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Best states for a career advisor
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Career Advisors of the CEAE
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Career advisor opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for career advisors, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for career advisors.As career advisors are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for career advisors. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a career advisor, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
In order to get you the best states for career advisors, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a career advisor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for career advisors in 2026
1. California
Total career advisor jobs: 1,779 Average annual salary: $52,548 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
2. Nevada
Total career advisor jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $41,489 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. Virginia
Total career advisor jobs: 532 Average annual salary: $45,038 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
4. Texas
Total career advisor jobs: 1,201 Average annual salary: $40,997 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. District of Columbia
Total career advisor jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $44,450 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
6. Massachusetts
Total career advisor jobs: 351 Average annual salary: $46,790 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
7. Nebraska
Total career advisor jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $40,594 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
8. Maryland
Total career advisor jobs: 302 Average annual salary: $43,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. Washington
Total career advisor jobs: 333 Average annual salary: $42,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
10. Arizona
Total career advisor jobs: 426 Average annual salary: $37,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
Career advisor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a career advisor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a career advisor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $52,548 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,779 |
| 2 | Nevada | $41,489 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 131 |
| 3 | Virginia | $45,038 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 532 |
| 4 | Texas | $40,997 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,201 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $44,450 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 146 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $46,790 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 351 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $40,594 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 98 |
| 8 | Maryland | $43,228 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 302 |
| 9 | Washington | $42,188 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 333 |
| 10 | Arizona | $37,944 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 426 |
| 11 | Georgia | $41,248 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 396 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $38,307 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 364 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $37,884 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 310 |
| 14 | Alaska | $40,416 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 49 |
| 15 | Missouri | $37,887 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 368 |
| 16 | Colorado | $38,350 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 378 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $35,339 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 66 |
| 18 | Alabama | $38,170 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 216 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $41,758 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 355 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $38,129 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 532 |
| 21 | Florida | $38,536 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 973 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $37,747 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 91 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $37,569 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 167 |
| 24 | New York | $39,570 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 670 |
| 25 | Iowa | $38,152 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 141 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $35,757 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 443 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $37,785 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 55 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $38,410 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 140 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $33,615 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 96 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $37,076 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 15 |
| 31 | Utah | $33,783 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 313 |
| 32 | Ohio | $35,619 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 382 |
| 33 | Delaware | $36,088 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 67 |
| 34 | Vermont | $35,470 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 33 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $35,367 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 409 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $32,884 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 552 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $33,199 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 82 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $35,566 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 9 |
| 39 | Oregon | $35,735 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 159 |
| 40 | Montana | $35,099 | $29,000 | 1,050,493 | 6 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $32,961 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 106 |
| 42 | Kansas | $34,533 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 9 |
| 43 | Illinois | $33,011 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 685 |
| 44 | Maine | $32,247 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 70 |
| 45 | Michigan | $31,903 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 458 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $31,793 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 48 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $32,087 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 144 |
| 48 | Idaho | $31,853 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 68 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $31,585 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 77 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $29,608 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 48 |
| 51 | Indiana | $30,296 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 249 |
Highest paying states for career advisors
| Rank | State | Avg. Career Advisor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $52,548 |
| 2 | Nevada | $41,489 |
| 3 | Virginia | $45,038 |
| 4 | Texas | $40,997 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $44,450 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $46,790 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $40,594 |
| 8 | Maryland | $43,228 |
| 9 | Washington | $42,188 |
| 10 | Arizona | $37,944 |
| 11 | Georgia | $41,248 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $38,307 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $37,884 |
| 14 | Alaska | $40,416 |
| 15 | Missouri | $37,887 |
| 16 | Colorado | $38,350 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $35,339 |
| 18 | Alabama | $38,170 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $41,758 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $38,129 |
| 21 | Florida | $38,536 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $37,747 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $37,569 |
| 24 | New York | $39,570 |
| 25 | Iowa | $38,152 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $35,757 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $37,785 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $38,410 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $33,615 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $37,076 |
| 31 | Utah | $33,783 |
| 32 | Ohio | $35,619 |
| 33 | Delaware | $36,088 |
| 34 | Vermont | $35,470 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $35,367 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $32,884 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $33,199 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $35,566 |
| 39 | Oregon | $35,735 |
| 40 | Montana | $35,099 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $32,961 |
| 42 | Kansas | $34,533 |
| 43 | Illinois | $33,011 |
| 44 | Maine | $32,247 |
| 45 | Michigan | $31,903 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $31,793 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $32,087 |
| 48 | Idaho | $31,853 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $31,585 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $29,608 |
| 51 | Indiana | $30,296 |
Expert opinions on the best states for career advisors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for career advisors to find work opportunities?
Career Advisors of the CEAE
Research what cities are ranked high for a strong and growing job market and don’t limit yourself to a specific location. Be creative and don’t rely on one or two sources in your search. Use the many online job search and research tools that are available. Networking is one of the most powerful tools to discover advertised – as well as unadvertised – opportunities. Use the capabilities of LinkedIn to connect with alumni and to develop and strengthen your brand! Don’t dismiss social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok that are often used for entertainment and other purposes. You may find opportunities here as well.
Career advisor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025