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Vocational counselor salary
Average vocational counselor salary
$39,135
Average Salary for Vocational Counselors
The average salary for vocational counselors in the United States is $39,135 per year. This figure can be influenced by various factors, including experience level, geographic location, and the specific work environment. For instance, entry-level counselors may earn less than those with several years in the field. Additionally, counselors working in urban areas or specialized settings tend to earn higher salaries.
Experience Level Impact
Vocational counselors typically see salary increases with experience. Those just starting their careers can expect to earn under $35,000, while experienced professionals can earn upwards of $50,000 annually. Continuing education and certifications can further enhance salary potential.
Top Paying States
Some states offer more lucrative opportunities for vocational counselors. For example, states like California and New York often report higher average salaries due to increased demand for counseling services. Understanding these regional differences is essential for job seekers aiming to maximize their earnings.
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Where can a Vocational Counselor earn more?
Vocational counselor salaries by experience level
Vocational counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average vocational counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for vocational counselors are California, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average vocational counselor salary states are Alabama, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vocational counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $52,390 | $25.19 |
| 2 | California | $57,179 | $27.49 |
| 3 | Washington | $47,377 | $22.78 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $45,023 | $21.65 |
| 5 | Oregon | $43,532 | $20.93 |
| 6 | New York | $45,088 | $21.68 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $41,156 | $19.79 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $42,522 | $20.44 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $49,016 | $23.57 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $40,745 | $19.59 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $39,504 | $18.99 |
| 12 | Alaska | $40,717 | $19.58 |
| 13 | Nevada | $42,112 | $20.25 |
| 14 | Ohio | $41,402 | $19.90 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $40,426 | $19.44 |
| 16 | Kansas | $41,658 | $20.03 |
| 17 | Maryland | $41,497 | $19.95 |
| 18 | Vermont | $40,864 | $19.65 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $40,067 | $19.26 |
| 20 | Colorado | $39,279 | $18.88 |
| 21 | Texas | $39,321 | $18.90 |
| 22 | Illinois | $38,281 | $18.40 |
| 23 | Delaware | $39,238 | $18.86 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $37,342 | $17.95 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $37,427 | $17.99 |
| 26 | Iowa | $37,822 | $18.18 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $36,261 | $17.43 |
| 28 | Arizona | $36,891 | $17.74 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $37,442 | $18.00 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $36,427 | $17.51 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $35,683 | $17.16 |
| 32 | Utah | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 33 | Montana | $34,748 | $16.71 |
| 34 | Virginia | $37,383 | $17.97 |
| 35 | Maine | $32,601 | $15.67 |
| 36 | Florida | $34,473 | $16.57 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $34,952 | $16.80 |
| 38 | Indiana | $34,111 | $16.40 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $34,574 | $16.62 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $34,392 | $16.53 |
| 41 | Idaho | $33,264 | $15.99 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $34,108 | $16.40 |
| 43 | Georgia | $32,804 | $15.77 |
| 44 | Michigan | $30,011 | $14.43 |
| 45 | Missouri | $33,676 | $16.19 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $32,994 | $15.86 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $30,181 | $14.51 |
| 48 | Alabama | $31,322 | $15.06 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $30,773 | $14.79 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $28,925 | $13.91 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $27,651 | $13.29 |
Highest paying cities for vocational counselors
The highest-paying cities for vocational counselors are Shasta, CA, Beverly Hills, CA, and Los Angeles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shasta, CA | $58,517 | $28.13 |
| 2 | Beverly Hills, CA | $56,461 | $27.14 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,432 | $27.13 |
| 4 | Anaheim, CA | $56,132 | $26.99 |
| 5 | Temecula, CA | $55,684 | $26.77 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $55,462 | $26.66 |
| 7 | Canton, MA | $52,473 | $25.23 |
| 8 | Southborough, MA | $52,470 | $25.23 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $49,055 | $23.58 |
| 10 | Redmond, WA | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| 11 | Bellport, NY | $45,264 | $21.76 |
| 12 | Huntington Station, NY | $45,223 | $21.74 |
| 13 | Old Bethpage, NY | $45,204 | $21.73 |
| 14 | Mount Vernon, NY | $45,173 | $21.72 |
| 15 | Ellenville, NY | $45,129 | $21.70 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| 17 | Washington, CT | $44,959 | $21.61 |
| 18 | Richmond, NY | $44,771 | $21.52 |
| 19 | Canton, NY | $44,119 | $21.21 |
| 20 | Montgomery Village, MD | $41,339 | $19.87 |
Vocational counselor salary details
A vocational counselor's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vocational 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 | $39,135 | $3,261 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying vocational counselor jobs
The highest paying types of vocational counselors are lead counselor, school counselor, and mental health counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Student Services Counselor | $41,175 | $3,431 | $19.80 | 104,698 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Elementary School Counselor | $34,984 | $2,915 | $16.82 | 92,184 |
| Guidance Counselor | $48,154 | $4,013 | $23.15 | 75,740 |
Top companies hiring vocational counselors now:
Which companies pay vocational counselors the most?
Vocational counselor salaries at Lower Eastside Service Center and The New England Center for Children are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vocational counselor salary at companies like Crawford & Company and Anaheim Union High School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower Eastside Service Center | $44,777 | $21.53 |
| 2 | The New England Center for Children | $43,101 | $20.72 |
| 3 | Crawford & Company | $43,077 | $20.71 |
| 4 | Anaheim Union High School District | $42,873 | $20.61 |
| 5 | COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR AUTISTIC ADULTS | $42,475 | $20.42 |
| 6 | Westcare Health Corporation | $42,475 | $20.42 |
| 7 | The Arc Jefferson - St. Lawrence | $41,979 | $20.18 |
| 8 | Comunilife | $41,672 | $20.03 |
| 9 | My Florida Regional Mls | $41,439 | $19.92 |
| 10 | Mental Health Center Of Denver | $41,402 | $19.90 |
| 11 | Outreach Development | $40,349 | $19.40 |
| 12 | Acacia Network | $40,221 | $19.34 |
| 13 | SHASTA COUNTY | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| 14 | Samaritan Daytop Village | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 15 | First Step Of Sarasota, Inc. | $38,647 | $18.58 |
| 16 | Educational Alliance | $38,492 | $18.51 |
| 17 | ICD - Institute for Career Development | $38,431 | $18.48 |
| 18 | Enable | $37,186 | $17.88 |
| 19 | Merakey | $36,051 | $17.33 |
| 20 | Devereux Arizona | $35,143 | $16.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vocational Counselor salary by industry
The average vocational counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average vocational counselor salary in the education industry is $43,530, the highest of any industry.
- The average vocational counselor salary in the finance industry is $42,386.
- Vocational counselors in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $38,919, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for vocational counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| 2 | Professional | $42,386 | $20.38 |
| 3 | Government | $40,391 | $19.42 |
| 4 | Health Care | $39,594 | $19.04 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $38,919 | $18.71 |
High paying vocational counselor jobs
Vocational counselor salary trends
The average vocational counselor salary has risen by $2,687 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vocational counselor earned $36,448 annually, but today, they earn $39,135 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for vocational counselors over the last decade.
Compare vocational counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vocational counselor salary over time
Compare vocational counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vocational counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,100 | $18.81 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $38,400 | $18.47 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $37,900 | $18.23 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $37,300 | $17.94 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $36,700 | $17.66 | +1.6% |
Recently added vocational counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Florida | Senior Vocational Rehab Counselor | Miami, FL | 06/27/2025 | $47,840 |
| State of Indiana | Vocational Rehab Counselor 2 | Bloomington, IN | 06/26/2025 | $47,320 |
| Opiny | Vocational Counselor | Brentwood, NY | 06/16/2025 | $48,001 |
| Comunilife | Vocational Counselor | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $40,133 |
| State of Arkansas | Certified Vocational Rehab Counselor | Little Rock, AR | 05/21/2025 | $45,010 |
| State of Florida | Senior Vocational Rehab Counselor | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 05/14/2025 | $47,840 |
| Odyssey House Inc. | Vocational Counselor (CRC) | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $62,400 |
| Comunilife | Vocational Counselor | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $40,133 |
| State of Florida | Senior Vocational Rehab Counselor | Miami, FL | 04/21/2025 | $47,840 |
| State of Arkansas | Certified Vocational Rehab Counselor | Little Rock, AR | 04/17/2025 | $45,010 |
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