Education35% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Academic Advisor Salary
by City (2026)

Guide students in selecting courses, majors, and academic pathways to meet graduation requirements. National median: $52K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$52K

Top 10% earn

$86K

Entry level

$40K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Academic Advisor salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$52K	$68K	$88K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$51K	$67K	$87K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$50K	$65K	$85K	152	8.5%
New York City, NY	$49K	$64K	$84K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$49K	$64K	$83K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$49K	$64K	$83K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$49K	$63K	$83K	185	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$48K	$62K	$81K	172	9.3%
Bellevue, WA	$48K	$62K	$81K	175	None ✓
Boston, MA	$48K	$62K	$82K	162	5%
Yonkers, NY	$47K	$61K	$79K	165	6.85%
Jersey City, NJ	$47K	$61K	$80K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$47K	$61K	$79K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$46K	$60K	$78K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$46K	$60K	$79K	162	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$46K	$60K	$78K	120	5%
Arlington, VA	$46K	$60K	$78K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$46K	$60K	$78K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$46K	$60K	$78K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$46K	$59K	$77K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$45K	$58K	$76K	148	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$45K	$58K	$76K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$45K	$58K	$76K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$45K	$58K	$76K	150	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$44K	$58K	$75K	145	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$45K	$58K	$76K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$44K	$58K	$75K	145	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$44K	$57K	$74K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$44K	$57K	$75K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$44K	$57K	$74K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$44K	$57K	$74K	138	10.75%
Hartford, CT	$44K	$57K	$75K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$44K	$57K	$75K	192	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$44K	$57K	$74K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$43K	$56K	$73K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$43K	$56K	$73K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$43K	$56K	$73K	130	9.9%
Anchorage, AK	$43K	$56K	$73K	128	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$42K	$55K	$71K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$42K	$55K	$71K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$42K	$55K	$71K	118	4.55%
Durham, NC	$42K	$55K	$71K	100	4.75%
Madison, WI	$42K	$55K	$71K	102	5.3%
Minneapolis, MN	$42K	$55K	$71K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$42K	$55K	$71K	104	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$42K	$54K	$71K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$41K	$54K	$70K	120	None ✓
Austin, TX	$41K	$53K	$69K	110	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$41K	$53K	$69K	102	4.75%
Cary, NC	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	4.25%
Gresham, OR	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	None ✓
Concord, NH	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$41K	$53K	$70K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	5.99%
Plano, TX	$40K	$52K	$68K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$40K	$52K	$68K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$40K	$52K	$68K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$40K	$52K	$68K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$40K	$52K	$68K	99	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$40K	$52K	$68K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$40K	$52K	$68K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$40K	$52K	$68K	105	4.85%
Provo, UT	$40K	$52K	$68K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$39K	$51K	$67K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$40K	$51K	$67K	96	None ✓
Irving, TX	$39K	$51K	$67K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$39K	$51K	$67K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$39K	$51K	$67K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$40K	$51K	$67K	105	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$39K	$51K	$67K	90	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$39K	$51K	$67K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$39K	$51K	$67K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$39K	$51K	$67K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$39K	$51K	$67K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$40K	$51K	$67K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$39K	$51K	$67K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$39K	$51K	$67K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$39K	$51K	$67K	102	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$39K	$51K	$67K	90	3.99%
Rochester, MN	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	6.8%
Salem, OR	$40K	$51K	$67K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$40K	$51K	$67K	105	None ✓
West Jordan, UT	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	5.7%
Meridian, ID	$40K	$51K	$67K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$39K	$51K	$67K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$38K	$50K	$65K	87	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$39K	$50K	$66K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$39K	$50K	$66K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$38K	$50K	$65K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	9.3%
Albany, NY	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$38K	$50K	$65K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$38K	$50K	$65K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$38K	$50K	$65K	90	5.3%
Reno, NV	$38K	$50K	$65K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$38K	$50K	$65K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$39K	$50K	$66K	98	7.15%
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$49K	$64K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Midland, TX	$38K	$49K	$65K	92	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$38K	$49K	$65K	88	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$38K	$49K	$65K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$49K	$64K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$49K	$64K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$38K	$49K	$65K	98	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$38K	$49K	$65K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$38K	$49K	$65K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$38K	$49K	$65K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$49K	$64K	90	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$38K	$49K	$65K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$38K	$49K	$65K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$49K	$64K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$38K	$49K	$65K	92	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$38K	$49K	$65K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	5%
Huntsville, AL	$38K	$49K	$65K	88	5%
Greenville, SC	$38K	$49K	$65K	92	6.5%
Great Falls, MT	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$38K	$49K	$65K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$38K	$49K	$64K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$38K	$49K	$64K	88	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$37K	$48K	$63K	102	9.3%
Rockford, IL	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$37K	$48K	$63K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$37K	$48K	$63K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	5.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$37K	$48K	$63K	90	4.25%
Warren, MI	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	4.25%
Erie, PA	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$37K	$48K	$63K	88	6.5%
Norman, OK	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	4.75%
Lafayette, LA	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	6%
Des Moines, IA	$37K	$48K	$63K	88	4.82%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$37K	$48K	$63K	82	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$37K	$48K	$63K	88	5.84%
Lincoln, NE	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$37K	$48K	$62K	80	5%
Fayetteville, AR	$37K	$48K	$63K	85	4.9%
El Paso, TX	$36K	$47K	$61K	82	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$36K	$47K	$61K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$36K	$47K	$61K	75	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$36K	$47K	$62K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$36K	$47K	$61K	85	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$36K	$47K	$62K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$36K	$47K	$62K	78	3.23%
Birmingham, AL	$36K	$47K	$61K	82	5%
New Orleans, LA	$36K	$47K	$61K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$36K	$47K	$61K	88	6%
Shreveport, LA	$36K	$47K	$62K	78	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$36K	$47K	$61K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$36K	$47K	$62K	78	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$36K	$47K	$61K	75	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$36K	$47K	$62K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$36K	$47K	$61K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$35K	$46K	$60K	78	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	None ✓
Oklahoma City, OK	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	4.9%
Tulsa, OK	$34K	$45K	$58K	80	4.75%
Laredo, TX	$34K	$44K	$58K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $52K Academic Advisor salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Academic Advisor Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Academic Advisor is $52,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $40,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $68,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Academic Advisors nationally earn $86,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's or Master's in Education or Counseling. This role is 35% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Academic Advisor compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Academic Advisor salary FAQ

How much does a Academic Advisor make?

The median Academic Advisor salary in the US is $52,000 per year — about $25/hour. Most earn between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $68,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Academic Advisor?

Entry-level Academic Advisor positions typically start around $40,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Academic Advisors earn?

The top 10% of Academic Advisors earn $86,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Academic Advisors the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Academic Advisor salary at $68K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Academic Advisor salaries going up?

Yes — Academic Advisor pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Academic Advisor Salaryby City (2026)