BLS SOC 21-1012 · Legal & Education
School Counselor Salary
School counselors support students' academic, career, and personal development. They provide guidance on college planning, career exploration, and social-emotional well-being.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$50,933
annual
25th Percentile
$39,218
annual
75th Percentile
$65,194
annual
90th Percentile
$81,493
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $39,218Median: $50,933P75: $65,194P90: $81,493
1
Top Paying Cities for School Counselor
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $70,000 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $68,000 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $67,000 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,000 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $61,000 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $60,000 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $58,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $56,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $56,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $54,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $49,451 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,889 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $48,544 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $48,315 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,778 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $47,664 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $47,664 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,573 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $47,321 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $46,296 |
3
School Counselor Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $53,900 | $70,000 | $89,600 | $112,000 | 130,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $52,360 | $68,000 | $87,040 | $108,800 | 145,000 |
| New York, NY | $51,590 | $67,000 | $85,760 | $107,200 | 170,000 |
| Boston, MA | $47,740 | $62,000 | $79,360 | $99,200 | 105,000 |
| Washington, DC | $46,970 | $61,000 | $78,080 | $97,600 | 112,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $46,200 | $60,000 | $76,800 | $96,000 | 120,000 |
| San Diego, CA | $44,660 | $58,000 | $74,240 | $92,800 | 60,000 |
| Austin, TX | $43,120 | $56,000 | $71,680 | $89,600 | 95,000 |
| Portland, OR | $43,120 | $56,000 | $71,680 | $89,600 | 50,000 |
| Denver, CO | $41,580 | $54,000 | $69,120 | $86,400 | 70,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $40,810 | $53,000 | $67,840 | $84,800 | 87,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $39,270 | $51,000 | $65,280 | $81,600 | 87,500 |
| Houston, TX | $39,270 | $51,000 | $65,280 | $81,600 | 70,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $38,500 | $50,000 | $64,000 | $80,000 | 75,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $38,500 | $50,000 | $64,000 | $80,000 | 55,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $38,500 | $50,000 | $64,000 | $80,000 | 55,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $37,730 | $49,000 | $62,720 | $78,400 | 62,500 |
| Miami, FL | $36,960 | $48,000 | $61,440 | $76,800 | 55,000 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $36,960 | $48,000 | $61,440 | $76,800 | 45,000 |
| Nashville, TN | $36,190 | $47,000 | $60,160 | $75,200 | 45,000 |
| Charlotte, NC | $35,420 | $46,000 | $58,880 | $73,600 | 50,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $35,420 | $46,000 | $58,880 | $73,600 | 35,000 |
| Columbus, OH | $34,650 | $45,000 | $57,600 | $72,000 | 40,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $33,880 | $44,000 | $56,320 | $70,400 | 35,000 |
| Detroit, MI | $33,110 | $43,000 | $55,040 | $68,800 | 37,500 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $33,110 | $43,000 | $55,040 | $68,800 | 37,500 |
| Louisville, KY | $30,800 | $40,000 | $51,200 | $64,000 | 25,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $30,030 | $39,000 | $49,920 | $62,400 | 22,500 |
| Memphis, TN | $29,260 | $38,000 | $48,640 | $60,800 | 20,000 |
| El Paso, TX | $26,950 | $35,000 | $44,800 | $56,000 | 15,000 |
Top Skills for School Counselor
CounselingCollege AdvisingCrisis InterventionCareer GuidanceStudent Assessment