School Counselor Salary in 2026
School counselors support students' academic, career, and social-emotional development through individual and group counseling. They help with college planning and crisis intervention.
Median Salary
$64,330
$5,361/mo
Entry Level
$46,500
starting pay
Senior Level
$79,200
experienced
Job Growth
+5%
10-yr outlook
BLS OEWS May 2025 · official national figures
BLS reports Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012) at a national median of $64,330 per year (mean $71,430), or $30.93 per hour, with 353,310 people employed nationwide. The median above is this BLS figure; the entry, senior and top tiers are Salario estimates calibrated to it. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
School Counselor Overview
School counselors support students' academic, career, and social-emotional development through individual and group counseling. They help with college planning and crisis intervention.
Education
Master's Degree
Experience
0-3 years
Industry
Education
Total Jobs (US)
353K
5-Year Growth
+10%
Category
Education
Hourly Rate
$30.93/hr
Monthly Pay
$5,361
Reviewed May 18, 2026
2026 School Counselor Salary Market Notes
Market context
School counselor pay follows district schedules, student caseload, grade level, licensure, union contract, and whether the role includes college counseling, crisis response, mental health coordination, or social-emotional learning programs.
What drives higher pay
The strongest salary drivers are state counselor licensure, masters degree, crisis intervention, college admissions advising, IEP/504 coordination, bilingual support, data reporting, and leadership of counseling programs.
Location note
High-cost metro districts may pay more on paper, but caseload size, pension rules, and local housing costs determine real compensation. Private schools can differ sharply from public district schedules.
Career move
A practical salary move is to document caseload outcomes: attendance, graduation, college applications, scholarship dollars, crisis response process, and program implementation. Those metrics support lead counselor and administrator moves.
Use BLS school and career counselor data as the baseline, then verify district salary schedules and licensure requirements locally.
School Counselor Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated School Counselor salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated School Counselor Salary
$68,000
$5,667/month · $2,615/biweekly · $32.69/hr
School Counselor Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the School Counselor field.
Entry-level School Counselors earn around $46,500, while the top 10% earn $84,150 or more.
Top Paying States for School Counselors
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $76,000 | +$11,670 |
| New York | $74,000 | +$9,670 |
| New Jersey | $71,000 | +$6,670 |
| Texas | $63,000 | $-1,330 |
| Florida | $63,000 | $-1,330 |
Top Paying Cities for School Counselors
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $76,000 | +$11,670 |
| HoustonBLS metro | $75,930 | +$11,600 |
| Los Angeles | $72,000 | +$7,670 |
| Newark | $69,000 | +$4,670 |
| Miami | $66,000 | +$1,670 |
Rows marked BLS metro are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in that city's metropolitan statistical area (1 of 5); the remaining rows are Salario estimates that scale the national median by a city cost-of-labor multiplier.
School Counselor Salary by City
Published city-level wage and take-home pay guides for School Counselor.
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
School Counselor Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a School Counselor from entry level to expert.
$46,500
0-2 years
$63,000
3-7 years
$79,200
8-14 years
$89,100
15+ years
Related Education Jobs
School Counselor Salary FAQ
How much does a School Counselor make in 2026?
The median salary for a School Counselor in the United States is $64,330 per year, the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012); the mean is $71,430. Salario's calibrated tiers put entry-level positions around $46,500, senior professionals around $79,200, and top earners at $89,100 or more annually.
What education is needed to become a School Counselor?
A School Counselor typically requires a Master's Degree with 0-3 years of experience. Key skills include Counseling, College Advising, Crisis Intervention. Relevant certifications such as State School Counselor License or NCC can boost earning potential and career advancement.
What is the job outlook for School Counselors?
The job market for School Counselors is projected to grow by 5% over the next decade. There are currently approximately 353K School Counselor positions in the US. Salary growth over the past 5 years has been approximately 10%, reflecting moderate demand for this role.
Which states pay School Counselors the most?
The highest-paying states for School Counselors include New York, California, Texas. In New York, the median salary is approximately $74,000. However, cost of living varies significantly, so adjusted purchasing power should be considered when comparing salaries across states.
How can I increase my School Counselor salary?
To increase your School Counselor salary, focus on gaining expertise in high-demand skills like Counseling and College Advising. Pursue certifications such as State School Counselor License. Consider relocating to higher-paying markets like New York. With 0-3 years of experience, you can progress from $46,500 to $79,200 or more.
Methodology & Data Sources: School Counselor Salary
How we calculate School Counselor salary data: The national median is the official BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012), retrieved from the BLS Public Data API. The entry, senior and top tiers are a Salario model: the shape of the distribution is Salario's, rescaled so that its median equals the BLS median. State and most city figures are Salario estimates that apply cost-of-labor multipliers to that median.
- National median salary: $64,330, BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors; BLS mean $71,430; BLS hourly median $30.93.
- Entry-level ($46,500) and senior-level ($79,200) are Salario tiers calibrated to the BLS median; they are not BLS percentiles. BLS publishes P10/P25/P75/P90 wages for this occupation in its OEWS tables.
- Job outlook: +5% projected growth is Salario's outlook figure; compare with the BLS Employment Projections program. BLS OEWS May 2025 counts 353,310 Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors jobs nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 10% is a Salario estimate of past 5-year wage growth for the Education sector, informed by the BLS Employment Cost Index.
- Education requirement: Master's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State and city estimates apply Salario cost-of-labor multipliers to the national median of $64,330; city rows marked "BLS metro" are real OEWS metropolitan-area medians instead.
Authoritative US data sources for School Counselor compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, School Counselor job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections, 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index, quarterly compensation trend data for Education
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: School Counselor salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Counseling, College Advising, Crisis Intervention), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS figures: OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026), retrieved from the BLS API on September 17, 2026
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