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Salary comparison

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors: Mount Vernon vs San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA pays about 2.6% more for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors on paper — $99,330 vs $96,780. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Luis Obispo comes out ahead by $2,550 a year in real buying power.

Mount Vernon, WA

Median salary

$96,780

25th percentile

$61,000

75th percentile

$125,340

Hourly

$46.53

Cost index

100

Real buying power

$96,780/yr

Median adjusted for local cost of living.

Full Mount Vernon salary page

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median salary

$99,330

25th percentile

$72,380

75th percentile

$103,670

Hourly

$47.76

Cost index

100

Real buying power

$99,330/yr

Median adjusted for local cost of living.

Full San Luis Obispo salary page

What the numbers mean in practice

The headline gap is $2,550 a year (2.6%) in favor of San Luis Obispo. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.

Mount Vernon runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Luis Obispo sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Luis Obispo is the better deal by $2,550 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.

If you are weighing a move from Mount Vernon to San Luis Obispo for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.

Common questions

Where do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn more, Mount Vernon or San Luis Obispo?

San Luis Obispo pays $99,330 on median — about 2.6% more than Mount Vernon ($96,780). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Which city is the better deal after living costs?

San Luis Obispo. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Luis Obispo gives you roughly$99,330 of real buying power versus $96,780 in the other city.

All Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salaries nationwide →