How Much Does a School Counselor Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$64,330
School counselors in the U.S. earn a median of $64,330 a year, or $30.93 an hour. Half of school counselors earn more than $64,330 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $104,770.
Pay percentiles for school counselors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21.65 | $45,020 |
| 25th | $24.65 | $51,270 |
| 50th (median) | $30.93 | $64,330 |
| 75th | $39.84 | $82,870 |
| 90th | $50.37 | $104,770 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for school counselors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $86,500 | $41.59 | +34% |
| Alaska | $82,900 | $39.86 | +29% |
| Washington | $82,670 | $39.74 | +29% |
| District of Columbia | $80,470 | $38.69 | +25% |
| Massachusetts | $79,930 | $38.43 | +24% |
| New Jersey | $77,910 | $37.46 | +21% |
| New Mexico | $77,880 | $37.44 | +21% |
| Maryland | $75,820 | $36.45 | +18% |
| Rhode Island | $75,000 | $36.06 | +17% |
| Delaware | $74,070 | $35.61 | +15% |
| United States | $64,330 | $30.93 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many school counselors are there?
BLS counts about 353,310 school counselors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors”. The most jobs are in California (45,140), Texas (31,730) and New York (23,380).
The mean (average) annual wage is $71,430, higher than the median of $64,330.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,361
- Biweekly
- $2,474
- Weekly
- $1,237
- Daily (8 hours)
- $247
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do school counselors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for school counselors is $30.93. The middle 50% earn between $24.65 and $39.84 an hour.
Which state pays school counselors the most?
California has the highest median wage for school counselors at $86,500, +34% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for school counselors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of school counselors earn less than $45,020 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.