Post job

Education counselor salary

Average education counselor salary

$45,465

$21.86 hourly rate

Entry-level education counselor salary
$33,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Education Counselor Salary

The average salary for an Education Counselor is approximately $45,465 annually, translating to around $22 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific educational settings.

How Experience Affects Salary

Entry-level positions typically offer lower salaries, while seasoned professionals can earn substantially more. For instance, counselors with over ten years of experience may see salaries exceeding $60,000. This highlights the importance of continuous professional development and experience in this field.

State-Specific Earnings

Education Counselors in states like California and New York often command higher salaries compared to those in Midwestern states, reflecting the cost of living and demand for educational services in urban areas. It's essential to consider these factors when evaluating salary expectations.

Career Growth Opportunities

With the increasing emphasis on mental health and academic support, the demand for skilled Education Counselors is rising. Those looking to advance their careers may explore roles in school administration or specialized counseling, which can offer higher compensation and enhanced job satisfaction.

On this page
Education counselor salary by: 

Let Zippia find your next education counselor job

Floating question marks illustration

Let Zippia find your next education counselor job

Floating question marks illustration

Where can an Education Counselor earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
80k
60k
40k
20k
-276
Columbus, OH$58,096
Palmetto Bay, FL$29,724
Compare salary by company
Vs
75k
55k
35k
15k
Silicon Valley International School$57,921
Spanish Education Development$45,109

Education counselor salaries by experience level

Education counselor salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter, Comparably and Payscale, the average salary for an education counselor typically falls between $39,158 and $62,067.
zippia
$45,465yearly
glassdoor[1]
$62,067yearly
comparably[2]
$55,224yearly
Salary.com[3]
$42,113yearly
ZipRecruiter[4]
$57,371yearly
payscale[5]
$39,158yearly

Average education counselor salary by state

The average education counselor salary in California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average education counselor salary states are Indiana, Kentucky, and South Carolina.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for education counselors

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1New Jersey$53,136$25.55
2California$56,584$27.20
3Connecticut$50,825$24.44
4Massachusetts$49,588$23.84
5Minnesota$50,621$24.34
6Rhode Island$51,883$24.94
7New York$50,392$24.23
8Maryland$51,485$24.75
9Alaska$48,620$23.38
10Pennsylvania$43,575$20.95
11Washington$46,982$22.59
12District of Columbia$52,224$25.11
13Vermont$46,381$22.30
14Nebraska$45,126$21.70
15Wyoming$43,582$20.95
16Delaware$46,321$22.27
17Colorado$45,334$21.80
18Illinois$43,891$21.10
19Virginia$49,180$23.64
20New Mexico$42,497$20.43
21New Hampshire$44,542$21.41
22Michigan$42,725$20.54
23Texas$44,775$21.53
24Nevada$43,978$21.14
25North Dakota$42,487$20.43
26Maine$39,817$19.14
27Oregon$41,933$20.16
28Arizona$39,336$18.91
29Utah$41,845$20.12
30Georgia$39,584$19.03
31Louisiana$39,150$18.82
32Hawaii$40,066$19.26
33Ohio$39,206$18.85
34Missouri$40,215$19.33
35Kansas$39,656$19.07
36Wisconsin$39,461$18.97
37Tennessee$38,728$18.62
38Iowa$38,463$18.49
39Montana$34,240$16.46
40Arkansas$36,521$17.56
41Idaho$34,358$16.52
42Oklahoma$35,716$17.17
43Mississippi$37,788$18.17
44Indiana$33,212$15.97
45North Carolina$36,290$17.45
46South Carolina$32,546$15.65
47Florida$30,195$14.52
48Alabama$34,101$16.39
49Kentucky$33,124$15.93
50South Dakota$32,295$15.53
51West Virginia$29,681$14.27

Highest paying cities for education counselors

The highest-paying cities for education counselors are San Francisco, CA, Paramus, NJ, and Washington, DC.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1San Francisco, CA$58,096$27.93
2Paramus, NJ$53,318$25.63
3Washington, DC$52,254$25.12
4Bethesda, MD$51,208$24.62
5New Haven, CT$50,898$24.47
6Annandale, VA$50,666$24.36
7New York, NY$50,474$24.27
8Brookline, MA$49,551$23.82
9Seattle, WA$47,108$22.65
10Greeley, CO$45,585$21.92
11Dallas, TX$44,817$21.55
12Chicago, IL$44,063$21.18
13Pittsburgh, PA$42,306$20.34
14Duluth, GA$39,939$19.20
15Columbus, OH$38,889$18.70
16Bartlesville, OK$35,939$17.28
17Palmetto Bay, FL$29,724$14.29

Education counselor salary details

An education counselor's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average education counselor salary graph
Average education counselor salary graph, trends, and summary

What is an education counselor's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$61,000$5,083$29
75th Percentile$53,000$4,417$25
Average$45,465$3,789$22
25th Percentile$38,000$3,167$18
10th Percentile$33,000$2,750$16

Highest paying education counselor jobs

The highest paying types of education counselors are clinical counselor, school counselor, and guidance counselor.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Counselor Internship$45,500$3,792$21.88132,694
Student Services Counselor$41,175$3,431$19.80104,698
Elementary School Counselor$34,984$2,915$16.8292,184
Community Health Counselor$43,304$3,609$20.82131,804
Student Support Counselor$41,329$3,444$19.87134,839
Peer Counselor$37,464$3,122$18.0176,608

Which companies pay education counselors the most?

Education counselor salaries at Silicon Valley International School and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average education counselor salary at companies like Portland State University and Eagle Academy Public Charter School are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$42,000$41,600$41,200$40,800$40,400$40,000
MaleFemale

Education Counselor salary by industry

The average education counselor salary varies across industries:

  • The average education counselor salary in the education industry is $45,415, the highest of any industry.
  • The average education counselor salary in the finance industry is $42,865.
  • Education counselors in the retail industry earn an average salary of $41,457, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for education counselors

RankIndustryAverage salaryHourly rate
1Education$45,415$21.83
2Non Profits$42,865$20.61
3Professional$42,806$20.58
4Health Care$41,587$19.99
5Retail$41,457$19.93

High paying education counselor jobs

Education counselor salary trends

The average education counselor salary has risen by $3,121 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average education counselor earned $42,344 annually, but today, they earn $45,465 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for education counselors over the last decade.

Compare education counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average education counselor salary over time

Compare education counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Education counselor salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$45,500$21.86+1.9%
2025$44,600$21.45+1.3%
2024$44,000$21.18+1.6%
2023$43,300$20.84+1.5%
2022$42,700$20.52+1.6%

Recently added education counselor salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
The Town of Vernon, CtRecreation Education for Kids (REK) CounselorVernon, CT06/19/2025$39,090
City University of SeattleTeaching Faculty, Counselor Education-City University of SeattleSeattle, WA06/13/2025$80,000
The Trustees of ReservationsSubstitute Seasonal Camp Educator Counselor (Weir River & World's END)Hingham, MA06/06/2025$35,479
City University of SeattleTeaching Faculty, Counselor Education-City University of SeattleSeattle, WA05/30/2025$80,000
Binghamton UniversityCounselor, Educational Opportunity ProgramBinghamton, NY05/26/2025$55,500
CorecivicEducational CounselorYoungstown, OH05/22/2025$50,818
City University of SeattleTeaching Faculty, Counselor Education-City University of SeattleSeattle, WA04/26/2025$80,000
Carbon County School DistrictSpecial Education CounselorRawlins, WY04/21/2025$52,000
Riseboro Community Partnership Inc.Prevention Educator/Counselor, C2C (46939)New York, NY04/17/2025$44,224
Orenda Charter School District (TxDistrict Special Education or General Education Counselor-Georgetown TexasGeorgetown, TX04/15/2025$57,224

Education counselor salary FAQs

Search for education counselor jobs

Browse community and social services jobs