SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — Washington
Washington · 10 metro areas compared
At $82,670 a year, the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Washington sits 28.5% above the national figure of $64,330.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $82,670 a year, the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Washington sits 28.5% above the national figure of $64,330. Half of workers earn between $65,470 and $104,690. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $57,980 and the ninetieth at $125,950.
The area has 6,610 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.82 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Washington ranks 3rd by median wage. Bremerton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $102,650. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 280th of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,980 | −9.9% |
| 25th | $65,470 | +1.8% |
| Median (50th) | $82,670 | +28.5% |
| 75th | $104,690 | +62.7% |
| 90th | $125,950 | +95.8% |
| Mean | $87,680 | +36.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton | $102,650 | 150 | |
| 2 | Mount Vernon | $96,780 | 90 | |
| 3 | Yakima | $96,370 | 230 | |
| 4 | Kennewick | $88,900 | 260 | |
| 5 | Seattle | $87,280 | 3,570 | |
| 6 | Olympia | $83,050 | 220 | |
| 7 | Wenatchee | $82,300 | 80 | |
| 8 | Longview | $78,490 | 90 | |
| 9 | Spokane | $75,990 | 540 | |
| 10 | Bellingham | $69,800 | 230 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $82,670 buys what $77,262 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,262US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,670 a year, 28.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,980 to $125,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,610 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bremerton, at $102,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in Washington?
The median annual wage is $82,670, or $39.74 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 Washington is 28.5% 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 Washington earns more than $125,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,980 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 Bremerton, at $102,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 6,610 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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