SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 21-1012 · Pennsylvania · Updated 2026

School Counselor Salary in Pittsburgh, PA

School Counselors in Pittsburgh, PA earn a median of $44,000/year, ranging from $33,880 (25th percentile) to $70,400 (90th percentile). After Pennsylvania state taxes (3.07%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 90), this is equivalent to $48,889 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$44,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$33,880
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$56,320
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$70,400
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in Pittsburgh, PA

P25
P75
P25
$33,880
Median
$44,000
P75
$56,320
P90
$70,400

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$44,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$39,408
After 3.07% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$43,787
vs US average (COL index: 90)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does Pittsburgh, PA Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
Pittsburgh, PA (current)$44,00090$48,889
San Francisco, CA$70,000186$37,634
New York, NY$67,000187$35,829
Seattle, WA$68,000162$41,975
Boston, MA$62,000162$38,272
Austin, TX$56,000124$45,161

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average School Counselor salary in Pittsburgh, PA?

The median School Counselor salary in Pittsburgh, PA is $44,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $33,880 and the 90th percentile is $70,400.

Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a School Counselor?

Pittsburgh, PA has a cost of living index of 90 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $44,000 School Counselor salary in Pittsburgh, PA is equivalent to $48,889 in purchasing power compared to the US average.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Pittsburgh, PA?

Pittsburgh, PA has a cost of living index of 90, meaning it is 10% less expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Pennsylvania is approximately 3.07%.

What is the School Counselor salary range in Pittsburgh, PA?

In Pittsburgh, PA, School Counselors earn between $33,880 (25th percentile) and $70,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,000 per year.

How many School Counselor jobs are there in Pittsburgh, PA?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 35,000 School Counselor positions in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area.

What do School Counselors earn in Pittsburgh, PA?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, School Counselors in Pittsburgh, PA earn a median annual wage of $44,000. The middle 50% earn between $33,880 and $56,320. The top 10% earn more than $70,400. There are approximately 35,000 School Counselors employed in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.2%.

Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place for a School Counselor?

Pittsburgh, PA has a cost of living index of 90 (US average = 100), making it 10% less expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a School Counselor in Pittsburgh, PA earning $44,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $48,889 relative to the US median. Pennsylvania has a state income tax rate of approximately 3.07%.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Pittsburgh, PA?

Pittsburgh, PA's cost of living index is 90, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $44,000 in Pittsburgh, PAhas the same purchasing power as $48,889 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 Pittsburgh, PA with Another City

See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.

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.