SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 10 metro areas compared
At $63,020, median pay for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Birmingham, AL tracks the national median of $64,330 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $63,020, median pay for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Birmingham, AL tracks the national median of $64,330 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,460 and $75,440. The lowest tenth earn under $37,670, while the highest tenth earn more than $80,610.
Employment stands at 870, or 1.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Decatur leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $72,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 187th of 489 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,670 | −41.4% |
| 25th | $47,460 | −26.2% |
| Median (50th) | $63,020 | −2.0% |
| 75th | $75,440 | +17.3% |
| 90th | $80,610 | +25.3% |
| Mean | $62,830 | −2.3% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $72,380 | 80 | |
| 2 | Daphne | $62,740 | 170 | |
| 3 | Auburn | $62,270 | 310 | |
| 4 | Huntsville | $61,070 | 430 | |
| 5 | Dothan | $59,070 | 100 | |
| 6 | Florence | $58,250 | 140 | |
| 7 | Mobile | $57,800 | 350 | |
| 8 | Montgomery | $56,840 | 360 | |
| 9 | Gadsden | $56,140 | 80 | |
| 10 | Anniston | $53,840 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Birmingham run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $63,020 goes as far as $70,968 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,020as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,968US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,020 a year, 2.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,670 to $80,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 870 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Decatur, at $72,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Birmingham, AL?
The median annual wage is $63,020, or $30.30 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $64,330, so pay in Birmingham, AL is 2.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Birmingham, AL earns more than $80,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,670 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Decatur, at $72,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 870 jobs in this occupation in Birmingham, AL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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