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Academic guidance specialist salary
Average academic guidance specialist salary
$50,630
Average Academic Guidance Specialist Salary
The average salary for an Academic Guidance Specialist in the United States is $50,630 annually. This figure represents the baseline for various positions within educational institutions, and salaries can fluctuate based on several factors. Notably, experience level plays a significant role in determining pay scale.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level specialists may start at around $40,000, whereas those with more experience can earn upwards of $60,000 annually. This progression highlights the importance of continued professional development and acquiring additional certifications.
State-Specific Salaries
Geographical location significantly impacts salary levels. States like California and New York tend to offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for educational services. Conversely, regions with lower living costs generally present lower salary figures.
Conclusion
For individuals seeking a rewarding career in education, becoming an Academic Guidance Specialist presents numerous opportunities. Understanding the salary landscape can help prospective employees make informed decisions about their career paths.
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Where can an Academic Guidance Specialist earn more?
Academic guidance specialist salaries by experience level
Average academic guidance specialist salary by state
The average academic guidance specialist salary in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average academic guidance specialist salary states are Maine, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for academic guidance specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $70,685 | $33.98 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $63,623 | $30.59 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $59,339 | $28.53 |
| 4 | Virginia | $59,947 | $28.82 |
| 5 | Delaware | $55,596 | $26.73 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $54,923 | $26.41 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $59,975 | $28.83 |
| 8 | Maryland | $59,456 | $28.58 |
| 9 | Ohio | $54,628 | $26.26 |
| 10 | New York | $53,415 | $25.68 |
| 11 | Illinois | $51,188 | $24.61 |
| 12 | Washington | $52,485 | $25.23 |
| 13 | Michigan | $51,900 | $24.95 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $55,384 | $26.63 |
| 15 | Texas | $48,878 | $23.50 |
| 16 | California | $56,529 | $27.18 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $50,494 | $24.28 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $46,564 | $22.39 |
| 19 | Alaska | $45,442 | $21.85 |
| 20 | Indiana | $45,025 | $21.65 |
| 21 | Nevada | $51,519 | $24.77 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $47,908 | $23.03 |
| 24 | Kansas | $48,705 | $23.42 |
| 25 | Iowa | $43,854 | $21.08 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $46,732 | $22.47 |
| 27 | Oregon | $49,246 | $23.68 |
| 28 | Utah | $41,342 | $19.88 |
| 29 | Arizona | $41,743 | $20.07 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $39,697 | $19.09 |
| 31 | Vermont | $48,159 | $23.15 |
| 32 | Colorado | $43,327 | $20.83 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $43,106 | $20.72 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $44,604 | $21.44 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $42,585 | $20.47 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $44,115 | $21.21 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $42,349 | $20.36 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $41,062 | $19.74 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $44,773 | $21.53 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| 41 | Florida | $42,227 | $20.30 |
| 42 | Montana | $36,047 | $17.33 |
| 43 | Maine | $38,201 | $18.37 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $38,683 | $18.60 |
| 45 | Georgia | $41,061 | $19.74 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $30,211 | $14.52 |
| 47 | Alabama | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| 48 | Idaho | $32,558 | $15.65 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $39,099 | $18.80 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $37,154 | $17.86 |
| 51 | Missouri | $36,346 | $17.47 |
Highest paying cities for academic guidance specialists
The highest-paying cities for academic guidance specialists are Washington, DC, Boston, MA, and Fredericksburg, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $70,673 | $33.98 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| 3 | Fredericksburg, VA | $60,293 | $28.99 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $59,602 | $28.65 |
| 5 | Danbury, CT | $59,396 | $28.56 |
| 6 | Santa Barbara, CA | $56,372 | $27.10 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $53,819 | $25.87 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $52,892 | $25.43 |
| 9 | Redford, MI | $52,250 | $25.12 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $51,559 | $24.79 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,266 | $24.65 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $49,450 | $23.77 |
| 13 | Bloomington, IN | $43,899 | $21.11 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $42,080 | $20.23 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $41,014 | $19.72 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,381 | $17.97 |
Academic guidance specialist salary details
An academic guidance specialist's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an academic guidance specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $50,630 | $4,219 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying academic guidance specialist jobs
The highest paying types of academic guidance specialists are education consultant, admissions advisor, and evaluator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Coach | $37,372 | $3,114 | $17.97 | 49,874 |
| School Counselor | $49,904 | $4,159 | $23.99 | 91,275 |
| College Program Internship | $34,803 | $2,900 | $16.73 | 104,939 |
| Student Representative | $40,373 | $3,364 | $19.41 | 10,038 |
| Evaluator | $50,338 | $4,195 | $24.20 | 1,601 |
| School Counseling Internship | $38,525 | $3,210 | $18.52 | 69,348 |
Top companies hiring academic guidance specialists now:
Which companies pay academic guidance specialists the most?
Academic guidance specialist salaries at Michigan State University and University of California are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average academic guidance specialist salary at companies like West Hills College Lemoore and Harlem Children's Zone are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University | $72,716 | $34.96 |
| 2 | University of California | $67,805 | $32.60 |
| 3 | West Hills College Lemoore | $66,781 | $32.11 |
| 4 | Harlem Children's Zone | $65,588 | $31.53 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $61,559 | $29.60 |
| 6 | Northeastern University | $59,851 | $28.77 |
| 7 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $58,598 | $28.17 |
| 8 | University of Connecticut | $57,855 | $27.81 |
| 9 | Distinctive Schools | $54,935 | $26.41 |
| 10 | 2U | $54,765 | $26.33 |
| 11 | KIPP DC | $53,602 | $25.77 |
| 12 | KIPP Memphis Public Schools | $52,561 | $25.27 |
| 13 | UCLA | $50,153 | $24.11 |
| 14 | Arizona State University | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| 15 | InGenius Prep | $49,103 | $23.61 |
| 16 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $48,418 | $23.28 |
| 17 | Shalom Austin JCC | $46,318 | $22.27 |
| 18 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $45,283 | $21.77 |
| 19 | The Medicus Firm | $45,237 | $21.75 |
| 20 | Indiana University Bloomington | $45,070 | $21.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Academic guidance specialist salary trends
The average academic guidance specialist salary has risen by $3,476 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average academic guidance specialist earned $47,154 annually, but today, they earn $50,630 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for academic guidance specialists over the last decade.
Compare academic guidance specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average academic guidance specialist salary over time
Compare academic guidance specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Academic guidance specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,600 | $24.34 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $49,700 | $23.89 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $49,100 | $23.58 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $48,300 | $23.21 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $47,500 | $22.85 | +1.6% |
Recently added academic guidance specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University | Academic Preparation Advising Specialist (Student Services Professional III) | Fullerton, CA | 06/21/2025 | $66,480 |
| CSU Careers | Academic Preparation Advising Specialist (Student Services Professional III) | Fullerton, CA | 06/21/2025 | $66,480 |
| CSUF | Academic Preparation Advising Specialist (Student Services Professional III) | Fullerton, CA | 06/21/2025 | $66,480 |
| Penn State University | Academic Advising Specialist | Parkesburg, PA | 06/20/2025 | $56,200 |
| Amergis | Merrill-Academic Interventionalist | Beloit, WI | 06/18/2025 | $83,480 |
| Lansing School District | High School Academic Interventionist (ELA Certified) | Lansing, MI | 06/15/2025 | $46,942 |
| University of Rhode Island | Specialist, Academic Success (Arts and Sciences) | Kingston, RI | 06/13/2025 | $57,155 |
| Iowa Valley Community College District | Academic Advising Specialist | Marshalltown, IA | 06/13/2025 | $43,500 |
| Spring Lake Park School District 16 | Academic Specialist-Spanish Immersion | Nore, MN | 06/12/2025 | $50,076 |
| Minnesota Service Cooperatives | Academic Specialist-Spanish Immersion | Nore, MN | 06/11/2025 | $50,076 |
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