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Hourly Wage for Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Career Counselor - Higher Ed.?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Career Counselor - Higher Ed. in the United States is $24, which translates to an annual salary of about $50,407.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $30 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $21 to $27 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $19 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salaries

A Career Counselor - Higher Ed.'s salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Career Counselor - Higher Ed.'s salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $48,513
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $48,685
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,050
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,597
  • Expert (over 8 years): $53,791
Levels Salary
Entry Level Career Counselor - Higher Ed.$48,513
Intermediate Level Career Counselor - Higher Ed.$48,685
Senior Level Career Counselor - Higher Ed.$52,050
Specialist Level Career Counselor - Higher Ed.$53,597
Expert Level Career Counselor - Higher Ed.$53,791
View as Graph

How Do Career Counselor - Higher Ed.s Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Career Counselor - Higher Ed.s. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $55,811.
  • California: $55,599.
  • Massachusetts: $54,858.

Top Paying Cities for Career Counselor - Higher Ed.

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $63,578
  • San Francisco: $62,882
  • Oakland: $61,557

What Skills Can Increase a Career Counselor - Higher Ed.'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 7.69% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • Exploration (Mentioned in 3.56% Job Postings): Activities in which people explore, examine and investigate a new and/or unexpected world of work. Work Experience is activities that offer people close and more sustained opportunities for observation and participation in one or more workplaces.
  • Support Services (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 7.69%
Exploration 3.56%
Support Services 1.44%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Career Counselor - Higher Ed.'s salary.

  • Digital Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Digital Marketing $52,927
5%
Decision Making $52,927
5%
Innovation $52,927
5%
Get Latest Data

Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Career Counselor - Higher Ed. salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $52,020. While startup companies pay approximate $44,450.

Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $44,450
Growth Stage 51~500 $46,898
Established 501~5000 $50,359
Enterprise 5000+ $52,020

How Education impacts an Career Counselor - Higher Ed.'s Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Career Counselor - Higher Ed. enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Career Counselor - Higher Ed. with a Bachelor's Degree is between $53,698 and $57,078.

Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Career Counselor - Higher Ed.
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 3.8%
Associates 3.5%
Bachelors 27.4%
Masters 62.7%
Doctorate 2.4%
View as Graph

Career Counselor - Higher Ed. Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Career Counselor - Higher Ed.'s annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$44,638
Average $50,407/year
$56,884
$3,720
Average $4,201/month
$4,740
$858
Average $969/week
$1,094
$21
Average $24/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,884 $4,740 $1,094 $27
Average $50,407 $4,201 $969 $24
25th Percentile $44,638 $3,720 $858 $21

Most common benefits for Career Counselor - Higher Ed.

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Career Counselor - Higher Ed.

Here are companies hiring for Career Counselor - Higher Ed. and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Career Counselor - Higher Ed.

1. What are the responsibilities of Career Counselor - Higher Ed.?

Provides career counseling to students and recent graduates. Assists with career planning, employment preparation, and job search activities. Educates students about the job market, reviews resumes/cover letters, and provides interviewing guidance. Gives presentations and workshops on topics related to career preparation and job searching. Supports on-campus recruiting efforts and programs involving students and potential employers. Develops student advising resources and facilitation guides. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Career Counselor - Higher Ed.

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Coaching: Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.

2.)

Exploration: Activities in which people explore, examine and investigate a new and/or unexpected world of work. Work Experience is activities that offer people close and more sustained opportunities for observation and participation in one or more workplaces.

3.)

Support Services: Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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