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The average salary for a juvenile counselor stands at $43,252 per year, translating to about $21 per hour. Salaries can vary based on several factors, including experience, geographical location, and the specific sector in which you work.
Understanding where you can earn the most as a juvenile counselor is crucial for career advancement. States like California, New York, and Texas often offer higher salaries due to their larger populations and greater demand for mental health services. Each state has varying salary averages, reflecting local economic conditions and funding for juvenile services.
In addition to state variations, the type of organization you work for can significantly influence your earnings. Positions in government agencies, non-profits, or private practices may offer different salary ranges and benefits. Exploring roles such as school counselors, behavioral therapists, or rehabilitation specialists can enhance your job prospects and salary potential.
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The highest-paying states for juvenile counselors are Hawaii, Alaska, and Oregon. The lowest average juvenile counselor salary states are Minnesota, Montana, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $61,540 | $29.59 |
| 2 | Alaska | $52,145 | $25.07 |
| 3 | Arizona | $47,516 | $22.84 |
| 4 | Oregon | $49,664 | $23.88 |
| 5 | New York | $46,694 | $22.45 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $45,163 | $21.71 |
| 7 | Nevada | $48,856 | $23.49 |
| 8 | California | $47,133 | $22.66 |
| 9 | Delaware | $45,849 | $22.04 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $44,051 | $21.18 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $42,176 | $20.28 |
| 13 | Washington | $42,705 | $20.53 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| 15 | Maryland | $43,644 | $20.98 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $41,309 | $19.86 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $42,716 | $20.54 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $43,449 | $20.89 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $43,423 | $20.88 |
| 20 | Illinois | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| 21 | Indiana | $41,517 | $19.96 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $39,911 | $19.19 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $40,412 | $19.43 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $40,807 | $19.62 |
| 25 | Florida | $40,235 | $19.34 |
| 26 | Idaho | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| 27 | Texas | $41,986 | $20.19 |
| 28 | Virginia | $42,498 | $20.43 |
| 29 | Alabama | $40,943 | $19.68 |
| 30 | Colorado | $38,204 | $18.37 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $37,518 | $18.04 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $37,718 | $18.13 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $37,154 | $17.86 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $39,747 | $19.11 |
| 35 | Kansas | $38,572 | $18.54 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,318 | $18.42 |
| 37 | Ohio | $37,654 | $18.10 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $35,912 | $17.27 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $37,199 | $17.88 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $35,953 | $17.29 |
| 41 | Michigan | $34,615 | $16.64 |
| 42 | Vermont | $36,235 | $17.42 |
| 43 | Montana | $33,867 | $16.28 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $34,489 | $16.58 |
| 45 | Maine | $29,899 | $14.37 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $34,979 | $16.82 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $34,544 | $16.61 |
| 48 | Georgia | $33,568 | $16.14 |
| 49 | Missouri | $35,037 | $16.84 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $32,239 | $15.50 |
| 51 | Iowa | $32,706 | $15.72 |
The highest-paying cities for juvenile counselors are Urban Honolulu, HI, Portland, OR, and Napa, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $61,564 | $29.60 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $49,212 | $23.66 |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $47,541 | $22.86 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $47,129 | $22.66 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $42,358 | $20.36 |
| 6 | Vernon Hills, IL | $41,396 | $19.90 |
| 7 | Asheville, NC | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| 8 | Alpharetta, GA | $33,543 | $16.13 |
A juvenile counselor's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $60,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $43,252 | $3,604 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of juvenile counselors are clinical counselor, intensive in-home counselor, and mental health counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | $45,758 | $3,813 | $22.00 | 77,461 |
| Program Counselor | $43,820 | $3,652 | $21.07 | 133,491 |
| Addictions Counselor | $47,226 | $3,936 | $22.70 | 79,459 |
| Juvenile Probation Officer | $46,765 | $3,897 | $22.48 | 66,217 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
Top companies hiring juvenile counselors now:
Juvenile counselor salaries at Lake County and Multnomah County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average juvenile counselor salary at companies like Bexar County and Rings Levin A Atty are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake County | $56,228 | $27.03 |
| 2 | Multnomah County | $54,809 | $26.35 |
| 3 | Bexar County | $53,594 | $25.77 |
| 4 | Rings Levin A Atty | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| 5 | Napa County, California | $50,067 | $24.07 |
| 6 | Sheltering Arms | $46,888 | $22.54 |
| 7 | NC.gov | $45,559 | $21.90 |
| 8 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $42,269 | $20.32 |
The average juvenile counselor salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $51,356 | $24.69 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $46,655 | $22.43 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $45,825 | $22.03 |
| 4 | Professional | $39,463 | $18.97 |
| 5 | Health Care | $39,379 | $18.93 |
The average juvenile counselor salary has risen by $6,473 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average juvenile counselor earned $36,779 annually, but today, they earn $43,252 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for juvenile counselors over the last decade.
Compare juvenile counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare juvenile counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,300 | $20.79 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $41,900 | $20.16 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $40,900 | $19.68 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $39,900 | $19.20 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $39,200 | $18.83 | +2.7% |
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