SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — Boston
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · 5 metro areas compared
In Boston, MA the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors reaches $80,760 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Boston, MA the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors reaches $80,760 a year. That is 25.5% more than the national median of $64,330. Pay ranges from under $60,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $122,910 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $66,280 to $102,500.
Employment stands at 8,170, or 3.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Barnstable Town records the highest median at $80,820. Of the 687 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 271st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,390 | −6.1% |
| 25th | $66,280 | +3.0% |
| Median (50th) | $80,760 | +25.5% |
| 75th | $102,500 | +59.3% |
| 90th | $122,910 | +91.1% |
| Mean | $87,320 | +35.7% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town | $80,820 | 250 | |
| 2 | Springfield | $78,870 | 720 | |
| 3 | Worcester | $78,040 | 1,170 | |
| 4 | Pittsfield | $75,630 | 180 | |
| 5 | Amherst Town | $67,180 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boston run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $80,760 buys what $76,333 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,760as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,333US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,760 a year, 25.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,390 to $122,910 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 8,170 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Barnstable Town, at $80,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $80,760, or $38.83 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 Boston, MA is 25.5% higher. 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 Boston, MA earns more than $122,910 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,390 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 Barnstable Town, at $80,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 8,170 jobs in this occupation in Boston, MA. 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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