SSalario

Admissions Counselor Salary in Dallas, TX: 2026

Admissions Counselor salary data for Dallas, TX, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.

The estimated median Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas, TX is $45,900 per year ($3,825/month, $22/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark by the local cost of living index of 102, which is 2% above the national average.

Entry Level
$36K
$17/hr
Median
$46K
$22/hr
Senior
$59K
$28/hr
Top Earner
$69K
$33/hr

All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Dallas's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.

Admissions Counselor Take-Home Pay in Dallas

Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)

Gross Annual$45,900
Federal Tax-$3,328
State Tax (0.0% eff.)-$0
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$3,511
Annual Take-Home$39,061
Monthly Take-Home$3,255

Living Cost Comparison

Median Rent$1,450/mo
Rent-to-Income Ratio37.9%
Median Home Price$320,000
Cost of Living Index102
City Median Salary (BLS metro, all jobs)$51,440
Admissions Counselor vs City Median$-5,540

Admissions Counselor Requirements

Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
0-2 years
Job Growth
6.0% (2024-2034)

Key Skills

RecruitmentPublic SpeakingData AnalysisCommunicationStudent Assessment

Dallas Job Market Overview

Dallas, Texas has a population of 1,304,379 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Technology, Finance, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 2.8%, and the average commute time is 27minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.

Salary Percentile Breakdown: Admissions Counselor in Dallas

Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Admissions Counselor in Dallas, TX, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:

PercentileAnnual SalaryHourly EquivalentCareer Stage
10th (lowest)$35,700$17/hrEntry-level, < 1 yr exp.
25th$40,800$20/hrJunior, 1-3 yrs exp.
50th (median)$45,900$22/hrMid-career, 0-2 years
75th$59,160$28/hrSenior, 5-10 yrs exp.
90th (top)$69,360$33/hrLead/Principal, 10+ yrs

Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Dallas's Technology sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Salario's national dataset models approximately 5.0% salary growth for Admissions Counselors over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Dallas estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:

5 Years Ago
$43,714
Adjusted for Dallas COL
Today (2026)
$45,900
+5.0% vs 5y ago
Projected 2031
$48,195
If growth continues

Year-over-year, an average Admissions Counselor can expect a 13.5% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Dallas. Negotiation, certifications (None required), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

Dallas vs National Average

The national median Admissions Counselor salary is $45,000 (Salario estimate). In Dallas, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $45,900 is 2.0% above the national figure. This reflects Dallas's cost of living index of 102 (higher than the national average of 100).

For Admissions Counselors, this means: rent typically consumes 44.5% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Dallas costs about 8.2× annual take-home. Homeownership in Dallas on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.

Industry Context: Technology in Dallas

Dallas's economy is anchored by Technology, Finance, Healthcare, with 1,304,379 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Admissions Counselors can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.8%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Admissions Counselor roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.

Methodology & Data Sources

How we calculate Admissions Counselor salaries in Dallas, TX:

  1. Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
  2. Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Dallas index of 102 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
  3. Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
  4. Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), TX 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 0.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
  5. Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.

Authoritative data sources:

Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Admissions Counselor salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Dallas), specific skill set (Recruitment, Public Speaking, Data Analysis), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas, TX?
Salario estimates the median Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas, TX at $45,900 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Admissions Counselor benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 102, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $35,700, and the senior estimate is $59,160 or more.
How much does a Admissions Counselor take home in Dallas after taxes?
A Admissions Counselor earning the median salary of $45,900 in Dallas, TX takes home approximately $39,061 per year ($3,255/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 14.9%.
Is Dallas a good city for Admissions Counselors?
Dallas, TX has a cost of living index of 102 (above national average). Admissions Counselors here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Technology, Finance, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Admissions Counselor in Dallas?
Key skills for Admissions Counselors include Recruitment, Public Speaking, Data Analysis, Communication, Student Assessment. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include None required.
How does Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Admissions Counselor is $45,000. In Dallas, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $45,900, which is 2.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.

Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay

Use our free paycheck calculator to see your after-tax income based on your specific salary, deductions, and filing status.

Calculate Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas, TX?

Salario estimates the median Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas, TX at $45,900 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Admissions Counselor benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 102, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $35,700, and the senior estimate is $59,160 or more.

How much does a Admissions Counselor take home in Dallas after taxes?

A Admissions Counselor earning the median salary of $45,900 in Dallas, TX takes home approximately $39,061 per year ($3,255/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 14.9%.

Is Dallas a good city for Admissions Counselors?

Dallas, TX has a cost of living index of 102 (above national average). Admissions Counselors here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Technology, Finance, Healthcare.

What skills are needed for a Admissions Counselor in Dallas?

Key skills for Admissions Counselors include Recruitment, Public Speaking, Data Analysis, Communication, Student Assessment. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include None required.

How does Admissions Counselor salary in Dallas compare to the national average?

Salario's national median benchmark for Admissions Counselor is $45,000. In Dallas, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $45,900, which is 2.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.