Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis from the Zippia data science team, we have updated the details of residential counselor salaries by state for the United States as of 2026:
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Washington offers the highest residential counselor salary at $42,905 annually.
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North Carolina has the lowest residential counselor salary at $25,057 annually.
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The national average salary for residential counselors is $34,117.
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The national hourly wage for residential counselors is $16.40.
For more insights, you can read about our specific methodology.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary remains the top priority for most job seekers. Understanding how much residential counselors earn in your area is crucial in today’s labor market.
While many factors influence individual salaries, robust data exists for average salaries of residential counselors by state, adjusted for seniority level. Although your specific location may vary from the state average, these figures provide a reliable estimate of expected earnings.
Currently, Washington leads the way with the best salary for residential counselors.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for residential counselor salaries:
Continue reading for a full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Residential Counselors By State
| Rank | State | Average Residential Counselor Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $42,905 | $33,000 | $54,000 |
| 2 | California | $39,508 | $29,000 | $52,000 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $39,344 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $38,644 | $28,000 | $51,000 |
| 5 | Utah | $38,165 | $28,000 | $50,000 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $38,067 | $29,000 | $48,000 |
| 7 | Iowa | $37,500 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $36,815 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $36,627 | $32,000 | $41,000 |
| 10 | Kansas | $36,125 | $27,000 | $48,000 |
| 11 | Colorado | $36,074 | $27,000 | $47,000 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $35,430 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 13 | Nevada | $35,252 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $34,921 | $26,000 | $45,000 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $34,901 | $26,000 | $46,000 |
| 16 | Ohio | $33,995 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 17 | Vermont | $33,644 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $33,525 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 19 | Maine | $33,164 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $32,677 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $32,513 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 22 | Texas | $32,407 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | New York | $32,381 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $32,363 | $27,000 | $38,000 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $32,243 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 26 | Montana | $32,042 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 27 | Idaho | $31,745 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $31,537 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 29 | Missouri | $31,467 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 30 | Virginia | $31,466 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $31,199 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 32 | Arizona | $30,931 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 33 | Alabama | $30,852 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $30,831 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $30,331 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $30,031 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $29,555 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $29,539 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | Maryland | $29,470 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 40 | Michigan | $29,146 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $29,110 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 42 | Illinois | $28,870 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 43 | Delaware | $28,183 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,116 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 45 | Indiana | $27,448 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $27,297 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $27,278 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $26,898 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 49 | Georgia | $26,468 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $25,057 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
Methodology: Residential Counselor Salary By State
To provide an accurate overview of residential counselor pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Fair Labor Center (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is supplemented with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to derive the average pay for residential counselors by state.
We ranked states based on their average annual salary for residential counselors, identifying the state with the highest salary as the leader in this field.
Residential Counselor Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for residential counselors?
The highest-paid state for residential counselors is Washington, with an average salary of $42,905 per year.
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What city pays residential counselors the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest average salary for residential counselors at $42,921 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for residential counselors?
The lowest-paying state for residential counselors is North Carolina, with an average salary of $25,057 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
