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School counselor salary
Average school counselor salary
$49,904
Average School Counselor Salary
The average salary for a school counselor as of October 2025 is $49,904 annually, which breaks down to about $24 per hour. Salaries can vary based on location, educational qualifications, and years of experience. For instance, entry-level counselors may start at lower salaries, while those with significant experience and advanced degrees often earn more.
Salary by State
Different states offer varying compensation levels for school counselors. For example, states like California and New York are known to have higher average salaries compared to others. This is often due to the cost of living and demand for educational professionals in these areas.
Experience Matters
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Counselors with more years in the field typically command higher salaries. For example, a school counselor with over ten years of experience may earn upwards of $60,000 per year, depending on the school district and state.
Job Opportunities
In addition to traditional school settings, school counselors can find opportunities in various environments such as community colleges, private schools, and educational consulting firms. Understanding these salary trends can help prospective counselors make informed career decisions.
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Where can a School Counselor earn more?
School counselor salaries by experience level
School counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average school counselor salary by state
The average school counselor salary in California, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average school counselor salary states are Montana, South Carolina, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for school counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $57,263 | $27.53 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $55,794 | $26.82 |
| 3 | California | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| 5 | Delaware | $51,799 | $24.90 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $53,361 | $25.65 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $53,942 | $25.93 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $53,853 | $25.89 |
| 9 | New York | $52,397 | $25.19 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $54,799 | $26.35 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $54,174 | $26.05 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $50,419 | $24.24 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $48,638 | $23.38 |
| 14 | Washington | $51,991 | $25.00 |
| 15 | Texas | $52,282 | $25.14 |
| 16 | Maryland | $52,376 | $25.18 |
| 17 | Maine | $47,805 | $22.98 |
| 18 | Utah | $50,969 | $24.50 |
| 19 | Vermont | $48,233 | $23.19 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $47,045 | $22.62 |
| 21 | Arizona | $45,822 | $22.03 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $46,994 | $22.59 |
| 23 | Kansas | $46,489 | $22.35 |
| 24 | Virginia | $51,535 | $24.78 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| 26 | Illinois | $45,652 | $21.95 |
| 27 | Oregon | $46,243 | $22.23 |
| 28 | Alaska | $43,306 | $20.82 |
| 29 | Nevada | $45,496 | $21.87 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $44,568 | $21.43 |
| 31 | Iowa | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| 32 | Georgia | $45,753 | $22.00 |
| 33 | Ohio | $43,055 | $20.70 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $40,490 | $19.47 |
| 35 | Montana | $38,517 | $18.52 |
| 36 | Michigan | $38,909 | $18.71 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $43,966 | $21.14 |
| 38 | Colorado | $40,536 | $19.49 |
| 39 | Missouri | $39,889 | $19.18 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $41,932 | $20.16 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $41,821 | $20.11 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $42,913 | $20.63 |
| 44 | Florida | $39,365 | $18.93 |
| 45 | Alabama | $40,549 | $19.49 |
| 46 | Idaho | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $33,089 | $15.91 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $37,298 | $17.93 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $33,830 | $16.26 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $38,585 | $18.55 |
| 51 | Indiana | $34,582 | $16.63 |
Highest paying cities for school counselors
The highest-paying cities for school counselors are San Francisco, CA, El Paso, TX, and Paterson, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $62,072 | $29.84 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $53,565 | $25.75 |
| 3 | Paterson, NJ | $53,283 | $25.62 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $52,591 | $25.28 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $52,438 | $25.21 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $52,201 | $25.10 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $49,692 | $23.89 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,074 | $22.63 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $46,955 | $22.57 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $46,449 | $22.33 |
| 12 | Salem, OR | $46,265 | $22.24 |
| 13 | Alpharetta, GA | $45,964 | $22.10 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,832 | $22.03 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $45,668 | $21.96 |
| 16 | Pueblo, CO | $40,866 | $19.65 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $40,194 | $19.32 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $39,647 | $19.06 |
| 19 | Troy, MI | $39,094 | $18.80 |
| 20 | Nampa, ID | $37,485 | $18.02 |
School counselor salary details
A school counselor's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a school counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $49,904 | $4,159 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying school counselor jobs
The highest paying types of school counselors are lead counselor, school social worker, and school coordinator.
| 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 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Admissions Counselor | $39,298 | $3,275 | $18.89 | 43,413 |
| School Social Worker | $54,856 | $4,571 | $26.37 | 122,376 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for school counselors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Robin Cormier
Assistant Professor, Montana State University - Billings
Top companies hiring school counselors now:
Which companies pay school counselors the most?
School counselor salaries at The Gow School and The Kew-Forest School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average school counselor salary at companies like New York Film Academy and The IDEAL School of Manhattan are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Gow School | $84,122 | $40.44 |
| 2 | The Kew-Forest School | $68,764 | $33.06 |
| 3 | New York Film Academy | $63,897 | $30.72 |
| 4 | The IDEAL School of Manhattan | $62,117 | $29.86 |
| 5 | Pasadena Unified School District | $61,307 | $29.47 |
| 6 | Hemet Unified School District | $60,433 | $29.05 |
| 7 | Irving Isd | $59,839 | $28.77 |
| 8 | West Philadelphia Achievement Charter Elementary School | $59,713 | $28.71 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| 10 | district | $59,031 | $28.38 |
| 11 | Los Feliz Charter School For The Arts | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| 12 | California State University | $58,731 | $28.24 |
| 13 | East Side Union High School District | $58,153 | $27.96 |
| 14 | Salida Union School District | $57,837 | $27.81 |
| 15 | San Diego Unified School District | $57,730 | $27.75 |
| 16 | San Francisco University High School | $57,644 | $27.71 |
| 17 | Special School District | $57,241 | $27.52 |
| 18 | Wicomico County Public Schools | $57,005 | $27.41 |
| 19 | Bedford County Public Schools | $56,999 | $27.40 |
| 20 | Catapult Learning | $56,760 | $27.29 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
School Counselor salary by industry
The average school counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average school counselor salary in the education industry is $52,385, the highest of any industry.
- The average school counselor salary in the finance industry is $43,716.
- School counselors in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $40,294, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for school counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $52,385 | $25.19 |
| 2 | Government | $43,716 | $21.02 |
| 3 | Health Care | $41,305 | $19.86 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $40,294 | $19.37 |
High paying school counselor jobs
School counselor salary trends
The average school counselor salary has risen by $3,426 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average school counselor earned $46,478 annually, but today, they earn $49,904 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for school counselors over the last decade.
Compare school counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average school counselor salary over time
Compare school counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
School counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,900 | $23.99 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $49,000 | $23.55 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $48,300 | $23.25 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $47,600 | $22.87 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $46,800 | $22.52 | +1.6% |
Recently added school counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | After School Counselor | Boca Raton, FL | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Highline School District | School Counselor Secondary | Burien, WA | 06/30/2025 | $70,207 |
| Sussex-Wantage Regional School District | Long Term Leave Replacement School Counselor | Wantage, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $62,521 |
| Epic Special Education Staffing | School Counselor SY | Highland Park, IL | 06/29/2025 | $75,132 |
| Amergis | School Counselor | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 06/28/2025 | $79,306 |
| Orlando Economic Partnership | Counselor-After-School All-Stars | Orlando, FL | 06/27/2025 | $29,218 |
| Pleasantville Public Schools | School Counselor (High School) | Pleasantville, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $74,129 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | School Counseling | Laurel, MT | 06/27/2025 | $42,300 |
| Natalia Independent School District (Tx | School Counselor | Natalia, TX | 06/27/2025 | $64,299 |
| Richfield School District | School Counselor | Richfield, ID | 06/27/2025 | $72,827 |
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