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Social services counselor salary
Average social services counselor salary
$45,514
Social Services Counselor Salary Overview
The average salary for a Social Services Counselor is approximately $45,514 per year, translating to about $22 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, experience level, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, counselors in metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for services.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start around $35,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $60,000. Experience plays a critical role in determining salary, as does the counselor's specialization.
Top Paying States and Cities
States like California and New York often offer higher salaries for social services counselors. Major cities such as San Francisco and New York City lead the way in compensation due to the cost of living and the concentration of social service organizations.
Let Zippi find your next social services counselor job
Let Zippi find your next social services counselor job
Where can a Social Services Counselor earn more?
Social services counselor salaries by experience level
Average social services counselor salary by state
The average social services counselor salary in New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average social services counselor salary states are Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for social services counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,984 | $29.32 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $75,468 | $36.28 |
| 3 | Washington | $59,164 | $28.44 |
| 4 | Maryland | $61,337 | $29.49 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $53,359 | $25.65 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $60,547 | $29.11 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $54,525 | $26.21 |
| 8 | New York | $52,676 | $25.32 |
| 9 | Idaho | $48,838 | $23.48 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $50,722 | $24.39 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $55,802 | $26.83 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| 13 | Nevada | $52,309 | $25.15 |
| 14 | Maine | $47,294 | $22.74 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $50,535 | $24.30 |
| 16 | Alaska | $50,069 | $24.07 |
| 17 | California | $54,318 | $26.11 |
| 18 | Virginia | $54,128 | $26.02 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $50,873 | $24.46 |
| 20 | Iowa | $45,951 | $22.09 |
| 21 | Illinois | $48,389 | $23.26 |
| 22 | Oregon | $47,418 | $22.80 |
| 23 | Kansas | $49,166 | $23.64 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $43,984 | $21.15 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $44,323 | $21.31 |
| 26 | Vermont | $45,708 | $21.98 |
| 27 | Michigan | $44,784 | $21.53 |
| 28 | Montana | $43,487 | $20.91 |
| 29 | Colorado | $47,151 | $22.67 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $44,581 | $21.43 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $43,085 | $20.71 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $46,745 | $22.47 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $43,570 | $20.95 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $44,118 | $21.21 |
| 35 | Utah | $45,065 | $21.67 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $45,461 | $21.86 |
| 37 | Texas | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| 38 | Delaware | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| 39 | Arizona | $40,623 | $19.53 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $40,959 | $19.69 |
| 41 | Georgia | $43,027 | $20.69 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $37,994 | $18.27 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $39,651 | $19.06 |
| 44 | Alabama | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| 45 | Indiana | $37,896 | $18.22 |
| 46 | Florida | $36,509 | $17.55 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $37,348 | $17.96 |
| 48 | Ohio | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $35,654 | $17.14 |
| 50 | Missouri | $36,694 | $17.64 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $33,594 | $16.15 |
Highest paying cities for social services counselors
The highest-paying cities for social services counselors are Trenton, NJ, Los Angeles, CA, and Lake Charles, LA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $75,179 | $36.14 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $54,074 | $26.00 |
| 3 | Lake Charles, LA | $53,834 | $25.88 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $48,558 | $23.35 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $45,743 | $21.99 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,932 | $21.60 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| 8 | Lincoln, NE | $40,907 | $19.67 |
| 9 | Louisville, KY | $37,362 | $17.96 |
| 10 | Ocala, FL | $36,862 | $17.72 |
Social services counselor salary details
A social services counselor's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a social services counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $45,514 | $3,793 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying social services counselor jobs
The highest paying types of social services counselors are licensed social worker, school social worker, and mental health clinician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Worker | $36,992 | $3,083 | $17.78 | 101,552 |
| Mental Health Clinician | $54,359 | $4,530 | $26.13 | 91,347 |
| Licensed Social Worker | $57,005 | $4,750 | $27.41 | 66,130 |
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| School Social Worker | $54,856 | $4,571 | $26.37 | 122,376 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $43,111 | $3,593 | $20.73 | 77,220 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for social services counselors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sarah Christa Butts MSW
Director of Public Policy, National Association of Social Workers
Which companies pay social services counselors the most?
Social services counselor salaries at Mission Regional Medical Center and Prime Healthcare are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average social services counselor salary at companies like Oaks Christian School and Universal Health Services are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $53,534 | $25.74 |
| 2 | Prime Healthcare | $53,204 | $25.58 |
| 3 | Oaks Christian School | $52,659 | $25.32 |
| 4 | Universal Health Services | $49,248 | $23.68 |
| 5 | Louisiana State Police | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| 6 | My Florida Regional Mls | $46,289 | $22.25 |
| 7 | Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City | $45,826 | $22.03 |
| 8 | Trilogy Health Services | $43,777 | $21.05 |
| 9 | RiversEdge USA | $42,375 | $20.37 |
| 10 | Cano Health | $41,471 | $19.94 |
| 11 | Emory Healthcare | $38,554 | $18.54 |
| 12 | Broward Health | $36,039 | $17.33 |
| 13 | State Of Florida | $34,042 | $16.37 |
| 14 | Florida Department of Transportation | $33,583 | $16.15 |
| 15 | Florida Dept. of Health | $32,727 | $15.73 |
| 16 | The Salvation Army | $30,818 | $14.82 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Social Services Counselor salary by industry
The average social services counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average social services counselor salary in the education industry is $49,584, the highest of any industry.
- The average social services counselor salary in the finance industry is $49,315.
- Social services counselors in the government industry earn an average salary of $40,175, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for social services counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $49,584 | $23.84 |
| 2 | Finance | $49,315 | $23.71 |
| 3 | Health Care | $44,288 | $21.29 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $41,519 | $19.96 |
| 5 | Government | $40,175 | $19.31 |
High paying social services counselor jobs
Social services counselor salary trends
The average social services counselor salary has risen by $7,283 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average social services counselor earned $38,231 annually, but today, they earn $45,514 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for social services counselors over the last decade.
Compare social services counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average social services counselor salary over time
Compare social services counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Social services counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,500 | $21.88 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $44,500 | $21.41 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $43,500 | $20.91 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $41,700 | $20.05 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $40,600 | $19.54 | +2.1% |
Recently added social services counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tennessee | Social Counselor | Shelbyville, IN | 06/22/2025 | $43,140 |
| Illinois Association of School | District-Wide Social Emotional Wellness Counselor | Kane, IL | 06/20/2025 | $42,848 |
| Joshua ISD | Social Emotional Support Counselor | Nome, TX | 06/20/2025 | $65,702 |
| State of Florida | Social Services Counselor | North Port, FL | 06/19/2025 | $38,000 |
| State of Louisiana | Social Service Counselor 4-A | Monroe, LA | 06/19/2025 | $50,000 |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | Social Services-Social Services | San Jose, CA | 06/15/2025 | $133,359 |
| Medlead Careers | Social Counselor | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $45,000 |
| Educational Service Dist 112 | Social Emotional Counselor SY) | Ione, WA | 06/06/2025 | $60,523 |
| Educational Service District 112 | Social Emotional Counselor SY) | Lyle, WA | 06/06/2025 | $60,523 |
| Liberty Healthcare Corporation | Options Counselor-Hybrid Social Service Support Coordination | Pittsburg, KS | 05/29/2025 | $50,000 |
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