Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Lead residential counselor salary
Average lead residential counselor salary
$36,902
Understanding the Lead Residential Counselor Salary
The average salary for a Lead Residential Counselor is reported at $36,902 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for mental health services.
Where Can You Earn More?
In addition to state variations, specific cities also provide better salary opportunities for Lead Residential Counselors. Areas with higher concentrations of rehabilitation facilities or mental health organizations tend to offer competitive pay. For example, metropolitan regions typically show an increased demand for skilled counselors, leading to elevated salary ranges. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective counselors make informed career choices.
Advancement Opportunities
Furthermore, gaining additional certifications or specializing in certain therapeutic areas can enhance earning potential and job prospects. By aligning your skills with industry needs, you can secure a rewarding position in the field of residential counseling.
Let Zippi find your next lead residential counselor job
Let Zippi find your next lead residential counselor job
Where can a Lead Residential Counselor earn more?
Average lead residential counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for lead residential counselors are California, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average lead residential counselor salary states are Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lead residential counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $43,221 | $20.78 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $45,258 | $21.76 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $41,186 | $19.80 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $40,001 | $19.23 |
| 5 | Arizona | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| 6 | Missouri | $41,668 | $20.03 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $40,782 | $19.61 |
| 8 | Washington | $44,249 | $21.27 |
| 9 | California | $46,031 | $22.13 |
| 10 | Ohio | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| 11 | Colorado | $42,881 | $20.62 |
| 12 | Maryland | $44,027 | $21.17 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $39,713 | $19.09 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $41,033 | $19.73 |
| 15 | New York | $42,157 | $20.27 |
| 16 | Kansas | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| 17 | Oregon | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 18 | Illinois | $41,682 | $20.04 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $42,468 | $20.42 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $37,081 | $17.83 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $37,148 | $17.86 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $39,672 | $19.07 |
| 23 | Alaska | $36,334 | $17.47 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $36,488 | $17.54 |
| 25 | Nevada | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| 26 | Texas | $39,234 | $18.86 |
| 27 | Vermont | $39,034 | $18.77 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $37,445 | $18.00 |
| 29 | Utah | $33,974 | $16.33 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $32,584 | $15.67 |
| 31 | Indiana | $37,861 | $18.20 |
| 32 | Montana | $33,193 | $15.96 |
| 33 | Idaho | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $35,054 | $16.85 |
| 35 | Iowa | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 36 | Alabama | $34,576 | $16.62 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $30,731 | $14.77 |
| 38 | Delaware | $34,226 | $16.45 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $35,514 | $17.07 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $33,914 | $16.30 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $31,368 | $15.08 |
| 42 | Maine | $32,648 | $15.70 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $33,367 | $16.04 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $29,531 | $14.20 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $29,487 | $14.18 |
| 46 | Florida | $28,915 | $13.90 |
| 47 | Virginia | $31,059 | $14.93 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,335 | $14.58 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $28,506 | $13.70 |
| 50 | Georgia | $28,936 | $13.91 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $29,031 | $13.96 |
Highest paying cities for lead residential counselors
The highest-paying cities for lead residential counselors are San Francisco, CA, Barnstable Town, MA, and Fort Collins, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $47,277 | $22.73 |
| 2 | Barnstable Town, MA | $45,305 | $21.78 |
| 3 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,235 | $20.79 |
| 4 | Scottsdale, AZ | $42,847 | $20.60 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $41,914 | $20.15 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $41,159 | $19.79 |
| 7 | Bristol, CT | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,592 | $19.03 |
| 9 | Lewisville, TX | $38,873 | $18.69 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $37,566 | $18.06 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $35,616 | $17.12 |
| 12 | Saint George, UT | $34,575 | $16.62 |
| 13 | La Crosse, WI | $33,340 | $16.03 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $30,671 | $14.75 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $29,159 | $14.02 |
| 16 | Asheville, NC | $29,111 | $14.00 |
Lead residential counselor salary details
A lead residential counselor's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lead residential counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $36,902 | $3,075 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying lead residential counselor jobs
The highest paying types of lead residential counselors are lead counselor, senior counselor, and clinical counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor/Case Manager | $39,562 | $3,297 | $19.02 | 88,285 |
| Group Counselor | $40,155 | $3,346 | $19.31 | 84,413 |
| Program Counselor | $43,820 | $3,652 | $21.07 | 133,491 |
| Youth Counselor | $36,754 | $3,063 | $17.67 | 78,461 |
| Direct Care Counselor | $33,422 | $2,785 | $16.07 | 123,519 |
| Child Care Counselor | $36,843 | $3,070 | $17.71 | 100,538 |
Top companies hiring lead residential counselors now:
Which companies pay lead residential counselors the most?
Lead residential counselor salaries at Boston Higashi School and Care New England Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lead residential counselor salary at companies like SummitStone Health and Community Health Network are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Higashi School | $44,619 | $21.45 |
| 2 | Care New England Health System | $41,104 | $19.76 |
| 3 | SummitStone Health | $40,948 | $19.69 |
| 4 | Community Health Network | $38,785 | $18.65 |
| 5 | State of West Virginia | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| 6 | Gilbane Building Company | $38,556 | $18.54 |
| 7 | RH | $38,354 | $18.44 |
| 8 | Melmark New England | $38,246 | $18.39 |
| 9 | Stantec | $38,171 | $18.35 |
| 10 | Vinfen | $37,147 | $17.86 |
| 11 | Curiouser Products Inc. | $36,941 | $17.76 |
| 12 | Aptiv | $36,908 | $17.74 |
| 13 | Maid Right | $36,882 | $17.73 |
| 14 | Eliada | $35,612 | $17.12 |
| 15 | Titan Security Group | $35,051 | $16.85 |
| 16 | Ability Beyond | $33,983 | $16.34 |
| 17 | Familylinks, Inc. | $33,313 | $16.02 |
| 18 | Chrysalis | $31,690 | $15.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lead Residential Counselor salary by industry
The average lead residential counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average lead residential counselor salary in the professional industry is $36,915, the highest of any industry.
- The average lead residential counselor salary in the finance industry is $36,909.
- Lead residential counselors in the education industry earn an average salary of $30,600, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for lead residential counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $36,915 | $17.75 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $36,909 | $17.74 |
| 3 | Automotive | $36,856 | $17.72 |
| 4 | Government | $36,072 | $17.34 |
| 5 | Health Care | $35,221 | $16.93 |
| 6 | Education | $30,600 | $14.71 |
High paying lead residential counselor jobs
Lead residential counselor salary trends
The average lead residential counselor salary has risen by $6,328 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lead residential counselor earned $30,574 annually, but today, they earn $36,902 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for lead residential counselors over the last decade.
Compare lead residential counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lead residential counselor salary over time
Compare lead residential counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lead residential counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,900 | $17.74 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $35,800 | $17.20 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $34,900 | $16.79 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $34,100 | $16.38 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $33,400 | $16.07 | +2.2% |
Recently added lead residential counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Community Supports | Residential Lead | Green Brook, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Mfort Security Services | Lead Residential Concierge-2Nd Shift (South Loop) | Chicago, IL | 06/24/2025 | $39,653 |
| YMCA Twin Cities | Overnight/Residential Summer Lead Staff-Daily | Amery, WI | 06/21/2025 | $22,696 |
| Council On Alcoholism and Drug Abuse | Lead Adult Residential Treatment Counselor | Santa Barbara, CA | 06/20/2025 | $54,262 |
| Chrysalis | Residential Lead | North Las Vegas, NV | 06/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Access-Supports for Living | Residential Home Cleaner Lead | Howard, NY | 06/16/2025 | $36,523 |
| Lifeline Connections | RA Lead-Men's Residential | Vancouver, WA | 06/16/2025 | $41,051 |
| Delta Community Supports | Residential Lead | Egg Harbor, NJ | 05/23/2025 | $45,914 |
| San Diego LGBT Community Center | Lead Residential Counselor-Evenings, Weekend Position | San Diego, CA | 05/22/2025 | $50,088 |
| Hathaway-Sycamores | Lead Clinician-Residential | Altadena, CA | 05/20/2025 | $85,500 |
Lead residential counselor salary FAQs
Search for lead residential counselor jobs