How much do school counselors make?

School Counselor salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

School counselors in the US earned a median of $64,330 a year ($30.93 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $51,270 to $82,870.

Median annual pay: $64,330; Mean $71,430
Median hourly pay: $30.93; Mean $34.34
Typical range (10th–90th): $45.0K–$105K; $45,020 to $104,770
US jobs: 353,310; +2.9% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become a school counselor: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: New Mexico

School Counselor pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$45,020
25th percentile$51,270
Median$64,330
75th percentile$82,870
90th percentile$104,770

Half of all school counselors earned more than $64,330 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $45,020; the top 10% made over $104,770. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $51,270 to $82,870.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$45,020	$21.65	$3,752
25th	$51,270	$24.65	$4,273
Median (50th)	$64,330	$30.93	$5,361
75th	$82,870	$39.84	$6,906
90th	$104,770	$50.37	$8,731
Mean (average)	$71,430	$34.34	$5,953

School Counselor salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for school counselors by state. Darker tiles pay more.

Highest-paying states

1. California $86,500
2. Alaska $82,900
3. Washington $82,670
4. District of Columbia $80,470
5. Massachusetts $79,930

Lowest-paying states

51. South Dakota $51,830
50. Oklahoma $52,040
49. Florida $53,140
48. West Virginia $55,520
47. Iowa $56,540

Best after cost of living: New Mexico. Its median of $77,880 is worth about $84,458 at national-average prices, more than in California once prices are counted.


Alabama	$59,570	36	$67,066	20	$28.64	4,410	2.09
Alaska	$82,900	2	$80,989	2	$39.86	540	1.65
Arizona	$58,250	42	$57,858	49	$28.00	7,330	2.26
Arkansas	$59,770	35	$68,751	16	$28.74	2,310	1.77
California	$86,500	1	$78,125	3	$41.59	45,140	2.48
Colorado	$64,780	18	$62,861	37	$31.14	6,530	2.27
Connecticut	$73,910	11	$71,335	12	$35.53	3,370	1.99
Delaware	$74,070	10	$74,212	6	$35.61	1,700	3.50
District of Columbia	$80,470	4	$73,220	8	$38.69	1,690	2.41
Florida	$53,140	49	$51,386	51	$25.55	22,800	2.30
Georgia	$63,720	22	$66,173	27	$30.63	11,460	2.35
Hawaii	$61,730	29	$56,143	50	$29.68	1,620	2.59
Idaho	$60,320	33	$63,166	36	$29.00	1,990	2.32
Illinois	$62,420	26	$62,446	39	$30.01	13,580	2.23
Indiana	$59,260	38	$63,496	35	$28.49	5,610	1.75
Iowa	$56,540	47	$64,424	32	$27.18	3,690	2.37
Kansas	$56,590	46	$62,830	38	$27.21	3,100	2.16
Kentucky	$64,350	21	$71,374	11	$30.94	5,030	2.52
Louisiana	$61,870	27	$70,142	13	$29.74	4,820	2.49
Maine	$58,630	41	$60,412	46	$28.19	1,780	2.78
Maryland	$75,820	8	$72,238	9	$36.45	6,600	2.39
Massachusetts	$79,930	5	$75,579	5	$38.43	11,460	3.15
Michigan	$59,440	37	$61,777	43	$28.58	9,170	2.08
Minnesota	$64,600	19	$65,503	29	$31.06	4,200	1.42
Mississippi	$58,710	40	$67,519	19	$28.23	2,620	2.25
Missouri	$58,040	43	$63,909	34	$27.91	8,890	3.03
Montana	$57,900	44	$61,176	44	$27.84	890	1.73
Nebraska	$62,500	25	$69,365	15	$30.05	2,190	2.14
Nevada	$66,710	16	$66,724	22	$32.07	2,250	1.45
New Hampshire	$71,080	13	$68,238	18	$34.17	1,650	2.42
New Jersey	$77,910	6	$71,605	10	$37.46	8,190	1.91
New Mexico	$77,880	7	$84,458	1	$37.44	1,780	2.05
New York	$71,610	12	$66,354	25	$34.43	23,380	2.41
North Carolina	$57,630	45	$61,097	45	$27.71	9,430	1.91
North Dakota	$58,960	39	$66,278	26	$28.35	840	1.96
Ohio	$61,760	28	$66,570	24	$29.69	13,250	2.39
Oklahoma	$52,040	50	$59,242	47	$25.02	4,830	2.83
Oregon	$66,690	17	$64,521	31	$32.06	3,990	2.03
Pennsylvania	$60,880	31	$62,395	40	$29.27	13,570	2.24
Rhode Island	$75,000	9	$73,328	7	$36.06	1,340	2.67
South Carolina	$60,340	32	$64,363	33	$29.01	6,460	2.80
South Dakota	$51,830	51	$58,508	48	$24.92	1,000	2.19
Tennessee	$59,960	34	$65,266	30	$28.83	6,470	1.98
Texas	$67,900	14	$69,959	14	$32.64	31,730	2.25
Utah	$61,320	30	$62,025	42	$29.48	4,070	2.35
Vermont	$64,570	20	$65,916	28	$31.04	1,120	3.68
Virginia	$67,660	15	$66,921	21	$32.53	9,450	2.30
Washington	$82,670	3	$77,252	4	$39.74	6,610	1.86
West Virginia	$55,520	48	$62,036	41	$26.69	1,260	1.80
Wisconsin	$62,690	24	$66,624	23	$30.14	5,330	1.81
Wyoming	$63,430	23	$68,432	17	$30.50	770	2.73

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for school counselors

381 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
El Centro, CA	$141,760	$148,948	200
Grand Island, NE	$109,480	$126,337	90
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$102,650	$97,200	150
Odessa, TX	$101,810	$108,428	120
Yuba City, CA	$101,350	$97,234	140
Fresno, CA	$101,280	$99,141	1,210
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$100,930	$94,619	2,730
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$100,790	$91,185	690
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$100,390	$98,797	110
Salinas, CA	$100,360	$92,038	400

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	19,890	$77,580	$68,921
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	17,110	$79,000	$69,563
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	9,790	$64,730	$62,484
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	8,170	$80,760	$74,594
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	7,980	$76,380	$74,091
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	7,260	$77,420	$71,103
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	7,050	$66,190	$64,542
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	6,550	$67,730	$67,691
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	6,480	$75,930	$76,985
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	6,250	$57,110	$50,028

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves school counselor pay: employers and settings

Where you work matters most. Counselors in elementary and secondary schools earn a median of $76,760; those in colleges and universities earn $58,410; and junior college counselors earn $59,770. That gap explains much of the difference between the overall median of $64,330, which includes many college advisors, and what K-12 counselors make. Local government employers, which are mostly public school districts, pay a median of $77,020. Private employers pay $57,930.

Public school counselors are often paid on the district's salary schedule, the same step-and-lane system used for teachers, so a master's degree, extra graduate credits and years of service move pay up in fixed steps. Many districts also pay extra for extended contracts that add days before or after the school year.

State matters as well. California ($86,500, the highest), Alaska ($82,900, second) and Washington ($82,670, third) lead, with the District of Columbia ($80,470, fourth) and Massachusetts at $79,930 close behind. At the bottom are Florida ($53,140, third from last), Oklahoma ($52,040, second from last) and South Dakota at $51,830. After adjusting for living costs, New Mexico ranks first at $84,458 adjusted.

Where school counselors work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Elementary and Secondary Schools	49.2%	$76,760
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	26.9%	$58,410
Junior Colleges	8.3%	$59,770
Educational Support Services	3.1%	$60,340
Individual and Family Services	1.9%	$48,440
Technical and Trade Schools	1.6%	$56,420

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	108,830	$57,930
Federal government (incl. Postal Service)	760	$85,040
State government (incl. schools and hospitals)	66,170	$57,670
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	177,550	$77,020

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

School Counselor pay over time

Median annual pay, 2015–2025

$64.3K $53.7K

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $53,660 in 2015 to $64,330 in 2025, up 20% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $72,538 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 11% over the period.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What school counselors do

A school counselor, still often called a guidance counselor, helps students succeed academically, socially and in planning what comes after school. In elementary schools the work leans toward classroom lessons on friendship, feelings and study habits, plus small groups for children dealing with divorce, grief or anxiety. In middle and high schools it shifts toward course scheduling, graduation checks, college and career planning, financial aid deadlines and recommendation letters, alongside counseling for stress, conflict and crises.

School counselors work with teachers, parents, administrators, school psychologists and social workers, and refer students to outside mental health providers when needs go beyond short-term school counseling. The same federal occupation also includes career counselors and academic advisors at colleges, community colleges and job centers, who help adults choose majors, plan transfers or look for work. About half of the workers in our data are employed by elementary and secondary schools, and roughly a quarter by colleges and universities.

A typical day

Meet one-on-one with students about grades, attendance, friendships, stress or problems at home
Build class schedules and check transcripts against graduation and college admission requirements
Teach classroom lessons and run small groups on topics like study skills, bullying or grief
Respond to crises such as self-harm statements or threats, and follow reporting rules for suspected abuse
Help students research colleges, trade programs, apprenticeships and financial aid, and write recommendation letters
Talk with parents and teachers, sit in on 504 and IEP meetings and connect families to community services
Keep student records and track data on attendance, discipline and outcomes for the counseling program

Also called: guidance counselor, career counselor, academic advisor, academic counselor, admissions counselor, college counselor, elementary school counselor, student services coordinator.

How to become a school counselor

Full guide

To become a school counselor, you earn a bachelor's degree, then a master's degree in school counseling (usually 60 credit hours with a supervised practicum and internship), pass your state's required test, often the Praxis School Counselor exam, and get a state school counselor credential. That takes about 6 to 7 years after high school.

Typical time: 6-7 years; Fastest: About 6 years after high school
Minimum education: Master's degree in school counseling, typically from a CACREP-accredited program
License: State credential required to work in public schools in all 50 states and DC; called a certification, license or endorsement depending on the state
Typical training cost: $33.1K–$57.8K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a school counselor: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 6-7 years; Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $33.1K–$57.8K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $64,330; $13,350 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 51–90%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($13,350 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 2.5–4.3 years after training ends (6-7 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for school counselors

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +2.9%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 389,500; 400,900 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 27,800; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 0.6%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects the occupation to grow 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from 389,500 to 400,900 jobs, a bit below the 3.5% for all occupations. Even so, about 27,800 openings are expected each year, mostly to replace counselors who retire or change careers. Schools are expected to keep adding counselors to address students' academic, developmental and career-planning needs. Colleges opening or expanding career centers, and adults changing careers or leaving the military, add demand for career counselors and advisors. Local school budgets largely decide how many K-12 positions are funded.

Related careers and their pay

School Psychologist$95,990
School Principal$105,870
Psychologist$100,580
Rehabilitation Counselors$46,850
Instructional Coordinators$77,440

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

School Counselor salary FAQ

How much do school counselors make an hour?

The median hourly wage for school counselors was $30.93 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $21.65 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $50.37. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays school counselors the most?

California has the highest median pay for school counselors, $86,500 a year, followed by Alaska ($82,900) and Washington ($82,670). After adjusting for each state's price level, New Mexico comes out ahead at about $84,458 in national-average dollars.

Do school counselors make six figures?

Some do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 10% and 25% of school counselors earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $64,330, and the top 10% earn more than $104,770. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

What is the difference between a school counselor and a school psychologist?

School counselors work with all students on academics, college and career planning and short-term social and emotional support. School psychologists focus on testing and evaluation, especially for special education eligibility, and on behavior plans and intervention for students with significant learning or mental health needs. School psychologists usually need a specialist-level degree beyond the master's. See our school psychologist page for that path.

Do school counselors work in the summer?

Many do not. School counselors in public schools often work on a contract slightly longer than the teacher year, with a few extra days before school starts and after it ends for scheduling and graduation work. Some districts offer paid extended days in summer. Career counselors and academic advisors at colleges and job centers usually work year-round.

Is a guidance counselor the same as a school counselor?

Yes. Guidance counselor is the older title, and many people still use it. The profession moved to school counselor to reflect a broader role that includes social and emotional support, prevention programs and data-driven planning, not only course scheduling and college applications. The professional association, ASCA, and its national standards use the school counselor title.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 21-1012
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (21-1012.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
School and Career Counselors and Advisors, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
2024 CACREP Standards, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs · checked October 28, 2026
School Counselor (5422) Praxis Test, ETS · checked October 28, 2026
Counseling Program Requirements (MS, school counseling option), Missouri State University · checked October 28, 2026
Graduate Costs, Missouri State University · checked October 28, 2026
License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
Paying for Certification, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards · checked October 28, 2026
The National Certified School Counselor, National Board for Certified Counselors · checked October 28, 2026

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