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Admissions counselor salary
Average admissions counselor salary
$39,298
Understanding Admissions Counselor Salaries
The average salary for an Admissions Counselor stands at $39,298 per year, translating to about $19 per hour. Salaries fluctuate based on various factors, including experience level, education, and geographic location. For example, counselors with more years in the field often see higher salaries. Additionally, counselors employed at larger universities typically earn more than those at smaller institutions.
Highest Paying States
Looking for opportunities to maximize earnings? States like California and New York frequently offer higher salaries for Admissions Counselors, often above the national average. For those considering this career path, focusing on these regions could yield better financial prospects.
Career Advancement
As you gain experience and further your education, opportunities for promotions and salary increases arise. Advanced roles, such as Director of Admissions, can significantly boost your earning potential. Networking within educational institutions and attending industry conferences can also enhance career growth.
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Where can an Admissions Counselor earn more?
Admissions counselor salaries by experience level
Admissions counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average admissions counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for admissions counselors are New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and California. The lowest average admissions counselor salary states are South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for admissions counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $49,282 | $23.69 |
| 2 | New York | $48,373 | $23.26 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $50,967 | $24.50 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $45,651 | $21.95 |
| 5 | California | $51,064 | $24.55 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $48,106 | $23.13 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $43,885 | $21.10 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $45,161 | $21.71 |
| 10 | Delaware | $44,745 | $21.51 |
| 11 | Washington | $45,239 | $21.75 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $52,274 | $25.13 |
| 13 | Vermont | $45,993 | $22.11 |
| 14 | Maryland | $46,904 | $22.55 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $42,426 | $20.40 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| 17 | Oregon | $42,269 | $20.32 |
| 18 | Virginia | $43,666 | $20.99 |
| 19 | Maine | $40,508 | $19.48 |
| 20 | Arizona | $37,157 | $17.86 |
| 21 | Michigan | $37,936 | $18.24 |
| 22 | Georgia | $37,508 | $18.03 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $39,417 | $18.95 |
| 24 | Illinois | $37,137 | $17.85 |
| 25 | Ohio | $37,464 | $18.01 |
| 26 | Texas | $38,267 | $18.40 |
| 27 | Colorado | $37,141 | $17.86 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $37,406 | $17.98 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $37,964 | $18.25 |
| 30 | Florida | $36,225 | $17.42 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $37,099 | $17.84 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $36,171 | $17.39 |
| 33 | Iowa | $35,967 | $17.29 |
| 34 | Nevada | $36,155 | $17.38 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $34,938 | $16.80 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $37,094 | $17.83 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $35,719 | $17.17 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $34,562 | $16.62 |
| 39 | Alabama | $35,928 | $17.27 |
| 40 | Missouri | $36,399 | $17.50 |
| 41 | Utah | $36,069 | $17.34 |
| 42 | Montana | $31,604 | $15.19 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $33,272 | $16.00 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $27,075 | $13.02 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $34,111 | $16.40 |
| 46 | Indiana | $33,712 | $16.21 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $27,429 | $13.19 |
| 48 | Idaho | $30,477 | $14.65 |
| 49 | Kansas | $33,866 | $16.28 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $34,186 | $16.44 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $32,898 | $15.82 |
Highest paying cities for admissions counselors
The highest-paying cities for admissions counselors are San Rafael, CA, Boston, MA, and Anchorage, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Rafael, CA | $52,501 | $25.24 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $52,258 | $25.12 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $49,392 | $23.75 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $48,501 | $23.32 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $47,217 | $22.70 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $45,466 | $21.86 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $44,398 | $21.35 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $43,185 | $20.76 |
| 9 | Eugene, OR | $42,551 | $20.46 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $40,921 | $19.67 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,380 | $18.93 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $38,647 | $18.58 |
| 13 | Fayetteville, NC | $37,959 | $18.25 |
| 14 | Ann Arbor, MI | $37,715 | $18.13 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,474 | $18.02 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $37,406 | $17.98 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $37,217 | $17.89 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $37,179 | $17.87 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $37,179 | $17.87 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $37,031 | $17.80 |
Admissions counselor salary details
An admissions counselor's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an admissions counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $39,298 | $3,275 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying admissions counselor jobs
The highest paying types of admissions counselors are lead counselor, admissions advisor, and school counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Recruiter | $42,012 | $3,501 | $20.20 | 37,196 |
| Elementary School Counselor | $34,984 | $2,915 | $16.82 | 92,184 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Career Counselor | $44,870 | $3,739 | $21.57 | 42,035 |
| Student Services Counselor | $41,175 | $3,431 | $19.80 | 104,698 |
| Admissions Representative | $38,193 | $3,183 | $18.36 | 16,883 |
Top companies hiring admissions counselors now:
Which companies pay admissions counselors the most?
Admissions counselor salaries at School of Visual Concepts and Emmaus Bible College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average admissions counselor salary at companies like Columbia International University and The Principia are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Concepts | $59,172 | $28.45 |
| 2 | Emmaus Bible College | $56,001 | $26.92 |
| 3 | Columbia International University | $55,808 | $26.83 |
| 4 | The Principia | $55,723 | $26.79 |
| 5 | Saint Xavier University | $55,320 | $26.60 |
| 6 | Poly Prep Country Day School | $54,671 | $26.28 |
| 7 | The Culinary Institute of America | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| 8 | Merrimack College | $51,812 | $24.91 |
| 9 | Providence Christian College | $50,864 | $24.45 |
| 10 | Midland University | $50,428 | $24.24 |
| 11 | Missouri State University | $50,161 | $24.12 |
| 12 | Curry College | $49,166 | $23.64 |
| 13 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | $48,388 | $23.26 |
| 14 | Oakland City University | $48,121 | $23.14 |
| 15 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $47,929 | $23.04 |
| 16 | Stanford University | $46,817 | $22.51 |
| 17 | University of California-Berkeley | $46,751 | $22.48 |
| 18 | Bard College | $46,602 | $22.40 |
| 19 | Warner University | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| 20 | Salve Regina University | $45,967 | $22.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Admissions counselor salary trends
The average admissions counselor salary has risen by $2,698 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average admissions counselor earned $36,600 annually, but today, they earn $39,298 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for admissions counselors over the last decade.
Compare admissions counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average admissions counselor salary over time
Compare admissions counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Admissions counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,300 | $18.89 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $38,600 | $18.54 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $38,100 | $18.31 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $37,500 | $18.01 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $36,900 | $17.74 | +1.6% |
Recently added admissions counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Transfer & Online Student Admissions Counselor | Madison, SD | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Garrett College | Admissions Counselor | Maryland | 06/30/2025 | $49,028 |
| Dynamic Educational Systems Inc. | Admission Counselor | Dayton, OH | 06/29/2025 | $43,888 |
| Pico de Gallo | Admissions Counselor | New Haven, CT | 06/29/2025 | $45,142 |
| The Washington Center | Admissions Counselor | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $54,000 |
| Nexus Recovery Center | Admission Counselor (Licensure: Lcdc. Prefer: LPC, Lcsw, Lmft) | Dallas, TX | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
| University of Mississippi | Admissions Counselor | Oxford, MS | 06/28/2025 | $38,771 |
| Texas A&M International University | Admissions Counselor I | Austin, TX | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Loyola University of Chicago Inc. | Admissions Counselor | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $45,000 |
| California State University System | Admissions Counselor for Transfer Initiatives (Student Services Professional II) Internal Applicants | Chico, CA | 06/27/2025 | $60,996 |
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