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Finance aid counselor salary
Average finance aid counselor salary
$37,672
Understanding Finance Aid Counselor Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Finance Aid Counselor is approximately $37,672 annually, translating to about $18 per hour. This compensation can greatly vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific educational institution.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while seasoned counselors can earn significantly more. For example, counselors with over five years of experience may see salaries rise substantially, reflecting their expertise and the complexity of the financial aid landscape they navigate.
State Variations
Salary levels also differ by state. High-demand areas may offer substantial increases, making it essential for job seekers to consider location when evaluating opportunities. States like California and New York often report higher wages for this profession, driven by the cost of living and institutional funding.
Job Outlook
Overall, the demand for finance aid counselors is expected to grow, providing ample opportunities for those looking to enter this fulfilling field. Keeping abreast of salary trends and regional differences can significantly benefit prospective candidates.
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Where can a Finance Aid Counselor earn more?
Finance aid counselor salaries by experience level
Average finance aid counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for finance aid counselors are New York, Delaware, and Connecticut. The lowest average finance aid counselor salary states are Washington, South Carolina, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for finance aid counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $49,584 | $23.84 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $44,208 | $21.25 |
| 3 | Delaware | $44,605 | $21.44 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $42,541 | $20.45 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $43,672 | $21.00 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $44,095 | $21.20 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $41,268 | $19.84 |
| 8 | California | $42,407 | $20.39 |
| 9 | Utah | $40,163 | $19.31 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $43,145 | $20.74 |
| 11 | Vermont | $42,177 | $20.28 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $41,646 | $20.02 |
| 13 | Florida | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| 14 | Nevada | $40,397 | $19.42 |
| 15 | Alaska | $41,717 | $20.06 |
| 16 | Ohio | $37,711 | $18.13 |
| 17 | Maryland | $40,494 | $19.47 |
| 18 | Michigan | $35,085 | $16.87 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $40,348 | $19.40 |
| 20 | Missouri | $36,254 | $17.43 |
| 21 | Illinois | $35,278 | $16.96 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $37,930 | $18.24 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $37,381 | $17.97 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $44,158 | $21.23 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $32,739 | $15.74 |
| 27 | Oregon | $33,642 | $16.17 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $35,372 | $17.01 |
| 29 | Alabama | $34,410 | $16.54 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $34,133 | $16.41 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $33,699 | $16.20 |
| 32 | Colorado | $35,245 | $16.94 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $32,280 | $15.52 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $32,543 | $15.65 |
| 35 | Iowa | $34,465 | $16.57 |
| 36 | Virginia | $33,442 | $16.08 |
| 37 | Indiana | $32,203 | $15.48 |
| 38 | Kansas | $34,071 | $16.38 |
| 39 | Arizona | $31,512 | $15.15 |
| 40 | Washington | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| 41 | Idaho | $30,888 | $14.85 |
| 42 | Maine | $32,233 | $15.50 |
| 43 | Texas | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| 44 | Georgia | $30,493 | $14.66 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $31,695 | $15.24 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $30,114 | $14.48 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $30,368 | $14.60 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $29,299 | $14.09 |
| 49 | Montana | $29,945 | $14.40 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $29,785 | $14.32 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $29,208 | $14.04 |
Highest paying cities for finance aid counselors
The highest-paying cities for finance aid counselors are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Fall River, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $49,718 | $23.90 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $44,156 | $21.23 |
| 3 | Fall River, MA | $44,118 | $21.21 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $42,902 | $20.63 |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $40,545 | $19.49 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $40,108 | $19.28 |
| 8 | Huntington, WV | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| 10 | Bowling Green, KY | $35,995 | $17.31 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,333 | $16.99 |
| 12 | Grand Rapids, MI | $34,705 | $16.69 |
| 13 | Lawrence, KS | $34,080 | $16.38 |
| 14 | Eugene, OR | $33,810 | $16.25 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $32,647 | $15.70 |
| 17 | Tucson, AZ | $31,976 | $15.37 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $31,898 | $15.34 |
| 19 | Terre Haute, IN | $31,767 | $15.27 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $30,374 | $14.60 |
Finance aid counselor salary details
A finance aid counselor's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $47,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a finance aid counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $37,672 | $3,139 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying finance aid counselor jobs
The highest paying types of finance aid counselors are savings counselor, loan counselor, and mortgage loan counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Services Counselor | $41,175 | $3,431 | $19.80 | 104,698 |
| Counselor | $36,225 | $3,019 | $17.42 | 77,536 |
| Finance Aid Officer | $38,163 | $3,180 | $18.35 | 146,154 |
| Finance Aid Coordinator | $38,925 | $3,244 | $18.71 | 98,992 |
| Finance Aid Advisor | $37,791 | $3,149 | $18.17 | 127,378 |
| Finance Counselor | $40,561 | $3,380 | $19.50 | 101,005 |
Top companies hiring finance aid counselors now:
Which companies pay finance aid counselors the most?
Finance aid counselor salaries at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and Massasoit Community College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average finance aid counselor salary at companies like New York University and Columbus College of Art & Design are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $76,053 | $36.56 |
| 2 | Massasoit Community College | $54,153 | $26.04 |
| 3 | New York University | $52,718 | $25.35 |
| 4 | Columbus College of Art & Design | $52,228 | $25.11 |
| 5 | California State University, Fullerton | $48,763 | $23.44 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $47,893 | $23.03 |
| 7 | Northeastern University | $47,148 | $22.67 |
| 8 | Lincoln University | $46,890 | $22.54 |
| 9 | University of California | $45,845 | $22.04 |
| 10 | Palmer College of Chiropractic | $44,701 | $21.49 |
| 11 | Portland State University | $44,595 | $21.44 |
| 12 | UC Santa Barbara | $44,376 | $21.33 |
| 13 | Mercy College | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| 14 | Santa Clara University | $43,190 | $20.76 |
| 15 | University of Colorado Boulder | $42,856 | $20.60 |
| 16 | Loyola Marymount University | $42,716 | $20.54 |
| 17 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $42,714 | $20.54 |
| 18 | University of Nevada, Reno | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| 19 | The City University of New York | $42,355 | $20.36 |
| 20 | Bristol Community College | $42,171 | $20.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Finance aid counselor salary trends
The average finance aid counselor salary has risen by $6,315 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average finance aid counselor earned $31,357 annually, but today, they earn $37,672 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for finance aid counselors over the last decade.
Compare finance aid counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average finance aid counselor salary over time
Compare finance aid counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Finance aid counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,700 | $18.11 | +0.5% |
| 2025 | $37,500 | $18.03 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $36,900 | $17.72 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $36,500 | $17.54 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $36,200 | $17.41 | +1.2% |
Recently added finance aid counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery College | Financial Aid Counselor | Maryland | 06/30/2025 | $63,591 |
| Kent State University | Financial Aid Counselor | Kent, OH | 06/28/2025 | $34,000 |
| University of California System | SR. Financial Aid Counselor | Irvine, CA | 06/28/2025 | $77,000 |
| University of San Francisco | Financial Aid Manager of Counseling | San Francisco, CA | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Westcliff University | Senior Financial Aid Counselor | Irvine, CA | 06/20/2025 | $56,349 |
| CSU Careers | Financial Aid Counselor | San Luis Obispo, CA | 06/18/2025 | $69,000 |
| University of Tennessee | Financial Aid Counseling Coordinator-UTK | Knoxville, TN | 06/18/2025 | $44,000 |
| Cal Poly | Financial Aid Counselor | San Luis Obispo, CA | 06/18/2025 | $69,000 |
| Northeastern University | Financial Aid Counselor | Boston, MA | 06/17/2025 | $47,890 |
| Tufts University | Financial Aid Counselor | Boston, MA | 06/16/2025 | $48,500 |
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