SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — Durham
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Durham, NC is $58,460 a year, trailing the national median of $64,330 by 9.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Durham, NC is $58,460 a year, trailing the national median of $64,330 by 9.1%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,090 and $65,210. The lowest tenth earn under $37,930, while the highest tenth earn more than $74,270.
The area has 740 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.95 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Raleigh records the highest median at $63,080. Of the 453 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 239th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,930 | −41.0% |
| 25th | $47,090 | −26.8% |
| Median (50th) | $58,460 | −9.1% |
| 75th | $65,210 | +1.4% |
| 90th | $74,270 | +15.5% |
| Mean | $58,220 | −9.5% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh | $63,080 | 1,320 | |
| 2 | Charlotte | $59,530 | 2,070 | |
| 3 | Burlington | $59,190 | 190 | |
| 4 | Fayetteville | $57,580 | 320 | |
| 5 | Pinehurst | $57,160 | 60 | |
| 6 | Goldsboro | $57,000 | 100 | |
| 7 | Greensboro | $56,230 | 660 | |
| 8 | Jacksonville | $55,970 | 120 | |
| 9 | Wilmington | $55,890 | 370 | |
| 10 | Hickory | $55,870 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Durham run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $58,460 goes as far as $61,994 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,994US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,460 a year, 9.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,930 to $74,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 740 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Raleigh, at $63,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Durham, NC?
The median annual wage is $58,460, or $28.10 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 Durham, NC is 9.1% 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 Durham, NC earns more than $74,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,930 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 Raleigh, at $63,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 740 jobs in this occupation in Durham, NC. 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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