Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors vs. Social and Human Service Assistants: Who Earns More?
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors out-earn Social and Human Service Assistants by $18K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors land at $64,330 and Social and Human Service Assistants at $45,930. The education gap is real: educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisor programs typically require master's degree, while social and human service assistant programs require master's degree. Top-paying state for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors is California ($86,500); for Social and Human Service Assistants it's District of Columbia ($59,460).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors earn more nationally. The median is $64,330 for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors versus $45,930 for Social and Human Service Assistants, a difference of $18K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Social and Human Service Assistants has the better 10-year outlook at 6.4% projected growth, compared to 3.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors typically requires master's degree. Social and Human Service Assistants requires master's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors get paid the most?
California is the top-paying state for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors at $86,500/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors vs. Social and Human Service Assistants pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors earn $86,500 vs. $51,090 for Social and Human Service Assistants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.