School and career counselors and advisors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
School and career counselors and advisors in the United States earn a median salary of $64,330 per year — about $31 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 376K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is a mix of high-touch interpersonal work and digital information processing. AI can significantly automate the 'hard' data tasks like analyzing student performance trends, matching aptitudes to career paths, and drafting résumés, but the core functions of emotional support, crisis intervention (reporting abuse), and navigating complex human relationships in a school setting provide a strong buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CABEST VALUE | $141,760 | Below avg (95.2) | $148,948 |
| Grand Island, NE | $109,480 | Below avg (86.7) | $126,337 |
| Odessa, TX | $101,810 | Below avg (93.9) | $108,428 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $86,520 | Below avg (83.8) | $103,240 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $87,940 | Below avg (85.9) | $102,432 |
| Yakima, WA | $96,370 | Below avg (95.5) | $100,863 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,280 | Average (102.2) | $99,141 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $100,390 | Average (101.6) | $98,797 |
| Yuba City, CA | $101,350 | Above avg (104.2) | $97,234 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $102,650 | Above avg (105.6) | $97,200 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,720 | Average (99.8) | $96,890 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,700 | Average (100.9) | $96,842 |
| Chico, CA | $96,080 | Average (101.2) | $94,944 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,930 | Above avg (106.7) | $94,619 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $96,780 | Average (102.4) | $94,472 |