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Best states for a youth counselor
Quoted expert
Christine Suniti Bhat
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like youth counselors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for youth counselors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for youth counselor jobs.
California is the best state for jobs for youth counselors, and North Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in California is $50,100, while the median pay in North Carolina is $28,789.If you are currently seeking employment as a youth counselor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for youth counselors in 2025
1. California
Total youth counselor jobs: 2,761 Average annual salary: $50,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1
2. Washington
Total youth counselor jobs: 823 Average annual salary: $41,815 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. New York
Total youth counselor jobs: 1,729 Average annual salary: $40,275 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
4. Rhode Island
Total youth counselor jobs: 120 Average annual salary: $39,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. Illinois
Total youth counselor jobs: 1,156 Average annual salary: $40,306 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
6. New Mexico
Total youth counselor jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $39,711 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
7. Pennsylvania
Total youth counselor jobs: 1,368 Average annual salary: $38,342 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
8. Maine
Total youth counselor jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $36,135 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
9. West Virginia
Total youth counselor jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $40,513 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.59
10. Connecticut
Total youth counselor jobs: 394 Average annual salary: $37,742 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
Youth counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a youth counselor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a youth counselor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $50,100 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,761 |
| 2 | Washington | $41,815 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 823 |
| 3 | New York | $40,275 | $29,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,729 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,683 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 120 |
| 5 | Illinois | $40,306 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,156 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $39,711 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 189 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $38,342 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,368 |
| 8 | Maine | $36,135 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 214 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $40,513 | $30,000 | 1,815,857 | 85 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $37,742 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 394 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $36,540 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,186 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $38,274 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 408 |
| 13 | Nevada | $38,971 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 173 |
| 14 | Ohio | $37,462 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 744 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,112 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 627 |
| 16 | Georgia | $38,138 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 812 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $36,170 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 82 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $39,772 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 153 |
| 19 | Oregon | $36,656 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 384 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $36,148 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 271 |
| 21 | Utah | $36,988 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 212 |
| 22 | Kansas | $36,728 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 185 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $36,311 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 850 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $36,532 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 110 |
| 25 | Vermont | $36,324 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 54 |
| 26 | Virginia | $38,393 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 619 |
| 27 | Colorado | $35,727 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 599 |
| 28 | Maryland | $36,084 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 731 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $35,040 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 198 |
| 30 | Arizona | $33,535 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 634 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $35,821 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 347 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,875 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 127 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $33,342 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 401 |
| 34 | Delaware | $34,791 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 100 |
| 35 | Iowa | $32,737 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 310 |
| 36 | Alaska | $31,431 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 165 |
| 37 | Texas | $33,820 | $23,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,430 |
| 38 | Alabama | $34,082 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 218 |
| 39 | Michigan | $30,886 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 750 |
| 40 | Montana | $29,398 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 144 |
| 41 | Idaho | $30,362 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 149 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $29,847 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 158 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $28,507 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 242 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $29,546 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 45 | Florida | $28,641 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,507 |
| 46 | Missouri | $30,602 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 403 |
| 47 | Indiana | $29,462 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 487 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $30,118 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 241 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $29,276 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 70 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $28,990 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 206 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $28,789 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 501 |
Highest paying states for youth counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. Youth Counselor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $50,100 |
| 2 | Washington | $41,815 |
| 3 | New York | $40,275 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,683 |
| 5 | Illinois | $40,306 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $39,711 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $38,342 |
| 8 | Maine | $36,135 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $40,513 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $37,742 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $36,540 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $38,274 |
| 13 | Nevada | $38,971 |
| 14 | Ohio | $37,462 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,112 |
| 16 | Georgia | $38,138 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $36,170 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $39,772 |
| 19 | Oregon | $36,656 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $36,148 |
| 21 | Utah | $36,988 |
| 22 | Kansas | $36,728 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $36,311 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $36,532 |
| 25 | Vermont | $36,324 |
| 26 | Virginia | $38,393 |
| 27 | Colorado | $35,727 |
| 28 | Maryland | $36,084 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $35,040 |
| 30 | Arizona | $33,535 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $35,821 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,875 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $33,342 |
| 34 | Delaware | $34,791 |
| 35 | Iowa | $32,737 |
| 36 | Alaska | $31,431 |
| 37 | Texas | $33,820 |
| 38 | Alabama | $34,082 |
| 39 | Michigan | $30,886 |
| 40 | Montana | $29,398 |
| 41 | Idaho | $30,362 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $29,847 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $28,507 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $29,546 |
| 45 | Florida | $28,641 |
| 46 | Missouri | $30,602 |
| 47 | Indiana | $29,462 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $30,118 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $29,276 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $28,990 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $28,789 |
Expert opinions on the best states for youth counselors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for youth counselors to find work opportunities?
Christine Suniti Bhat
Counseling and Higher Education, Ohio University
Regions and states experiencing a growth in population would be the places for graduates to find work opportunities in the field upon graduation. In the past year, for example, I noticed that there were several job openings in Nashville, Tennessee. In prior years, there seemed to be many opportunities for our graduates in North Carolina.
If students are not restricted geographically, there will continue to be opportunities for them in the country as well as internationally. Further, graduates of school counseling programs should be aware of related jobs that they may be well-suited for, including positions such as Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, and Career Counselor at universities.
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Updated January 8, 2025