Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn $60,010 at the median — $28.85 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $65,442 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $60K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $94K | +45% | 44,160 |
| Washington | $84K | +29% | 5,910 |
| District of Columbia | $80K | +23% | 1,800 |
| Alaska | $80K | +23% | 660 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +21% | 11,850 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +20% | 7,590 |
| New Mexico | $76K | +17% | 1,760 |
| Maryland | $75K | +15% | 6,210 |
| Oregon | $74K | +14% | 3,330 |
| Delaware | $72K | +11% | 1,750 |
| Rhode Island | $72K | +10% | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $70K | +8% | 3,670 |
| New York | $70K | +7% | 22,660 |
| New Hampshire | $68K | +5% | 1,530 |
| Virginia | $67K | +3% | 8,810 |
| Louisiana | $67K | +3% | 4,890 |
| Hawaii | $67K | +2% | 1,800 |
| Nebraska | $67K | +2% | 2,120 |
| Texas | $66K | +1% | 32,350 |
| Wyoming | $65K | -0% | 770 |
| Nevada | $65K | -0% | 2,300 |
| Kentucky | $64K | -1% | 5,030 |
| Georgia | $64K | -2% | 10,890 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -2% | 5,280 |
| Michigan | $63K | -3% | 7,950 |
| Minnesota | $63K | -3% | 4,440 |
| Utah | $63K | -4% | 3,680 |
| Ohio | $62K | -5% | 13,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -6% | 11,500 |
| Illinois | $61K | -6% | 12,790 |
| Vermont | $61K | -6% | 970 |
| Alabama | $61K | -7% | 4,510 |
| Idaho | $60K | -7% | 2,010 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -7% | 770 |
| Arkansas | $60K | -8% | 2,310 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -8% | 2,540 |
| Montana | $59K | -9% | 860 |
| Maine | $59K | -9% | 1,610 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -9% | 6,090 |
| Kansas | $58K | -10% | 2,980 |
| Arizona | $58K | -11% | 6,060 |
| South Carolina | $57K | -12% | 7,170 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -12% | 9,630 |
| Indiana | $56K | -13% | 5,450 |
| Iowa | $56K | -14% | 3,580 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -15% | 1,390 |
| Florida | $54K | -17% | 21,080 |
| Missouri | $54K | -17% | 8,960 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -19% | 880 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | -21% | 5,320 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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Frequently asked questions
How much do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $60,010 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,630, and experienced educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors can clear $90,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,938/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 33.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors salary is worth about $65,442 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.