Salary distribution
Where Virginia 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 $54,070 and $81,640, with a median of $67,350.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 13 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $52,079. 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 | 10 | $52,040 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $79,522 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Coordinator for ExperienceVT | 4 | $51,040 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Career Counselor, Human Services | 2 | $45,000 |
| The University of Virginia | Learning Skills Specialist | 2 | $76,428 |
| Portsmouth Public Schools | School Counselor | 1 | $60,564 |
| Hampton University | Assistant Director, Athletic Academic Support. | 1 | $40,000 |
| Clarewood University, Inc. | Student Academic Advisor | 1 | $52,000 |
| James Madison University | Global Ambassador | 1 | $66,188 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Counselor | 1 | $53,064 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Career Counselor, Human Services at Virginia Commonwealth University$45,000RichmondWage Level IDecided Jul 28, 2025I-200-25202-187706
- School Counselor at Portsmouth Public Schools$60,564PortsmouthWage Level IDecided Jul 21, 2025I-200-25195-173411
- Learning Skills Specialist at The University of Virginia$92,856CharlottesvilleWage Level IIDecided Jul 3, 2025I-200-25177-130429
- Coordinator for ExperienceVT at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$52,079BlacksburgWage Level IDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-096540
- Assistant Director, Athletic Academic Support. at Hampton University$40,000HamptonDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-086138
- Undergraduate Career Advisor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$58,000BlacksburgWage Level IDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25157-063113
- Student Academic Advisor at Clarewood University, Inc.$52,000RestonWage Level IDecided May 16, 2025I-200-25129-959046
- Project Associate at The University of Virginia$60,000CharlottesvilleWage Level IDecided Apr 23, 2025I-200-25106-872595
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.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors pay by experience level in Virginia
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 Virginia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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 Virginia
Metro-level salary data for educational, guidance, and career counselors in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$68,630
- Virginia Beach$66,520
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 Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Virginia is $67,350.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors?
- The Virginia median is -1.0% versus the BLS national figure of $68,023.
- What is the salary range for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $43,120 and the 90th-percentile at $99,910, 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.