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Youth counselor salary
Average youth counselor salary
$36,754
Understanding Youth Counselor Salaries
As of October 2025, the average youth counselor salary stands at $36,754 annually. This figure represents a typical pay range for those dedicated to supporting young individuals in various settings, including schools, community centers, and rehabilitation programs. Factors that influence salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector in which the counselor works.
For instance, youth counselors in states such as California and New York often earn higher wages due to the higher cost of living and demand for services. Additionally, counselors with advanced training or specialized skills may command greater salaries. According to recent estimates, some of the highest-paying positions in this field can be found within mental health services, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Top-Paying States for Youth Counselors
- California: $45,000
- New York: $42,000
- Texas: $38,500
- Florida: $36,000
Exploring these opportunities can lead to fulfilling careers and a positive impact on the lives of youth. For those interested in pursuing a role as a youth counselor, Zippia provides valuable resources to help you find job openings and career insights tailored to your needs.
Let Zippia find your next youth counselor job
Let Zippia find your next youth counselor job
Where can a Youth Counselor earn more?
Youth counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average youth counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for youth counselors are California, Washington, and West Virginia. The lowest average youth counselor salary states are Montana, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for youth counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $50,100 | $24.09 |
| 2 | Washington | $41,815 | $20.10 |
| 3 | New York | $40,275 | $19.36 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,683 | $19.08 |
| 5 | Illinois | $40,306 | $19.38 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $39,711 | $19.09 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $38,342 | $18.43 |
| 8 | Maine | $36,135 | $17.37 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $40,513 | $19.48 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $37,742 | $18.15 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $38,274 | $18.40 |
| 13 | Nevada | $38,971 | $18.74 |
| 14 | Ohio | $37,462 | $18.01 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,112 | $17.36 |
| 16 | Georgia | $38,138 | $18.34 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $39,772 | $19.12 |
| 19 | Oregon | $36,656 | $17.62 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $36,148 | $17.38 |
| 21 | Utah | $36,988 | $17.78 |
| 22 | Kansas | $36,728 | $17.66 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $36,311 | $17.46 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $36,532 | $17.56 |
| 25 | Vermont | $36,324 | $17.46 |
| 26 | Virginia | $38,393 | $18.46 |
| 27 | Colorado | $35,727 | $17.18 |
| 28 | Maryland | $36,084 | $17.35 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| 30 | Arizona | $33,535 | $16.12 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $35,821 | $17.22 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,875 | $16.77 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $33,342 | $16.03 |
| 34 | Delaware | $34,791 | $16.73 |
| 35 | Iowa | $32,737 | $15.74 |
| 36 | Alaska | $31,431 | $15.11 |
| 37 | Texas | $33,820 | $16.26 |
| 38 | Alabama | $34,082 | $16.39 |
| 39 | Michigan | $30,886 | $14.85 |
| 40 | Montana | $29,398 | $14.13 |
| 41 | Idaho | $30,362 | $14.60 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $29,847 | $14.35 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $28,507 | $13.71 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 45 | Florida | $28,641 | $13.77 |
| 46 | Missouri | $30,602 | $14.71 |
| 47 | Indiana | $29,462 | $14.16 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $30,118 | $14.48 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $29,276 | $14.07 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $28,789 | $13.84 |
Highest paying cities for youth counselors
The highest-paying cities for youth counselors are San Jose, CA, Everett, WA, and Waukegan, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $51,461 | $24.74 |
| 2 | Everett, WA | $41,916 | $20.15 |
| 3 | Waukegan, IL | $40,622 | $19.53 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $40,506 | $19.47 |
| 5 | Bethlehem, PA | $38,517 | $18.52 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $38,386 | $18.45 |
| 7 | Albany, GA | $38,294 | $18.41 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $36,654 | $17.62 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $35,859 | $17.24 |
| 10 | Wheat Ridge, CO | $35,681 | $17.15 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $35,101 | $16.88 |
| 12 | Brownsville, TX | $34,815 | $16.74 |
| 13 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,890 | $15.81 |
| 14 | Saint Charles, MO | $30,614 | $14.72 |
| 15 | Kalamazoo, MI | $30,352 | $14.59 |
| 16 | Missoula, MT | $29,633 | $14.25 |
| 17 | Sioux Falls, SD | $29,340 | $14.11 |
| 18 | Bradenton, FL | $28,957 | $13.92 |
| 19 | Concord, NC | $28,477 | $13.69 |
Youth Counselors are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Youth counselor salary details
A youth counselor's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a youth counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $36,754 | $3,063 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying youth counselor jobs
The highest paying types of youth counselors are intensive in-home counselor, mental health counselor, and counselor internship.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $43,111 | $3,593 | $20.73 | 77,220 |
| Residence Counselor | $34,931 | $2,911 | $16.79 | 78,872 |
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
Top companies hiring youth counselors now:
Which companies pay youth counselors the most?
Youth counselor salaries at New York State Restaurant Association and Upbring are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth counselor salary at companies like Aspiranet and Washington State University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York State Restaurant Association | $52,236 | $25.11 |
| 2 | Upbring | $45,264 | $21.76 |
| 3 | Aspiranet | $45,159 | $21.71 |
| 4 | Washington State University | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| 5 | Missouri State University | $44,056 | $21.18 |
| 6 | Wisconsin Community Services | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| 7 | Lad Lake | $42,949 | $20.65 |
| 8 | The Children's Village | $42,371 | $20.37 |
| 9 | Woodward Academy | $42,072 | $20.23 |
| 10 | newglarushome | $42,044 | $20.21 |
| 11 | Kern Community College District | $41,714 | $20.05 |
| 12 | Archdiocese Of San Antonio | $41,664 | $20.03 |
| 13 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $41,572 | $19.99 |
| 14 | Amcor | $41,454 | $19.93 |
| 15 | Seneca Resources | $41,011 | $19.72 |
| 16 | Southwest Key Programs | $40,995 | $19.71 |
| 17 | Kairos Prison Ministry | $40,952 | $19.69 |
| 18 | Hospice Buffalo | $40,854 | $19.64 |
| 19 | Methodist Home for Children | $40,820 | $19.63 |
| 20 | Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services | $40,800 | $19.62 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Youth Counselor salary by industry
The average youth counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average youth counselor salary in the professional industry is $38,048, the highest of any industry.
- The average youth counselor salary in the finance industry is $37,560.
- Youth counselors in the health care industry earn an average salary of $33,857, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for youth counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $38,048 | $18.29 |
| 2 | Government | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $36,969 | $17.77 |
| 4 | Health Care | $33,857 | $16.28 |
High paying youth counselor jobs
Youth counselor salary trends
The average youth counselor salary has risen by $6,303 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth counselor earned $30,451 annually, but today, they earn $36,754 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for youth counselors over the last decade.
Compare youth counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average youth counselor salary over time
Compare youth counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Youth counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,800 | $17.67 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $35,600 | $17.13 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $34,800 | $16.73 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $33,900 | $16.32 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $33,300 | $16.00 | +2.2% |
Recently added youth counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream Nonprofit Solutions | Youth Care Worker I | Wichita Falls, TX | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Key Program, Inc. | Youth Counselor, 3K Bonus | Worcester, MA | 06/29/2025 | $50,088 |
| Methodist Home for Children | Youth Care Worker | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Father Flanagan's Boys' Home | Youth Care Worker: 2Pm-10Pm | Portsmouth, RI | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| Eckerdhelpsgirls | Youth Counselor | Boone, NC | 06/29/2025 | $34,436 |
| Brightspring Health Services | Youth Care Worker | Saint Albans, WV | 06/29/2025 | $27,131 |
| Boys, Inc. | Youth Development Counselor | Wading River, NY | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Res-Care, Inc. | Youth Care Worker | Saint Albans, WV | 06/28/2025 | $27,131 |
| Urban Strategies LLC | Youth Care Worker Travel Chaperone 3Rd Shift | Tampa, FL | 06/28/2025 | $46,227 |
| Urban Strategies LLC | Youth Care Worker Travel Chaperone 3Rd Shift | Alamo, TX | 06/28/2025 | $46,227 |
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