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Best states for a college counselor
Quoted expert
Mariah Stopplecamp
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like college counselors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for college counselors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for college counselors.
The median salary for college counselors in New York is $54,855. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $29,374, which ranked worst for college counselors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.New York is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for college counselors.
10 best states for college counselors in 2026
1. New York
Total college counselor jobs: 869 Average annual salary: $54,855 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
2. Connecticut
Total college counselor jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $53,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
3. California
Total college counselor jobs: 1,227 Average annual salary: $59,835 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
4. District of Columbia
Total college counselor jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $57,938 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
5. Pennsylvania
Total college counselor jobs: 682 Average annual salary: $47,072 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
6. Washington
Total college counselor jobs: 330 Average annual salary: $52,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. New Jersey
Total college counselor jobs: 377 Average annual salary: $52,430 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
8. Massachusetts
Total college counselor jobs: 305 Average annual salary: $57,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
9. Nevada
Total college counselor jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $49,248 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
10. Rhode Island
Total college counselor jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $50,508 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
College counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a college counselor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a college counselor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $54,855 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 869 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $53,323 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 224 |
| 3 | California | $59,835 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,227 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $57,938 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 88 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $47,072 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 682 |
| 6 | Washington | $52,003 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 330 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $52,430 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 377 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $57,413 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 305 |
| 9 | Nevada | $49,248 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 82 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $50,508 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 38 |
| 11 | Delaware | $46,893 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 64 |
| 12 | Maryland | $49,106 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 290 |
| 13 | Oregon | $46,842 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 179 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $45,076 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 86 |
| 15 | Vermont | $47,065 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 29 |
| 16 | Ohio | $46,137 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 272 |
| 17 | Texas | $45,842 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 630 |
| 18 | Kansas | $45,286 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 78 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $42,977 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 170 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $43,979 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 63 |
| 21 | Alaska | $41,626 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 48 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $43,321 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 153 |
| 23 | Michigan | $41,840 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 269 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $45,785 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 35 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $39,021 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 32 |
| 26 | Illinois | $41,587 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 482 |
| 27 | Iowa | $40,579 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 138 |
| 28 | Virginia | $43,861 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 319 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $39,319 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 150 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $39,512 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 39 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $41,197 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 237 |
| 32 | Arizona | $38,214 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 317 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $38,263 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 226 |
| 34 | Colorado | $39,173 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 285 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $40,280 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 72 |
| 36 | Montana | $37,056 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 78 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $38,636 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 41 |
| 38 | Maine | $37,631 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 56 |
| 39 | Utah | $40,554 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 74 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $38,395 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 63 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $38,921 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 56 |
| 42 | Florida | $34,835 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 786 |
| 43 | Georgia | $36,017 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 395 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,214 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 195 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $36,984 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 250 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $34,099 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 108 |
| 47 | Idaho | $32,670 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 62 |
| 48 | Alabama | $34,641 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 106 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $34,326 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 77 |
| 50 | Missouri | $33,357 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 146 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $29,374 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 28 |
Highest paying states for college counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. College Counselor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $54,855 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $53,323 |
| 3 | California | $59,835 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $57,938 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $47,072 |
| 6 | Washington | $52,003 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $52,430 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $57,413 |
| 9 | Nevada | $49,248 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $50,508 |
| 11 | Delaware | $46,893 |
| 12 | Maryland | $49,106 |
| 13 | Oregon | $46,842 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $45,076 |
| 15 | Vermont | $47,065 |
| 16 | Ohio | $46,137 |
| 17 | Texas | $45,842 |
| 18 | Kansas | $45,286 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $42,977 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $43,979 |
| 21 | Alaska | $41,626 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $43,321 |
| 23 | Michigan | $41,840 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $45,785 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $39,021 |
| 26 | Illinois | $41,587 |
| 27 | Iowa | $40,579 |
| 28 | Virginia | $43,861 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $39,319 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $39,512 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $41,197 |
| 32 | Arizona | $38,214 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $38,263 |
| 34 | Colorado | $39,173 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $40,280 |
| 36 | Montana | $37,056 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $38,636 |
| 38 | Maine | $37,631 |
| 39 | Utah | $40,554 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $38,395 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $38,921 |
| 42 | Florida | $34,835 |
| 43 | Georgia | $36,017 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,214 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $36,984 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $34,099 |
| 47 | Idaho | $32,670 |
| 48 | Alabama | $34,641 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $34,326 |
| 50 | Missouri | $33,357 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $29,374 |
Expert opinions on the best states for college counselors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for college counselors to find work opportunities?
Mariah Stopplecamp
Coordinator, Montana State University
Right now, we see companies in larger metropolitan areas being the hubs of employment for recent grads. These are the companies that are large enough to survive the fiscal challenges that COVID has provided. These larger metro areas are working remotely, currently, and are providing recent grads the flexibility to stay located where they are.
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Updated January 8, 2025