Best cities for a guidance counselor
The best cities for guidance counselors are San Francisco, CA, Anaheim, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for guidance counselors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for guidance counselors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a guidance counselor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for guidance counselors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for guidance counselors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a guidance counselor. While the absolute best city for guidance counselors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for guidance counselors in 2024.
If you're looking for a guidance counselor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for guidance counselors in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $63,036 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 1.90 2. Anaheim, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $60,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 10.73 3. Los Angeles, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $61,232 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 2.22 4. Oakland, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,955 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. San Jose, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,900 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,515 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Sacramento, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,364 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Fresno, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,165 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Bakersfield, CA
Total guidance counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for guidance counselors
- San Francisco, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a guidance counselor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $63,036 | $45,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 2 | Anaheim, CA | $60,998 | $45,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,232 | $45,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $62,955 | $45,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $62,902 | $45,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $62,900 | $45,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $62,515 | $45,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $62,364 | $45,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $62,165 | $45,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $61,746 | $45,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 11 | Long Beach, CA | $61,063 | $45,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $50,447 | $37,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $49,519 | $37,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 14 | Lubbock, TX | $49,362 | $36,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $49,321 | $36,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 16 | Santa Ana, CA | $60,950 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $49,668 | $37,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 18 | Irvine, CA | $60,893 | $45,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 19 | Laredo, TX | $49,667 | $37,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 20 | Riverside, CA | $60,851 | $45,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $49,419 | $37,000 | 302,398 | 5 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,706 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $49,092 | $36,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 24 | Corpus Christi, TX | $49,411 | $37,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 25 | Arlington, TX | $49,084 | $36,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $49,047 | $36,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 27 | Irving, TX | $49,041 | $36,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 28 | Garland, TX | $48,999 | $36,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 29 | Plano, TX | $48,974 | $36,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $60,429 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 31 | Chula Vista, CA | $60,384 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $55,636 | $40,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $54,801 | $39,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $44,164 | $32,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 35 | Baltimore, MD | $55,331 | $40,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,395 | $37,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $46,254 | $34,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 38 | Newark, NJ | $55,594 | $40,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 39 | Durham, NC | $46,232 | $34,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $46,043 | $34,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 41 | Nashville, TN | $42,364 | $31,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 42 | Charlotte, NC | $45,981 | $34,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 43 | Tucson, AZ | $45,499 | $34,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | $45,971 | $34,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 45 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,783 | $33,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $50,734 | $36,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 47 | Lincoln, NE | $44,981 | $33,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 48 | Norfolk, VA | $50,642 | $36,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 49 | Chesapeake, VA | $50,505 | $36,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 50 | Omaha, NE | $44,856 | $33,000 | 446,970 | - |
Highest paying cities for guidance counselors
| Rank | City | Avg. guidance counselor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $63,036 |
| 2 | Danbury, CT | $57,307 |
| 3 | Hamilton, NJ | $55,563 |
| 4 | Silver Spring, MD | $54,939 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $54,768 |
| 6 | Manassas, VA | $51,408 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $50,846 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $49,519 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,706 |
| 10 | Corvallis, OR | $45,552 |
| 11 | Santa Fe, NM | $44,306 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $44,164 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $41,458 |
| 14 | Nashua, NH | $40,919 |
| 15 | Saint Charles, MO | $39,497 |
| 16 | Providence, RI | $38,827 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $38,797 |
| 18 | Findlay, OH | $37,671 |
| 19 | Edmond, OK | $33,189 |
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Updated January 8, 2025