School Counselor Salary in Austin, TX
School Counselors in Austin, TX earn a median of $56,000/year, ranging from $43,120 (25th percentile) to $89,600 (90th percentile). After Texas state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 124), this is equivalent to $45,161 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Austin, TX
Most counseling roles in this metro live within Austin ISD, Round Rock ISD, and Leander ISD. Cost of living sits above the national average, and a one-bedroom in East Austin, North Loop, or Round Rock if you want square footage typically runs $1,700 to $2,000 a month. School-day hours make commutes tighter than they look on paper since you cannot flex your start time, and I-35 and Mopac commutes that grind in rush hour can be punishing during morning bell windows. No state income tax helps but property taxes around 2.1% offset that for homeowners. Summer afternoons hit triple digits regularly, which factors heavily into housing decisions and outdoor work.
1Salary Distribution in Austin, TX
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Austin, TX Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX (current) | $56,000 | 124 | $45,161 |
| Dallas, TX | $53,000 | 112 | $47,321 |
| Houston, TX | $51,000 | 107 | $47,664 |
| El Paso, TX | $35,000 | 85 | $41,176 |
| San Francisco, CA | $70,000 | 186 | $37,634 |
| New York, NY | $67,000 | 187 | $35,829 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average School Counselor salary in Austin, TX?
The median School Counselor salary in Austin, TX is $56,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $43,120 and the 90th percentile is $89,600.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a School Counselor?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $56,000 School Counselor salary in Austin, TX is equivalent to $45,161 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Austin, TX?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124, meaning it is 24% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Texas is approximately 0%.
What is the School Counselor salary range in Austin, TX?
In Austin, TX, School Counselors earn between $43,120 (25th percentile) and $89,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $56,000 per year.
How many School Counselor jobs are there in Austin, TX?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 95,000 School Counselor positions in the Austin, TX metropolitan area.
What do School Counselors earn in Austin, TX?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, School Counselors in Austin, TX earn a median annual wage of $56,000. The middle 50% earn between $43,120 and $71,680. The top 10% earn more than $89,600. There are approximately 95,000 School Counselors employed in the Austin, TX metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 7%.
Is Austin, TX a good place for a School Counselor?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124 (US average = 100), making it 24% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a School Counselor in Austin, TX earning $56,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $45,161 relative to the US median. Texas has no state income tax, which is a significant financial advantage.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Austin, TX?
Austin, TX's cost of living index is 124, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $56,000 in Austin, TXhas the same purchasing power as $45,161 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Austin, TX with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a School Counselor in Austin, TX?
The headline median of $56,000 is only part of the picture. Austin, TX's cost of living index is 124 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 81¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $56,000 salary effectively purchases $45,161 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Austin, TX, housing typically runs 28–35% of gross income for median earners — elevated but still within traditional affordability ranges. For a $56,000 salary, that translates to roughly $17,920/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Texas has no state income tax, which is typically worth 4–8% of gross salary versus a high-tax state. For this role, that's roughly $3,360 per year in additional take-home. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $51,744. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Dallas, TX ($53,000 median, COL 112); Houston, TX ($51,000 median, COL 107); El Paso, TX ($35,000 median, COL 85). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 7% year-over-year growth rate for School Counselors in Austin, TX is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for School Counselors or the Texas state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.