Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of youth counselor salary by state for the United States:
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California has the highest youth counselor salary of $52,000
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Arkansas has the lowest youth counselor salary of $29,000
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The national average salary for youth counselors is $37,500
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The national hourly pay for youth counselors is $18.00
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s labor market, salary remains the top concern for job seekers across demographics. Understanding how much youth counselors earn in your area is crucial for making informed career decisions.
The rise of remote and hybrid work options has also influenced salary expectations, making it essential to consider both local and national averages. While your specific city may differ from the state average, these figures provide a valuable benchmark for salary expectations.
Currently, California leads the nation in offering the highest salaries for youth counselors.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for youth counselor salaries:
Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Youth Counselors By State
| Rank | State | Average Youth Counselor Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $52,000 | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $43,000 | $34,000 | $54,000 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $41,500 | $31,000 | $55,000 |
| 4 | Illinois | $40,800 | $32,000 | $52,000 |
| 5 | New York | $40,600 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $40,000 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $39,900 | $30,000 | $52,000 |
| 8 | Nevada | $39,500 | $27,000 | $57,000 |
| 9 | Virginia | $39,000 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $38,500 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $38,400 | $28,000 | $52,000 |
| 12 | Georgia | $38,200 | $27,000 | $53,000 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $37,900 | $28,000 | $51,000 |
| 14 | Ohio | $37,500 | $28,000 | $50,000 |
| 15 | Utah | $37,000 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 16 | Kansas | $36,800 | $28,000 | $48,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $36,700 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $36,600 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $36,500 | $32,000 | $41,000 |
| 20 | Vermont | $36,300 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $36,280 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $36,150 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $36,100 | $25,000 | $51,000 |
| 24 | Maine | $36,090 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $36,070 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 26 | Maryland | $36,050 | $25,000 | $51,000 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $35,800 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 28 | Colorado | $35,700 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $35,500 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $35,300 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 31 | Delaware | $35,200 | $24,000 | $49,000 |
| 32 | Alabama | $34,500 | $24,000 | $47,000 |
| 33 | Texas | $34,000 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 34 | Arizona | $33,800 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $33,600 | $24,000 | $46,000 |
| 36 | Iowa | $32,800 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 37 | Alaska | $31,500 | $27,000 | $35,000 |
| 38 | Michigan | $30,800 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | Missouri | $30,500 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 40 | Idaho | $30,200 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $30,000 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $29,500 | $21,000 | $41,000 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $29,200 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 44 | Indiana | $29,000 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 45 | Montana | $28,900 | $24,000 | $35,000 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $28,700 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $28,500 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $28,300 | $20,000 | $39,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $28,200 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $29,000 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
Methodology: Youth Counselor Salary By State
To better understand youth counselor pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across a multitude of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, industry reports, and job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to create an accurate average pay for youth counselors by state.
We ranked each state by average annual salary for youth counselors, identifying the state with the highest average salary as the leader in this field.
Youth Counselor Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for youth counselors?
The highest-paid state for youth counselors is California with an average salary of $52,000 per year.
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What city pays youth counselors the most?
San Jose, CA pays youth counselors the most with an average salary of $53,500 per year.
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What is the worst state for youth counselors?
The worst state for youth counselors is Arkansas with an average salary of $29,000 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.
