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Best states for a career counselor
Quoted expert
Donna Graham
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for career counselors? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for career counselor jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that New Jersey is the best state in the country for career counselors.
The median salary for career counselors in New Jersey is $54,715. Compare that to the median salary in Oklahoma of $31,088, which ranked worst for career counselors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.New Jersey is the best state, and Atlantic City is the city with the highest pay for career counselors.
10 best states for career counselors in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total career counselor jobs: 350 Average annual salary: $54,715 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
2. Delaware
Total career counselor jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $50,304 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. New York
Total career counselor jobs: 693 Average annual salary: $51,284 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
4. Massachusetts
Total career counselor jobs: 1,037 Average annual salary: $48,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 2.73
5. Pennsylvania
Total career counselor jobs: 607 Average annual salary: $47,635 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
6. California
Total career counselor jobs: 1,380 Average annual salary: $53,322 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
7. District of Columbia
Total career counselor jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $52,512 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
8. North Dakota
Total career counselor jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $49,537 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. Connecticut
Total career counselor jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $46,425 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
10. Virginia
Total career counselor jobs: 309 Average annual salary: $50,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Career counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a career counselor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a career counselor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $54,715 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 350 |
| 2 | Delaware | $50,304 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 62 |
| 3 | New York | $51,284 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 693 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $48,735 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,037 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $47,635 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 607 |
| 6 | California | $53,322 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,380 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $52,512 | $36,000 | 693,972 | 93 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $49,537 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 34 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $46,425 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 223 |
| 10 | Virginia | $50,167 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 309 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $52,331 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 33 |
| 12 | Maryland | $47,996 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 289 |
| 13 | Illinois | $44,392 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 516 |
| 14 | Alaska | $45,197 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 39 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $45,310 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 153 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $44,788 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 236 |
| 17 | Arizona | $41,143 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 352 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $40,946 | $29,000 | 6,715,984 | 197 |
| 19 | Iowa | $41,196 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 135 |
| 20 | Texas | $43,561 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 572 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $43,551 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 53 |
| 22 | Ohio | $41,275 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 236 |
| 23 | Colorado | $41,196 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 275 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $41,539 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 41 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $41,240 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 269 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $40,552 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 62 |
| 27 | Washington | $40,628 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 314 |
| 28 | Michigan | $39,475 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 259 |
| 29 | Vermont | $41,961 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 24 |
| 30 | Nevada | $38,705 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 78 |
| 31 | Georgia | $38,962 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 406 |
| 32 | Alabama | $40,306 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 106 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $36,734 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 28 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $37,542 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 145 |
| 35 | Florida | $37,361 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 787 |
| 36 | Idaho | $37,641 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 61 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $38,447 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 26 |
| 38 | Missouri | $39,068 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 145 |
| 39 | Montana | $33,401 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 73 |
| 40 | Maine | $36,521 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 51 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,477 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 74 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $36,266 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 166 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $32,498 | $25,000 | 1,427,538 | 43 |
| 44 | Oregon | $35,333 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 152 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $35,963 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 57 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $36,200 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 39 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $35,022 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 95 |
| 48 | Kansas | $34,712 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 75 |
| 49 | Indiana | $32,745 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 212 |
| 50 | Utah | $33,693 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 72 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $31,088 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 74 |
Highest paying states for career counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. Career Counselor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $54,715 |
| 2 | Delaware | $50,304 |
| 3 | New York | $51,284 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $48,735 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $47,635 |
| 6 | California | $53,322 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $52,512 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $49,537 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $46,425 |
| 10 | Virginia | $50,167 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $52,331 |
| 12 | Maryland | $47,996 |
| 13 | Illinois | $44,392 |
| 14 | Alaska | $45,197 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $45,310 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $44,788 |
| 17 | Arizona | $41,143 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $40,946 |
| 19 | Iowa | $41,196 |
| 20 | Texas | $43,561 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $43,551 |
| 22 | Ohio | $41,275 |
| 23 | Colorado | $41,196 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $41,539 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $41,240 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $40,552 |
| 27 | Washington | $40,628 |
| 28 | Michigan | $39,475 |
| 29 | Vermont | $41,961 |
| 30 | Nevada | $38,705 |
| 31 | Georgia | $38,962 |
| 32 | Alabama | $40,306 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $36,734 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $37,542 |
| 35 | Florida | $37,361 |
| 36 | Idaho | $37,641 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $38,447 |
| 38 | Missouri | $39,068 |
| 39 | Montana | $33,401 |
| 40 | Maine | $36,521 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,477 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $36,266 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $32,498 |
| 44 | Oregon | $35,333 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $35,963 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $36,200 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $35,022 |
| 48 | Kansas | $34,712 |
| 49 | Indiana | $32,745 |
| 50 | Utah | $33,693 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $31,088 |
Expert opinions on the best states for career counselors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for career counselors to find work opportunities?
Donna Graham
Project/Program Specialist, University of Arkansas
Working for the University of Arkansas, I would be remiss if I did not respond with Northwest Arkansas as my answer. Agriculture is the largest industry in Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas is fortunate to have leading companies like Tyson Foods, Simmons Foods, and George’s Inc. in our backyard.
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Updated January 8, 2025