Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary in Merced, CA
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $83,020 a year ($39.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,640 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $64,330. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $86,500. There are 4.4 educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $87,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,670 | $26.29 |
| 25th percentile | $67,370 | $32.39 |
| Median | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| 75th percentile | $103,960 | $49.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,640 | $62.81 |
| Average (mean) | $87,530 | $42.08 |
Half of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,918.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,459.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,193.08 |
| Weekly | $1,596.54 |
| Hourly | $39.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $141,760 | 200 |
| Yuba City, CA | $101,350 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,280 | 1,210 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,930 | 2,730 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $100,790 | 690 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $100,390 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,360 | 400 |
| Napa, CA | $99,900 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $99,330 | 390 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $98,480 | 500 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,700 | 830 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,780 | 3,800 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,720 | 390 |
| Chico, CA | $96,080 | 330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,390 | 2,440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,600 | 5,270 |
| Modesto, CA | $94,370 | 430 |
| Vallejo, CA | $91,670 | 270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,500 | 710 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,520 | 3,900 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,840 | 580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,000 | 17,110 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $74,990 | 550 |
| Redding, CA | $58,890 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $86,500 |
| Alaska | $82,900 |
| Washington | $82,670 |
| District of Columbia | $80,470 |
| Massachusetts | $79,930 |
| New Jersey | $77,910 |
| New Mexico | $77,880 |
| Maryland | $75,820 |
| Rhode Island | $75,000 |
| Delaware | $74,070 |
See Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $60,780 | $29.22 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $53,620 | $25.78 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Health Education Specialist | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $59,500 | $28.61 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in the Merced, CA metro area is $83,020 a year, or $39.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $130,640 a year. The top 25% earn $103,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,670 a year, and a quarter of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn $67,370 or less.
How many educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors work in Merced, CA?
About 350 educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.