SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — Lexington
Lexington-Fayette, KY · 5 metro areas compared
At $65,230, median pay for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Lexington, KY tracks the national median of $64,330 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $65,230, median pay for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Lexington, KY tracks the national median of $64,330 closely. Pay ranges from under $44,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $89,160 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $55,490 to $76,850.
The area has 830 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.27 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Elizabethtown records the highest median at $82,770. Of the 469 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 183rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,180 | −31.3% |
| 25th | $55,490 | −13.7% |
| Median (50th) | $65,230 | +1.4% |
| 75th | $76,850 | +19.5% |
| 90th | $89,160 | +38.6% |
| Mean | $65,770 | +2.2% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabethtown | $82,770 | 100 | |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $72,910 | 1,510 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $65,310 | 220 | |
| 4 | Paducah | $64,350 | 70 | |
| 5 | Owensboro | $60,970 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lexington run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $65,230 goes as far as $72,317 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$65,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,317US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $65,230 a year, 1.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,180 to $89,160 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 830 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elizabethtown, at $82,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Lexington, KY?
The median annual wage is $65,230, or $31.36 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 Lexington, KY is 1.4% 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 Lexington, KY earns more than $89,160 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,180 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 Elizabethtown, at $82,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 830 jobs in this occupation in Lexington, KY. 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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