Do counselors make good money?

Yes, counselors make good money. The average salary for a counselor is around $56,310 per year ($25.54 an hour).

The range in earning for a counselor, however, can range from as low as $16 an hour to as high as $42 an hour -- factors such as experience, type of counselor, and location all impact earning potential.

Years of experience and earning potential for a counselor:

• Entry Level (zero to one year of experience) averages $43,900 a year

• An Early Level (one to four years of experience) averages $46,400 a year

• Mid Level (five to nine years of experience) averages $51,630 a year

• Experienced (over ten years of experience) - $58,700 a year

Type of counselor and earning potential.

• School Counselor

  • Entry level - $43,900 a year

  • Early career - $46,400 a year

  • Mid career - $51,630 a year

  • Experienced - $58,700 a year

• Career Counselor

  • Entry level - $40,500 a year

  • Early career - $43,410 a year

  • Mid career - $46,890 a year

  • Experienced - $49,650 a year

• Mental Health Counselor

  • Entry level - $39,190 a year

  • Early career - $40,970 a year

  • Mid career - $45,530 a year

  • Experienced - $49,180 a year

• Addiction Counselor

  • Entry level - $37,980 a year

  • Early career - $39,110 a year

  • Mid career - $38,630 a year

  • Experienced - $41,970 a year

• California - $37.62 an hour ($78,250 a year)

• Connecticut - $31.68 an hour ($65,890 a year)

• Massachusetts - $32.94 an hour ($68,520 a year)

• Oklahoma - $22.34 an hour ($46,480 a year)

• South Dakota - $21.44 an hour ($44,590 a year)

• Missouri - $24.13 an hour ($50,180 a year)