School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Raleigh, NC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Raleigh, NC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$50,000 vs $70,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Raleigh, NC
$48,544 vs $37,634
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Raleigh, NC
$42,836 vs $31,540
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $50,000 | $70,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,500 | $53,900▲ | -$15,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $89,600▲ | -$25,600 |
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $112,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 103 | 186 | -83 |
| State Income Tax | 4.5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.800000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $48,544▲ | $37,634 | +$10,910 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $44,121 | $58,665▲ | -$14,544 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $42,836▲ | $31,540 | +$11,296 |
| Total Employment | 55,000 | 130,000 | -75,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Raleigh, NC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $20,000 more (median: $50,000 vs $70,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 103 vs 186), Raleigh, NC provides better purchasing power ($48,544 vs $37,634 equivalent). Raleigh, NC has the lower state tax rate (4.5% vs 9.3%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.