School Counselor Salary
BLS reports this occupation as "Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors" (21-1012); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
School counselors support students' academic, career, and personal development. They provide guidance on college planning, career exploration, and social-emotional well-being.
National Salary Distribution
Top Paying Cities for School Counselor
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $94,600 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $87,280 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $83,520 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $80,760 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,000 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $78,400 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $77,580 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $77,420 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $76,380 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $75,930 |
Highest After Local Prices
| # | City | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | $81,825 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | 89.9 | $78,755 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | 111.1 | $78,537 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $78,336 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | 98.6 | $76,985 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | 111.9 | $74,647 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | 108.3 | $74,594 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | 105.4 | $74,368 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | 103.1 | $74,091 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | 108.9 | $71,103 |
School Counselor Salary — All Cities
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $69,930 | $94,600 | $122,020 | $149,980 | 5,270 |
| Seattle, WA | $73,620 | $87,280 | $104,760 | $129,050 | 3,570 |
| San Diego, CA | $64,980 | $83,520 | $118,310 | $134,190 | 3,900 |
| Boston, MA | $66,280 | $80,760 | $102,500 | $122,910 | 8,170 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $60,540 | $79,000 | $109,100 | $135,030 | 17,110 |
| Portland, OR | $62,890 | $78,400 | $99,220 | $126,460 | 2,400 |
| New York, NY | $62,070 | $77,580 | $99,890 | $129,750 | 19,890 |
| Washington, DC | $62,410 | $77,420 | $101,290 | $122,140 | 7,260 |
| Dallas, TX | $56,730 | $76,380 | $88,710 | $105,190 | 7,980 |
| Houston, TX | $57,350 | $75,930 | $85,660 | $106,510 | 6,480 |
| Louisville, KY | $52,110 | $72,910 | $99,390 | $116,300 | 1,510 |
| El Paso, TX | $43,820 | $70,810 | $80,940 | $103,790 | 960 |
| Atlanta, GA | $51,500 | $67,730 | $92,300 | $106,190 | 6,550 |
| Richmond, VA | $54,980 | $67,620 | $82,740 | $92,350 | 1,480 |
| Denver, CO | $60,110 | $67,080 | $82,860 | $100,660 | 2,990 |
| Memphis, TN | $51,580 | $65,290 | $77,420 | $84,550 | 1,270 |
| Chicago, IL | $52,200 | $64,730 | $84,760 | $110,580 | 9,790 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $58,800 | $64,600 | $78,940 | $98,630 | 3,050 |
| Raleigh, NC | $52,470 | $63,080 | $73,150 | $76,430 | 1,320 |
| Detroit, MI | $48,200 | $62,840 | $78,150 | $98,120 | 3,420 |
| Columbus, OH | $49,650 | $62,080 | $81,990 | $106,610 | 2,440 |
| Austin, TX | $50,020 | $61,570 | $76,750 | $98,340 | 3,500 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $48,830 | $61,240 | $92,470 | $104,880 | 1,430 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $50,300 | $60,690 | $75,140 | $84,000 | 1,390 |
| Nashville, TN | $51,440 | $60,550 | $76,200 | $87,680 | 1,940 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $50,370 | $60,520 | $76,330 | $90,440 | 4,330 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $48,650 | $59,560 | $75,510 | $101,900 | 2,620 |
| Charlotte, NC | $47,640 | $59,530 | $68,190 | $77,410 | 2,070 |
| Miami, FL | $47,330 | $57,110 | $68,690 | $94,450 | 6,250 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $46,560 | $52,810 | $68,990 | $84,380 | 1,880 |
5About the School Counselor Role
School counselors support students' academic, career, and personal development. They provide guidance on college planning, career exploration, and social-emotional well-being.
Compensation for School Counselors varies by metro — from $52,810 at the low end in Oklahoma City, OK to $94,600 in San Francisco, CA. The $41,790 gap is a gap in dollars. The second table above lists the 10 highest medians after each is restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, which can change the order.
For side-by-side comparisons between specific metros, use the compare links above or the salary calculator. For state-level figures, see school counselor salary by state, or browse all occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average School Counselor salary in the US?
The national median School Counselor salary is $64,330 per year, per the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimate. The 25th percentile is $51,270 and the 90th percentile reaches $104,770.
Which city pays School Counselors the most?
Among the 30 metro areas covered here, San Francisco, CA has the highest median wage for School Counselors at $94,600 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). Seattle, WA ($87,280) and San Diego, CA ($83,520) are next.