Best cities for a school counselor
The best cities for school counselors are Corpus Christi, TX, El Paso, TX, and Albuquerque, NM, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for school counselors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for school counselors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a school counselor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for school counselors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for school counselors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a school counselor. While the absolute best city for school counselors is Corpus Christi, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for school counselors in 2024.
If you're looking for a school counselor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for school counselors in 2025
1. Corpus Christi, TX
Total school counselor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $51,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 9.09 2. El Paso, TX
Total school counselor jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $53,565 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 8.01 3. Albuquerque, NM
Total school counselor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $53,264 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 1.24 4. Oakland, CA
Total school counselor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $61,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 2.61 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total school counselor jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $49,180 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 1.97 6. Bakersfield, CA
Total school counselor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $60,840 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 1.84 7. San Antonio, TX
Total school counselor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $52,299 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.57 8. Sacramento, CA
Total school counselor jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $61,481 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 1.39 9. Anaheim, CA
Total school counselor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $60,044 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 2.46 10. Chula Vista, CA
Total school counselor jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $59,773 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 2.88
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Best cities for school counselors
- Corpus Christi, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Albuquerque, NM
- Oakland, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Bakersfield, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- (5 school counselor jobs)
- (11 school counselor jobs)
- (4 school counselor jobs)
- (6 school counselor jobs)
- (23 school counselor jobs)
- (2 school counselor jobs)
- (4 school counselor jobs)
- (7 school counselor jobs)
- (3 school counselor jobs)
- (1 school counselor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a school counselor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi, TX | $51,629 | $37,000 | 325,733 | 5 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $53,565 | $38,000 | 683,080 | 11 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,264 | $38,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $61,992 | $44,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,180 | $34,000 | 1,567,872 | 23 |
| 6 | Bakersfield, CA | $60,840 | $43,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $52,299 | $37,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $61,481 | $43,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 9 | Anaheim, CA | $60,044 | $43,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 10 | Chula Vista, CA | $59,773 | $43,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $60,211 | $43,000 | 3,976,322 | 21 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $46,955 | $33,000 | 652,717 | 3 |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $61,925 | $44,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $52,404 | $37,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 15 | Fort Worth, TX | $52,369 | $37,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $52,354 | $37,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $52,318 | $37,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 18 | Virginia Beach, VA | $51,380 | $36,000 | 452,602 | 8 |
| 19 | Irving, TX | $52,321 | $37,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $52,107 | $37,000 | 2,303,482 | 5 |
| 21 | Garland, TX | $52,278 | $37,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $52,262 | $37,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 23 | Laredo, TX | $51,771 | $37,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 24 | Riverside, CA | $59,972 | $43,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 25 | San Francisco, CA | $62,072 | $44,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 26 | Glendale, AZ | $45,847 | $33,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 27 | Lubbock, TX | $52,627 | $38,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $43,616 | $31,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 29 | Fremont, CA | $61,931 | $43,000 | 233,136 | 1 |
| 30 | Nashville, TN | $47,010 | $33,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 31 | Newark, NJ | $53,366 | $37,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 32 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,074 | $34,000 | 413,651 | 14 |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $61,592 | $43,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,832 | $33,000 | 1,615,017 | 21 |
| 35 | San Diego, CA | $59,807 | $43,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 36 | Fresno, CA | $61,267 | $43,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 37 | Jersey City, NJ | $53,415 | $37,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 38 | Cincinnati, OH | $42,607 | $30,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | $45,834 | $33,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 40 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,934 | $33,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 41 | Long Beach, CA | $60,074 | $43,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 42 | Seattle, WA | $52,201 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $60,014 | $43,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 44 | Irvine, CA | $59,987 | $43,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 45 | Greensboro, NC | $43,967 | $31,000 | 287,027 | 4 |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $55,684 | $39,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 47 | Mesa, AZ | $45,817 | $33,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $52,591 | $37,000 | 8,537,673 | 42 |
| 49 | Wichita, KS | $46,631 | $33,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 50 | Anchorage, AK | $43,656 | $36,000 | 298,192 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for school counselors
| Rank | City | Avg. school counselor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $62,072 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $53,565 |
| 3 | Paterson, NJ | $53,283 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $52,591 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $52,438 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $52,201 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $49,692 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,180 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,074 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $46,955 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $46,449 |
| 12 | Salem, OR | $46,265 |
| 13 | Alpharetta, GA | $45,964 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,832 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $45,668 |
| 16 | Pueblo, CO | $40,866 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $40,194 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $39,647 |
| 19 | Troy, MI | $39,094 |
| 20 | Nampa, ID | $37,485 |
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Updated January 8, 2025