How Much Does a Counselor Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$50,860
Counselors in the U.S. earn a median of $50,860 a year, or $24.45 an hour. Half of counselors earn more than $50,860 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $91,940.
Pay percentiles for counselors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.42 | $36,240 |
| 25th | $21.00 | $43,680 |
| 50th (median) | $24.45 | $50,860 |
| 75th | $31.98 | $66,520 |
| 90th | $44.20 | $91,940 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Counselors, All Other (SOC 21-1019). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for counselors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $93,720 | $45.06 | +84% |
| Utah | $93,530 | $44.97 | +84% |
| Georgia | $79,490 | $38.22 | +56% |
| Oregon | $78,750 | $37.86 | +55% |
| Virginia | $76,450 | $36.75 | +50% |
| New Jersey | $73,360 | $35.27 | +44% |
| Wisconsin | $71,390 | $34.32 | +40% |
| North Dakota | $69,860 | $33.59 | +37% |
| Washington | $69,530 | $33.43 | +37% |
| Colorado | $66,680 | $32.06 | +31% |
| United States | $50,860 | $24.45 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many counselors are there?
BLS counts about 28,580 counselors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Counselors, All Other”. The most jobs are in California (10,770), Texas (2,550) and Maryland (1,750).
The mean (average) annual wage is $58,210, higher than the median of $50,860.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,238
- Biweekly
- $1,956
- Weekly
- $978
- Daily (8 hours)
- $196
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do counselors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for counselors is $24.45. The middle 50% earn between $21.00 and $31.98 an hour.
Which state pays counselors the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for counselors at $93,720, +84% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for counselors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of counselors earn less than $36,240 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.