Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a lead counselor
Quoted expert
Christine Suniti Bhat
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a lead counselor and really want to work at Ymca? Turns out, your chances to become a lead counselor are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for lead counselors. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for lead counselors, and people in Mahwah earn the most in the field.
The median salary for lead counselors in New Jersey is $168,474. Compare that to the median salary in Utah of $108,811, which ranked worst for lead counselors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a lead counselor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for lead counselors in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total lead counselor jobs: 361 Average annual salary: $168,474 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
2. Connecticut
Total lead counselor jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $158,301 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
3. Massachusetts
Total lead counselor jobs: 1,108 Average annual salary: $154,934 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location Quotient: 2.53
4. Delaware
Total lead counselor jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $156,213 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Vermont
Total lead counselor jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $161,416 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
6. New York
Total lead counselor jobs: 793 Average annual salary: $155,502 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
7. California
Total lead counselor jobs: 1,155 Average annual salary: $164,610 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
8. Maine
Total lead counselor jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $151,238 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
9. West Virginia
Total lead counselor jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $161,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
10. New Mexico
Total lead counselor jobs: 272 Average annual salary: $140,520 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $232,000 Location Quotient: 2.91
Lead counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead counselor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead counselor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $168,474 | $110,000 | 9,005,644 | 361 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $158,301 | $101,000 | 3,588,184 | 220 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $154,934 | $98,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,108 |
| 4 | Delaware | $156,213 | $99,000 | 961,939 | 58 |
| 5 | Vermont | $161,416 | $102,000 | 623,657 | 25 |
| 6 | New York | $155,502 | $99,000 | 19,849,399 | 793 |
| 7 | California | $164,610 | $105,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,155 |
| 8 | Maine | $151,238 | $93,000 | 1,335,907 | 47 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $161,457 | $103,000 | 1,815,857 | 34 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $140,520 | $84,000 | 2,088,070 | 272 |
| 11 | Arizona | $143,535 | $87,000 | 7,016,270 | 306 |
| 12 | Nevada | $138,311 | $82,000 | 2,998,039 | 373 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $156,606 | $100,000 | 693,972 | 86 |
| 14 | Texas | $148,877 | $91,000 | 28,304,596 | 581 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $145,567 | $89,000 | 1,342,795 | 57 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $135,963 | $83,000 | 12,805,537 | 659 |
| 17 | Maryland | $151,110 | $95,000 | 6,052,177 | 264 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $141,509 | $85,000 | 5,795,483 | 146 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $136,056 | $82,000 | 6,715,984 | 190 |
| 20 | Virginia | $147,729 | $92,000 | 8,470,020 | 289 |
| 21 | Illinois | $139,381 | $83,000 | 12,802,023 | 473 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $141,401 | $86,000 | 2,984,100 | 39 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $141,472 | $87,000 | 10,273,419 | 243 |
| 24 | Alabama | $137,806 | $83,000 | 4,874,747 | 102 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $125,148 | $72,000 | 3,004,279 | 333 |
| 26 | Ohio | $136,078 | $82,000 | 11,658,609 | 244 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $132,798 | $78,000 | 755,393 | 36 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $133,283 | $79,000 | 4,684,333 | 141 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,196 | $82,000 | 20,984,400 | 738 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $137,241 | $83,000 | 1,059,639 | 36 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $124,954 | $71,000 | 1,920,076 | 269 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $134,264 | $79,000 | 5,576,606 | 225 |
| 33 | Michigan | $132,270 | $78,000 | 9,962,311 | 231 |
| 34 | Georgia | $132,190 | $79,000 | 10,429,379 | 377 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $129,862 | $78,000 | 5,024,369 | 171 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $128,010 | $72,000 | 1,427,538 | 36 |
| 37 | Iowa | $125,063 | $72,000 | 3,145,711 | 125 |
| 38 | Kansas | $111,139 | $62,000 | 2,913,123 | 373 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $110,172 | $61,000 | 869,666 | 132 |
| 40 | Idaho | $110,527 | $60,000 | 1,716,943 | 279 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $107,738 | $60,000 | 3,930,864 | 377 |
| 42 | Colorado | $122,216 | $69,000 | 5,607,154 | 232 |
| 43 | Washington | $111,356 | $61,000 | 7,405,743 | 348 |
| 44 | Alaska | $102,318 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 139 |
| 45 | Montana | $84,544 | $45,000 | 1,050,493 | 219 |
| 46 | Oregon | $113,399 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 153 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $118,510 | $68,000 | 4,454,189 | 95 |
| 48 | Missouri | $123,889 | $71,000 | 6,113,532 | 127 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $100,710 | $54,000 | 579,315 | 31 |
| 50 | Indiana | $110,380 | $62,000 | 6,666,818 | 176 |
| 51 | Utah | $108,811 | $59,000 | 3,101,833 | 69 |
Highest paying states for lead counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Counselor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $168,474 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $158,301 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $154,934 |
| 4 | Delaware | $156,213 |
| 5 | Vermont | $161,416 |
| 6 | New York | $155,502 |
| 7 | California | $164,610 |
| 8 | Maine | $151,238 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $161,457 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $140,520 |
| 11 | Arizona | $143,535 |
| 12 | Nevada | $138,311 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $156,606 |
| 14 | Texas | $148,877 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $145,567 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $135,963 |
| 17 | Maryland | $151,110 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $141,509 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $136,056 |
| 20 | Virginia | $147,729 |
| 21 | Illinois | $139,381 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $141,401 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $141,472 |
| 24 | Alabama | $137,806 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $125,148 |
| 26 | Ohio | $136,078 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $132,798 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $133,283 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,196 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $137,241 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $124,954 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $134,264 |
| 33 | Michigan | $132,270 |
| 34 | Georgia | $132,190 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $129,862 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $128,010 |
| 37 | Iowa | $125,063 |
| 38 | Kansas | $111,139 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $110,172 |
| 40 | Idaho | $110,527 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $107,738 |
| 42 | Colorado | $122,216 |
| 43 | Washington | $111,356 |
| 44 | Alaska | $102,318 |
| 45 | Montana | $84,544 |
| 46 | Oregon | $113,399 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $118,510 |
| 48 | Missouri | $123,889 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $100,710 |
| 50 | Indiana | $110,380 |
| 51 | Utah | $108,811 |
Expert opinions on the best states for lead counselors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for lead counselors to find work opportunities?
Christine Suniti Bhat
Counseling and Higher Education, Ohio University
Regions and states experiencing a growth in population would be the places for graduates to find work opportunities in the field upon graduation. In the past year, for example, I noticed that there were several job openings in Nashville, Tennessee. In prior years, there seemed to be many opportunities for our graduates in North Carolina.
If students are not restricted geographically, there will continue to be opportunities for them in the country as well as internationally. Further, graduates of school counseling programs should be aware of related jobs that they may be well-suited for, including positions such as Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, and Career Counselor at universities.
Lead counselor best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
Search for lead counselor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025