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School guidance counselor salary
Average school guidance counselor salary
$49,562
Understanding School Guidance Counselor Salaries
The average salary for a School Guidance Counselor in the United States is approximately $49,562 annually. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific educational setting. For instance, counselors in urban districts often earn more than those in rural areas due to higher living costs and demand for services.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level counselors typically start at around $40,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $60,000 or more. Advanced positions, such as those in administrative roles, can command higher salaries.
Highest Paying States
States like California, New York, and Florida offer some of the highest salaries for guidance counselors, reflecting the demand and cost of living in these regions. Understanding these variations can help aspiring counselors make informed decisions about their career paths.
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Where can a School Guidance Counselor earn more?
School guidance counselor salaries by experience level
School guidance counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average school guidance counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for school guidance counselors are California, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average school guidance counselor salary states are Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for school guidance counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $56,111 | $26.98 |
| 2 | California | $66,208 | $31.83 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $53,375 | $25.66 |
| 4 | Washington | $54,495 | $26.20 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $53,232 | $25.59 |
| 6 | Nevada | $51,781 | $24.89 |
| 7 | New York | $51,273 | $24.65 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $61,044 | $29.35 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $48,433 | $23.29 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| 11 | Arizona | $49,186 | $23.65 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $49,323 | $23.71 |
| 13 | Oregon | $49,578 | $23.84 |
| 14 | Ohio | $49,972 | $24.02 |
| 15 | Texas | $50,886 | $24.46 |
| 16 | Maryland | $51,511 | $24.76 |
| 17 | Kansas | $50,188 | $24.13 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $48,695 | $23.41 |
| 19 | Delaware | $48,449 | $23.29 |
| 20 | Illinois | $45,354 | $21.80 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $45,237 | $21.75 |
| 22 | Michigan | $44,229 | $21.26 |
| 23 | Alaska | $43,756 | $21.04 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $45,975 | $22.10 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $43,993 | $21.15 |
| 26 | Vermont | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| 27 | Iowa | $44,066 | $21.19 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $42,916 | $20.63 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $43,177 | $20.76 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $43,219 | $20.78 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $42,336 | $20.35 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $43,533 | $20.93 |
| 33 | Colorado | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| 34 | Virginia | $46,561 | $22.39 |
| 35 | Utah | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $42,341 | $20.36 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $41,561 | $19.98 |
| 38 | Indiana | $41,111 | $19.76 |
| 39 | Montana | $38,217 | $18.37 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $42,049 | $20.22 |
| 41 | Maine | $35,129 | $16.89 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| 43 | Georgia | $41,002 | $19.71 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $41,197 | $19.81 |
| 45 | Florida | $38,869 | $18.69 |
| 46 | Missouri | $37,093 | $17.83 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $38,209 | $18.37 |
| 48 | Idaho | $34,402 | $16.54 |
| 49 | Alabama | $39,237 | $18.86 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $38,115 | $18.32 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $30,998 | $14.90 |
Highest paying cities for school guidance counselors
The highest-paying cities for school guidance counselors are San Francisco, CA, Randolph, MA, and Auburn, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $68,711 | $33.03 |
| 2 | Randolph, MA | $56,344 | $27.09 |
| 3 | Auburn, WA | $54,775 | $26.33 |
| 4 | Paterson, NJ | $53,080 | $25.52 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $51,504 | $24.76 |
| 6 | Keller, TX | $50,946 | $24.49 |
| 7 | Alamogordo, NM | $49,633 | $23.86 |
| 8 | Surprise, AZ | $49,233 | $23.67 |
| 9 | East Saint Louis, IL | $45,267 | $21.76 |
| 10 | Orlando, FL | $39,621 | $19.05 |
School guidance counselor salary details
A school guidance counselor's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a school guidance counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $49,562 | $4,130 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying school guidance counselor jobs
The highest paying types of school guidance counselors are lead counselor, school social worker, and school counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Community Health Counselor | $43,304 | $3,609 | $20.82 | 131,804 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Counselor | $36,225 | $3,019 | $17.42 | 77,536 |
| Employment Counselor | $43,848 | $3,654 | $21.08 | 29,459 |
| Admissions Counselor | $39,298 | $3,275 | $18.89 | 43,413 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for school guidance counselors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Barbara Faye Streets Ph.D., L.P., CAC/BP
Board Certified Diplomate/Fellow, in African Centered/ Black Psychology, Associate Professor,, SUNY Oswego
Top companies hiring school guidance counselors now:
Which companies pay school guidance counselors the most?
School guidance counselor salaries at Tolleson Union High School District and Rochester Academy Charter School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average school guidance counselor salary at companies like Broward County Public Schools and Alamogordo Public Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tolleson Union High School District | $56,890 | $27.35 |
| 2 | Rochester Academy Charter School | $55,731 | $26.79 |
| 3 | Broward County Public Schools | $55,076 | $26.48 |
| 4 | Alamogordo Public Schools | $55,047 | $26.46 |
| 5 | Maricopa Unified School District | $55,035 | $26.46 |
| 6 | Jefferson County Public School | $54,533 | $26.22 |
| 7 | East St Louis School District 189 | $53,978 | $25.95 |
| 8 | Buffalo Schools | $53,539 | $25.74 |
| 9 | Longwood Csd | $53,354 | $25.65 |
| 10 | The City University of New York | $52,123 | $25.06 |
| 11 | Boston Higashi School | $51,608 | $24.81 |
| 12 | Muckleshoot Casino | $51,029 | $24.53 |
| 13 | Orange County High School | $51,018 | $24.53 |
| 14 | Carbon Lehigh IU #21 | $50,413 | $24.24 |
| 15 | Jefferson Parish Public Schools | $50,026 | $24.05 |
| 16 | Polk State College | $49,757 | $23.92 |
| 17 | Paterson Arts and Science Charter School | $49,472 | $23.78 |
| 18 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $48,974 | $23.55 |
| 19 | Needham Public Schools | $44,691 | $21.49 |
| 20 | K12 | $35,341 | $16.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
School guidance counselor salary trends
The average school guidance counselor salary has risen by $3,402 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average school guidance counselor earned $46,160 annually, but today, they earn $49,562 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for school guidance counselors over the last decade.
Compare school guidance counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average school guidance counselor salary over time
Compare school guidance counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
School guidance counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $49,600 | $23.83 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $48,600 | $23.39 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $48,000 | $23.09 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $47,300 | $22.72 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $46,500 | $22.37 | +1.6% |
Recently added school guidance counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Public Schools | Guidance Counselor-Upper Elementary/Middle School (Grades) | Hillsboro, OR | 06/30/2025 | $22,332 |
| Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | School Guidance Counselor | Charlton, MA | 06/18/2025 | $59,152 |
| Care Options for Kids | School Guidance Counselor | Hilton Head Island, SC | 06/16/2025 | $93,915 |
| Amergis | High School Guidance Counselor | Marion, SC | 06/13/2025 | $106,228 |
| United Nations International School | Middle School Guidance Counselor Appointment) | Fine, NY | 06/12/2025 | $67,745 |
| Kipp Capital Region Public Schools | ] Guidance Counselor-High School | Albany, NY | 06/11/2025 | $58,800 |
| Kershaw County School District | Elementary School Guidance Counselor | Cope, SC | 06/07/2025 | $48,100 |
| Amergis | School Guidance Counselor | Akron, OH | 05/24/2025 | $62,610 |
| Argo Community High School | School Guidance Counselor | Kane, IL | 05/23/2025 | $68,662 |
| Illinois Association of School | School Counselor/Guidance Counselor | Alton, IL | 05/22/2025 | $43,410 |
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