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The Average School Counselor Salary

A school counselor salary differs according to different factors, such as the state the professional is working in, the type of school or years of experience. The average school counselor salary, as the BLS reports, is $53,660 per year ($25.80 per hour). The average salary for school counselor is considerably higher than the median for all U.S. occupations, which lies at $36,200 per year. According to the U.S. News & World Report, school counselors rank as the 9th Best Social Service Job, partly owing to the high salary of school counselor. Learn about the differences between an elementary school counselor salary, middle school counselor salary and high school counselor salary and much more below.

school counselor salary

School Counselor Salary Influencers

1. Industry

One of the multiple aspects that makes school counselor salaries vary is the type of school these workers offer their services in. For instance, the average high school counselor salary California employees receive is $44,000. However, another source indicates that an average school counselors salary for junior colleges (high school college counselor salary) is $46,850, while the average salary of a school counselor in elementary or secondary schools is $60,660. Nevertheless, the average high school guidance counselor salary is generally larger than the average elementary school guidance counselor salary or the average middle school guidance counselor salary.

2. Geographic Area

The top salary school counselor professionals can get is in the state of New Jersey, with a school counselor average salary of $72,140. Surprisingly, the second largest average salary of school counselor can be found in Alaska – $71,170. The school counselor salary NYC employees earn is the third best-paying in the country, at $64,750.

A few other top average salary school counselor estimates are:

  • Average school counselor salary California – $63,330
  • Salary for school counselor in the District of Columbia – $63,160
  • Average salary of high school counselor in Massachusetts – $62,530
  • Salary of a high school counselor in Maryland – $62,400
  • Average salary for a school counselor Rhode Island – $61,460

If you’re searching for a top school counselor starting salary, you should avoid applying for this position in these areas, as they have the lowest average school counselor salary by state:

  • Oklahoma – $44,170
  • West Virginia – $43,040
  • Virgin Islands – $42,190
  • Idaho – $42,040
  • South Dakota – $41,560

Some other sought-after states and school counselor salary averages are, in no particular order:

  • School counselor salary Texas – $56,650
  • School counselor salary NC – $48,130
  • School counselor salary Florida – $54,380

3. Experience

As with most other occupations, the more experience and qualifications you have, the higher your chances of getting a larger salary for school counselor. To become a school counselor in the first place, you typically need to have a master’s degree in school counseling or another relevant field. Depending on the school you work at, you might need to have additional studies in career counseling and development.

If you want to work at a public school, you need to be approved by the state with an adequate license. In some cases, a counselor might need to have a year or two of prior teaching experience before they get the starting salary for school counselors.

Working Hours and Environment

In the majority of cases, you need to work full time to get the average salary for a school counselor. As far as the work environment for a school counselor is concerned, most of them have a private office for the discussions to take place confidentially.

School counselors may or may not work throughout the summer, depending on the school they are at. Working overtime isn’t generally an issue for these professionals.

School Counselor Salary by State

State Annual mean wage ($)
Alabama 51,870
Alaska 71,170
Arizona 44,890
Arkansas 52,200
California 63,330
Colorado 48,940
Connecticut 58,800
Delaware 61,320
District of Columbia 63,160
Florida 54,380
Georgia 56,450
Guam 49,640
Hawaii 52,910
Idaho 42,040
Illinois 58,150
Indiana 51,680
Iowa 49,710
Kansas 49,880
Kentucky 55,300
Louisiana 52,630
Maine 48,680
Maryland 62,400
Massachusetts 62,530
Michigan 54,780
Minnesota 54,210
Mississippi 48,880
Missouri 46,320
Montana 47,380
Nebraska 52,600
Nevada 55,730
New Hampshire 56,990
New Jersey 72,140
New Mexico 51,730
New York 64,750
North Carolina 48,130
North Dakota 55,250
Ohio 55,970
Oklahoma 44,170
Oregon 54,740
Pennsylvania 57,320
Puerto Rico 36,500
Rhode Island 61,460
South Carolina 50,680
South Dakota 41,560
Tennessee 48,540
Texas 56,650
Utah 47,900
Vermont 53,340
Virgin Islands 42,190
Virginia 61,050
Washington 58,390
West Virginia 43,040
Wisconsin 51,160
Wyoming 55,530

Bonuses and Benefit Packages

Speaking of potentially not working summers, you can clearly see why this would be a great advantage for those seeking a career in this area. This also means that school counselors usually have the same schedule as teachers and students, with time off during winter and spring too.

There aren’t many clear details about insurance or retirement plans, but you can check with the school you are planning to apply as a counselor at for more information.

Job Outlook

The demand for school counselors is expected to increase by 8% until 2024, according to the BLS. Even though this is just 1% more than the national average, it’s still a promising growth for future school counselors. The total employment change projected for the 2014-2024 timeframe is 22,500.

As no particularly expensive training or laborious studies are required, the preparation is worth the salary you will receive as a professional in this area.

Conclusion

In summary, the school adjustment counselor salary is quite attractive, especially for individuals looking to develop a career in education, community and social services. Nevertheless, you should strongly consider the state you work in as a definitive aspect for your career. While states like New Jersey or New York have great school counselor salary options, some other states aren’t up to par with industry standards. Make sure that you gather information about how you can become a licensed counselor so you can legally work in public schools. You will have a pleasant working environment and you get the chance to have a positive impact on the lives of students and other young individuals in your community.

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