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Guidance Counselor Salary in Lynn, MA: 2026

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

The estimated median Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn, MA is $76,231 per year ($6,353/month, $37/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 118.5, which is 19% above the national average.

Entry Level
$55K
$27/hr
Median
$76K
$37/hr
Senior
$101K
$48/hr
Top Earner
$117K
$56/hr

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

Guidance Counselor Take-Home Pay in Lynn

Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)

Gross Annual$76,231
Federal Tax-$7,941
State Tax (5.0% eff.)-$3,812
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$5,832
Annual Take-Home$58,647
Monthly Take-Home$4,887

Living Cost Comparison

Median Rent$1,790/mo
Rent-to-Income Ratio28.2%
Median Home Price$435,000
Cost of Living Index118.5
City Median Salary (BLS metro, all jobs)$66,620
Guidance Counselor vs City Median+$9,611

Guidance Counselor Requirements

Education
Master's Degree
Experience
2-4 years
Job Growth
5.0% (2024-2034)

Key Skills

CounselingStudent AssessmentCareer GuidanceCrisis InterventionAcademic Planning

Lynn Job Market Overview

Lynn, Massachusetts has a population of 99,989 and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. The top industries are Biotech, Education, Finance. The local job growth rate is 0.5%, and the average commute time is 19minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.

Guidance Counselor Salary in Nearby Massachusetts Cities

Salary Percentile Breakdown: Guidance Counselor in Lynn

Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Guidance Counselor in Lynn, MA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:

PercentileAnnual SalaryHourly EquivalentCareer Stage
10th (lowest)$55,340$27/hrEntry-level, < 1 yr exp.
25th$65,786$32/hrJunior, 1-3 yrs exp.
50th (median)$76,231$37/hrMid-career, 2-4 years
75th$100,844$48/hrSenior, 5-10 yrs exp.
90th (top)$116,841$56/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 Lynn's Biotech sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Salario's national dataset models approximately 5.0% salary growth for Guidance Counselors over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Lynn 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
$72,601
Adjusted for Lynn COL
Today (2026)
$76,231
+5.0% vs 5y ago
Projected 2031
$80,043
If growth continues

Year-over-year, an average Guidance Counselor can expect a 10.5% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Lynn. Negotiation, certifications (State Licensure, NCC), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

Lynn vs National Average

The national median Guidance Counselor salary is $64,330 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors). In Lynn, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $76,231 is 18.5% above the national figure. This reflects Lynn's cost of living index of 118.5 (higher than the national average of 100).

For Guidance Counselors, this means: rent typically consumes 36.6% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Lynn costs about 7.4× annual take-home. Homeownership in Lynn on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.

Industry Context: Biotech in Lynn

Lynn's economy is anchored by Biotech, Education, Finance, with 99,989 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Guidance Counselors can differ by sector, so compare Biotech employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 0.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 5.0% growth outlook for Guidance 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 Guidance Counselor salaries in Lynn, MA:

  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 (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors). 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 Lynn index of 118.5 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%), MA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 9.0%), 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. Guidance Counselor salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Biotech vs others in Lynn), specific skill set (Counseling, Student Assessment, Career Guidance), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn, MA?
Salario estimates the median Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn, MA at $76,231 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Guidance Counselor benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 118.5, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $55,340, and the senior estimate is $100,844 or more.
How much does a Guidance Counselor take home in Lynn after taxes?
A Guidance Counselor earning the median salary of $76,231 in Lynn, MA takes home approximately $58,647 per year ($4,887/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 23.1%.
Is Lynn a good city for Guidance Counselors?
Lynn, MA has a cost of living index of 118.5 (above national average). Guidance Counselors here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2% and top industries include Biotech, Education, Finance.
What skills are needed for a Guidance Counselor in Lynn?
Key skills for Guidance Counselors include Counseling, Student Assessment, Career Guidance, Crisis Intervention, Academic Planning. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree. Valuable certifications include State Licensure, NCC.
How does Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Guidance Counselor is $64,330 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Lynn, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $76,231, which is 18.5% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn, MA?

Salario estimates the median Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn, MA at $76,231 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Guidance Counselor benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 118.5, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $55,340, and the senior estimate is $100,844 or more.

How much does a Guidance Counselor take home in Lynn after taxes?

A Guidance Counselor earning the median salary of $76,231 in Lynn, MA takes home approximately $58,647 per year ($4,887/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 23.1%.

Is Lynn a good city for Guidance Counselors?

Lynn, MA has a cost of living index of 118.5 (above national average). Guidance Counselors here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2% and top industries include Biotech, Education, Finance.

What skills are needed for a Guidance Counselor in Lynn?

Key skills for Guidance Counselors include Counseling, Student Assessment, Career Guidance, Crisis Intervention, Academic Planning. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree. Valuable certifications include State Licensure, NCC.

How does Guidance Counselor salary in Lynn compare to the national average?

Salario's national median benchmark for Guidance Counselor is $64,330 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Lynn, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $76,231, which is 18.5% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.