Best cities for an academic counselor
The best cities for academic counselors are Fresno, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for academic counselors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for academic counselors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an academic counselor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for academic counselors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for academic counselors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an academic counselor. While the absolute best city for academic counselors is Fresno, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for academic counselors in 2024.
If you're looking for an academic counselor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for academic counselors in 2026
1. Fresno, CA
Total academic counselor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $58,455 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 8.74 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total academic counselor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $46,620 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 1.01 3. Oakland, CA
Total academic counselor jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $59,183 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.71 4. Boston, MA
Total academic counselor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $57,594 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.91 5. Saint Paul, MN
Total academic counselor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $49,098 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 2.55 6. San Jose, CA
Total academic counselor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $59,108 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.38 7. Irvine, CA
Total academic counselor jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $56,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 7.76 8. Riverside, CA
Total academic counselor jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $56,963 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 24.55 9. Virginia Beach, VA
Total academic counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,143 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Norfolk, VA
Total academic counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for academic counselors
- Fresno, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Boston, MA
- Saint Paul, MN
- San Jose, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Norfolk, VA
- (3 academic counselor jobs)
- (3 academic counselor jobs)
- (1 academic counselor jobs)
- (4 academic counselor jobs)
- (3 academic counselor jobs)
- (6 academic counselor jobs)
- (13 academic counselor jobs)
- (9 academic counselor jobs)
- (0 academic counselor jobs)
- (0 academic counselor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an academic counselor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $58,455 | $42,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,620 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $59,183 | $42,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $57,594 | $42,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $49,098 | $37,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $59,108 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | 6 |
| 7 | Irvine, CA | $56,999 | $41,000 | 266,122 | 13 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $56,963 | $41,000 | 324,722 | 9 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach, VA | $59,143 | $42,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 10 | Norfolk, VA | $59,032 | $42,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 11 | Chesapeake, VA | $58,867 | $42,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $58,815 | $42,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | $59,244 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $45,151 | $34,000 | 446,970 | 6 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,307 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $59,128 | $42,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $58,880 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $46,156 | $33,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $44,587 | $33,000 | 947,890 | 7 |
| 20 | Jersey City, NJ | $55,933 | $40,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $55,907 | $40,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 22 | Lincoln, NE | $45,152 | $34,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | $41,605 | $31,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 24 | Bakersfield, CA | $57,983 | $42,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $56,619 | $41,000 | 1,406,630 | 4 |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,081 | $37,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $41,586 | $31,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,251 | $33,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $45,199 | $33,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Long Beach, CA | $57,152 | $41,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 31 | Henderson, NV | $45,190 | $33,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 32 | Anaheim, CA | $57,090 | $41,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $45,124 | $33,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $44,708 | $32,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 35 | Santa Ana, CA | $57,048 | $41,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,773 | $33,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 37 | Anchorage, AK | $49,927 | $44,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 38 | Laredo, TX | $44,646 | $33,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 39 | San Antonio, TX | $44,645 | $33,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 40 | Chula Vista, CA | $56,571 | $41,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $39,638 | $29,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 42 | Corpus Christi, TX | $44,537 | $33,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $44,526 | $33,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Houston, TX | $44,440 | $33,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $44,215 | $33,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 46 | Arlington, TX | $44,204 | $33,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 47 | Dallas, TX | $44,171 | $33,000 | 1,317,929 | 1 |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $49,387 | $36,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $44,170 | $33,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | $43,014 | $31,000 | 672,795 | - |
Highest paying cities for academic counselors
| Rank | City | Avg. academic counselor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $59,244 |
| 2 | Westfield, MA | $57,908 |
| 3 | Danville, VA | $57,037 |
| 4 | Livingston, NJ | $55,867 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $50,847 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $50,020 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,620 |
| 8 | Tacoma, WA | $46,121 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $45,526 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $45,151 |
| 11 | Denton, TX | $44,120 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,758 |
| 13 | Eugene, OR | $42,077 |
| 14 | Hattiesburg, MS | $41,848 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,863 |
| 16 | Chapel Hill, NC | $40,055 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $39,638 |
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Updated January 8, 2025