Best cities for a high school counselor
The best cities for high school counselors are Oakland, CA, Stockton, CA, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for high school counselors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for high school counselors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a high school counselor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for high school counselors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for high school counselors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a high school counselor. While the absolute best city for high school counselors is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for high school counselors in 2024.
If you're looking for a high school counselor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for high school counselors in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $61,742 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 9.68 2. Stockton, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $61,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 34.75 3. Sacramento, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $61,221 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.96 4. San Francisco, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $61,826 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 1.54 5. Los Angeles, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $59,214 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 4.32 6. Riverside, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $58,696 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 87.72 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total high school counselor jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $50,592 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 1.31 8. San Jose, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $61,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 1.31 9. Chula Vista, CA
Total high school counselor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $58,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 42.85 10. Reno, NV
Total high school counselor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,651 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for high school counselors
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Jose, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- Reno, NV
- (3 high school counselor jobs)
- (4 high school counselor jobs)
- (2 high school counselor jobs)
- (5 high school counselor jobs)
- (12 high school counselor jobs)
- (17 high school counselor jobs)
- (1 high school counselor jobs)
- (3 high school counselor jobs)
- (2 high school counselor jobs)
- (0 high school counselor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a high school counselor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $61,742 | $43,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $61,320 | $43,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $61,221 | $43,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $61,826 | $43,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $59,214 | $43,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $58,696 | $42,000 | 324,722 | 17 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,592 | $36,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $61,642 | $43,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 9 | Chula Vista, CA | $58,027 | $42,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $51,651 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,673 | $34,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $61,664 | $43,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 13 | North Las Vegas, NV | $50,535 | $36,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $50,478 | $36,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 15 | Fort Wayne, IN | $44,173 | $32,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $60,792 | $43,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,615 | $32,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $60,164 | $43,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $44,008 | $32,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $47,998 | $35,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 21 | Lubbock, TX | $45,249 | $32,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $44,869 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $58,942 | $42,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $44,844 | $32,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,719 | $33,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 26 | Fort Worth, TX | $44,840 | $32,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $58,866 | $42,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 28 | Arlington, TX | $44,821 | $32,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $44,143 | $32,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 30 | Santa Ana, CA | $58,782 | $42,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 31 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,606 | $34,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 32 | Irving, TX | $44,791 | $32,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 33 | Houston, TX | $44,527 | $32,000 | 2,303,482 | 4 |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $58,693 | $42,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 35 | Dallas, TX | $44,784 | $32,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 36 | Tucson, AZ | $44,034 | $32,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 37 | Garland, TX | $44,745 | $32,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 38 | San Diego, CA | $58,066 | $42,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $44,733 | $32,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $44,388 | $32,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Seattle, WA | $52,379 | $38,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 42 | Corpus Christi, TX | $44,085 | $32,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 43 | El Paso, TX | $46,136 | $33,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 44 | Washington, DC | $58,853 | $41,000 | 681,170 | 2 |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $44,232 | $32,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $43,341 | $31,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 47 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,212 | $32,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 48 | Chandler, AZ | $44,169 | $32,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 49 | Scottsdale, AZ | $44,166 | $32,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 50 | Gilbert, AZ | $44,150 | $32,000 | 237,133 | - |
Highest paying cities for high school counselors
| Rank | City | Avg. high school counselor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $61,780 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,673 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,606 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $44,869 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $43,321 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $42,872 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $39,140 |
| 8 | Clearwater, FL | $36,820 |
| 9 | South Portland, ME | $36,057 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $34,451 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $34,266 |
High school counselor best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025