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Academic counselor salary
Average academic counselor salary
$47,454
Understanding Academic Counselor Salaries
The average salary for an academic counselor is approximately $47,454 per year, translating to about $23 per hour. This figure reflects the essential role these professionals play in educational settings, providing support and guidance to students. Salaries can differ significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For example, academic counselors in urban areas or prestigious universities often earn higher wages.
Factors Influencing Salaries
Experience level greatly impacts earnings; entry-level academic counselors may start at lower salaries, while those with advanced degrees or extensive experience can command significantly higher pay. Additionally, the demand for academic counselors varies, which can also affect earnings. States like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for educational services.
Career Opportunities
Those interested in pursuing a career as an academic counselor can explore various roles across high schools, colleges, and universities. As educational institutions increasingly recognize the importance of student support services, opportunities are expected to grow in the coming years. Job seekers can leverage platforms like Zippia to connect with potential employers and explore salary data specific to their region.
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Where can an Academic Counselor earn more?
Academic counselor salaries by experience level
Academic counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average academic counselor salary by state
The average academic counselor salary in Virginia, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average academic counselor salary states are Oklahoma, Indiana, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for academic counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| 2 | California | $57,697 | $27.74 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $54,147 | $26.03 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $55,851 | $26.85 |
| 5 | Alaska | $49,922 | $24.00 |
| 6 | Virginia | $59,119 | $28.42 |
| 7 | New York | $50,738 | $24.39 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $53,461 | $25.70 |
| 9 | Maryland | $52,238 | $25.11 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $46,327 | $22.27 |
| 11 | Delaware | $47,893 | $23.03 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $49,063 | $23.59 |
| 13 | Vermont | $47,965 | $23.06 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $46,035 | $22.13 |
| 15 | Georgia | $45,544 | $21.90 |
| 16 | Colorado | $46,503 | $22.36 |
| 17 | Washington | $45,859 | $22.05 |
| 18 | Nevada | $45,422 | $21.84 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $49,943 | $24.01 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $44,688 | $21.48 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $43,249 | $20.79 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $43,038 | $20.69 |
| 23 | Michigan | $42,805 | $20.58 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $45,105 | $21.69 |
| 25 | Maine | $41,686 | $20.04 |
| 26 | Illinois | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| 27 | Texas | $44,411 | $21.35 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $41,618 | $20.01 |
| 29 | Arizona | $40,827 | $19.63 |
| 30 | Utah | $41,890 | $20.14 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $40,913 | $19.67 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $41,638 | $20.02 |
| 33 | Florida | $40,443 | $19.44 |
| 34 | Oregon | $41,592 | $20.00 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $41,564 | $19.98 |
| 36 | Kansas | $40,868 | $19.65 |
| 37 | Missouri | $41,357 | $19.88 |
| 38 | Iowa | $38,069 | $18.30 |
| 39 | Ohio | $39,838 | $19.15 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $39,237 | $18.86 |
| 41 | Montana | $32,848 | $15.79 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $39,757 | $19.11 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $39,029 | $18.76 |
| 44 | Idaho | $33,513 | $16.11 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36,266 | $17.44 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $34,384 | $16.53 |
| 47 | Alabama | $37,695 | $18.12 |
| 48 | Indiana | $33,558 | $16.13 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $34,493 | $16.58 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $31,349 | $15.07 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $30,771 | $14.79 |
Highest paying cities for academic counselors
The highest-paying cities for academic counselors are San Francisco, CA, Westfield, MA, and Danville, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $59,244 | $28.48 |
| 2 | Westfield, MA | $57,908 | $27.84 |
| 3 | Danville, VA | $57,037 | $27.42 |
| 4 | Livingston, NJ | $55,867 | $26.86 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $50,847 | $24.45 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| 8 | Tacoma, WA | $46,121 | $22.17 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $45,526 | $21.89 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $45,151 | $21.71 |
| 11 | Denton, TX | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,758 | $20.56 |
| 13 | Eugene, OR | $42,077 | $20.23 |
| 14 | Hattiesburg, MS | $41,848 | $20.12 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,863 | $19.65 |
| 16 | Chapel Hill, NC | $40,055 | $19.26 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $39,638 | $19.06 |
Academic counselor salary details
An academic counselor's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $63,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an academic counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $47,454 | $3,955 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying academic counselor jobs
The highest paying types of academic counselors are lead counselor, school counselor, and academic coordinator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Advisor | $37,158 | $3,097 | $17.86 | 54,232 |
| Student Advisor | $41,418 | $3,452 | $19.91 | 56,492 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $43,111 | $3,593 | $20.73 | 77,220 |
| Elementary School Counselor | $34,984 | $2,915 | $16.82 | 92,184 |
Top companies hiring academic counselors now:
Which companies pay academic counselors the most?
Academic counselor salaries at California College of the Arts and Westfield State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average academic counselor salary at companies like Massasoit Community College and Csu are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California College of the Arts | $69,353 | $33.34 |
| 2 | Westfield State University | $61,524 | $29.58 |
| 3 | Massasoit Community College | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| 4 | Csu | $57,567 | $27.68 |
| 5 | The Apollo Group | $56,218 | $27.03 |
| 6 | Central State University | $56,161 | $27.00 |
| 7 | Howard University | $54,269 | $26.09 |
| 8 | Aspire Public Schools | $54,190 | $26.05 |
| 9 | San José Unified School District | $53,609 | $25.77 |
| 10 | Post University, Inc. | $53,436 | $25.69 |
| 11 | Euclid High School | $53,263 | $25.61 |
| 12 | Olivet University | $53,240 | $25.60 |
| 13 | Greenfield-Central High School | $52,489 | $25.24 |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley | $51,806 | $24.91 |
| 15 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $51,323 | $24.67 |
| 16 | UC Santa Barbara | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| 17 | Ivy Tech Community College | $50,756 | $24.40 |
| 18 | Louisiana State Police | $50,686 | $24.37 |
| 19 | Cornerstone Learning Community | $50,148 | $24.11 |
| 20 | Valor Collegiate Academies | $49,234 | $23.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Academic counselor salary trends
The average academic counselor salary has risen by $3,258 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average academic counselor earned $44,196 annually, but today, they earn $47,454 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for academic counselors over the last decade.
Compare academic counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average academic counselor salary over time
Compare academic counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Academic counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,500 | $22.81 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $46,600 | $22.39 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $46,000 | $22.10 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $45,200 | $21.75 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $44,500 | $21.42 | +1.6% |
Recently added academic counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Academic Counselor (Pool)-Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner, MA | 06/28/2025 | $73,692 |
| Mesquite ISD | Academic Counselor (Mesquite Academy) | Nome, TX | 06/28/2025 | $80,433 |
| Auburn University | TES Academic Counselor | Auburn, AL | 06/27/2025 | $36,523 |
| Massasoit Community College | Mccc Academic Counselor, ACT Center, (TWO Positions)-Massasoit Community College | Brockton, MA | 06/27/2025 | $69,821 |
| Bristol Community College | Academic Counselor-Seasonal-Bristol Community College | Fall River, MA | 06/27/2025 | $73,692 |
| University of North Texas System | Academic Counselor | Denton, TX | 06/27/2025 | $48,882 |
| Edinburg Independent School District | Academic Counselor) | Edinburg, TX | 06/25/2025 | $56,812 |
| University of Washington | Academic Counselor Lead-Specialty Master's Programs | Seattle, WA | 06/24/2025 | $70,908 |
| Edinburg CISD | Academic Counselor) | Edinburg, TX | 06/24/2025 | $56,812 |
| Westchester Community College | Adjunct Academic Counselor-EOP-Westchester Community College | Valhalla, NY | 06/19/2025 | $107,481 |
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