors fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$38,58025TH$46,380MEDIAN$57,10075TH$64,16090TH$74,840

The middle 50% of workers earn between $46,380 and $64,160, with a median of $57,100.

Real disclosed salaries

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $54,321. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry4$43,784
Level II — qualified1$60,000
Level III — experienced2$71,126
Level IV — fully competent1$70,000

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
North Carolina State UniversityAcademic Advisor2$69,598
McDowell Technical Community CollegeCollege & Career Readiness Instructor1$44,138
Triad Math and Science Academy Co.College Advisor1$70,000
Temple University--A Commonwealth UniversityEducation Abroad Program Manager1$55,141
Catawba CollegeAdmissions Counselor1$43,888
NEW MIND EDUCATION, LLCProgram Coordinator1$42,500
Triangle Accounting Inc.Educational Counselor1$43,680
InGenius LLCAcademic Progress Specialist1$56,555
Chowan UniversityDirector of Business and Industry Partnerships for Education1$60,000

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Academic Advisor at North Carolina State University
    $53,500
    RaleighDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-450961
  • College & Career Readiness Instructor at McDowell Technical Community College
    $44,138
    McDowellWage Level IDecided Jul 9, 2025I-200-25182-144642
  • College Advisor at Triad Math and Science Academy Co.
    $70,000
    ConcordWage Level IVDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-079326
  • Education Abroad Program Manager at Temple University--A Commonwealth University
    $55,141
    DurhamDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-033862
  • Admissions Counselor at Catawba College
    $43,888
    SalisburyWage Level IDecided Jun 3, 2025I-200-25148-022438
  • Program Coordinator at NEW MIND EDUCATION, LLC
    $42,500
    RaleighWage Level IDecided May 22, 2025I-200-25135-983121
  • Educational Counselor at Triangle Accounting Inc.
    $43,680
    CaryWage Level IDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25113-896982
  • Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at North Carolina State University
    $85,696
    RaleighWage Level IIIDecided Feb 26, 2025I-200-25050-707706

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.

By seniority

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors pay by experience level in North Carolina

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.

Pay by industry

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in North Carolina, by industry

Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $55,141.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
EducationNorth Carolina State University9$55,141
Professional servicesTriangle Accounting Inc.1$43,680

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in North Carolina over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, North Carolina2023 to 2024
$51,9202023$57,1002024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Master's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Therapy and Counseling

    Knowledge

    4.8 / 5
  • Active Listening

    Basic skill

    4.4 / 5
  • Social Perceptiveness

    Technical

    4.3 / 5
  • Speaking

    Basic skill

    4.3 / 5
  • Oral Expression

    Ability

    4.3 / 5
  • Psychology

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Reading Comprehension

    Basic skill

    4.1 / 5
  • Service Orientation

    Technical

    4.1 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.

  2. 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.

  3. 03

    Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.

  4. 04

    Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.

  5. 05

    Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.

  6. 06

    Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.

  7. 07

    Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in North Carolina

Metro-level salary data for educational, guidance, and career counselors in major North Carolina metropolitan areas.

Compare Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in North Carolina?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in North Carolina is $57,100.
How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors?
The North Carolina median is -16.1% versus the BLS national figure of $68,023.
What is the salary range for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in North Carolina?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $38,580 and the 90th-percentile at $74,840, 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.
Disclaimer

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.