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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The data below covers the full spectrum — from six-figure metros to markets where the math is tighter. The national median salary for School Counselors in 2026 is $70,997, with entry-level positions averaging $51,118 and senior roles reaching $100,816. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $129,320, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Education within the broader Education industry, School Counselors typically hold Master's in counseling. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is school-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$78,690 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A School Counselor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $129,320 — $78,690 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($50,630). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for School Counselors in 2026: $51,118 at entry (P10), $70,997 at midpoint, and $100,816 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $49,698 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $9,370 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $120,780 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $51,037. That $69,743 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A School Counselor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $129,320 — $78,690 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($50,630). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for School Counselor is $51,118, while senior-level (P90) earners average $100,816. That $49,698 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, School Counselors average $51,118 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $51,118 | $70,997 | $100,816 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,543 | £35,476 | £50,375 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$46,743 | CA$64,920 | CA$92,187 |
| Australia | 13 | A$55,063 | A$76,476 | A$108,597 |
| Sweden | 24 | 304,123 kr | 422,393 kr | 599,798 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $61,697 | $85,690 | $121,680 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $59,622 | $82,808 | $117,587 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $59,292 | $82,350 | $116,937 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $54,900 | $76,250 | $108,275 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $54,241 | $75,335 | $106,976 |
| Washington | 8 | $53,198 | $73,886 | $104,919 |
| New York | 5 | $50,069 | $69,540 | $98,747 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $50,069 | $69,540 | $98,747 |
| Florida | 22 | $49,690 | $69,013 | $97,999 |
| Colorado | 11 | $48,831 | $67,821 | $96,306 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $48,751 | $67,710 | $96,148 |
| Nevada | 5 | $48,663 | $67,588 | $95,975 |
| Arizona | 12 | $48,422 | $67,253 | $95,499 |
| Oregon | 5 | $48,312 | $67,100 | $95,282 |
| Idaho | 3 | $48,166 | $66,897 | $94,993 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $47,785 | $66,368 | $94,243 |
| Utah | 4 | $47,653 | $66,185 | $93,983 |
| Virginia | 7 | $46,869 | $65,096 | $92,436 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $46,262 | $64,253 | $91,240 |
| Alaska | 1 | $46,116 | $64,050 | $90,951 |
| Illinois | 5 | $45,589 | $63,318 | $89,911 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $44,457 | $61,746 | $87,679 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $43,920 | $61,000 | $86,620 |
| Montana | 1 | $43,920 | $61,000 | $86,620 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $43,774 | $60,797 | $86,331 |
| Texas | 40 | $43,558 | $60,497 | $85,905 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $43,481 | $60,390 | $85,754 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $43,261 | $60,085 | $85,321 |
| Georgia | 6 | $43,115 | $59,882 | $85,032 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $43,042 | $59,780 | $84,888 |
| Kansas | 4 | $42,822 | $59,475 | $84,455 |
| Michigan | 6 | $42,676 | $59,272 | $84,166 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $42,164 | $58,560 | $83,156 |
| Maryland | 1 | $42,163 | $58,560 | $83,155 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $41,724 | $57,950 | $82,289 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $41,724 | $57,950 | $82,289 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $40,626 | $56,425 | $80,124 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $40,406 | $56,120 | $79,690 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $39,857 | $55,358 | $78,608 |
| Missouri | 4 | $39,858 | $55,358 | $78,608 |
| Alabama | 5 | $39,704 | $55,144 | $78,305 |
| Indiana | 3 | $39,089 | $54,290 | $77,092 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $39,089 | $54,290 | $77,092 |
| Iowa | 2 | $38,650 | $53,680 | $76,226 |
| Ohio | 6 | $38,577 | $53,578 | $76,081 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $36,893 | $51,240 | $72,761 |
At the state level, California leads with an average School Counselor median of $85,690 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($82,808) and Hawaii ($82,350). But raw salary is only half the story. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $51,240 and $53,680. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($129,320 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $61,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $129,320 | 212 | $61,000 | $78,148 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $120,780 | 198 | $61,000 | $73,447 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $112,240 | 184 | $61,000 | $68,746 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $110,410 | 181 | $61,000 | $67,738 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $108,580 | 178 | $61,000 | $66,731 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $107,970 | 177 | $61,000 | $66,395 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $107,970 | 177 | $61,000 | $66,395 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $105,530 | 173 | $61,000 | $65,052 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $105,530 | 173 | $61,000 | $65,052 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $103,090 | 169 | $61,000 | $63,709 |
Career economics for School Counselors: entry level averages $51,118, mid-career hits $70,997, and experienced professionals reach $100,816. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Master's in counseling, and the work is school-based. The outlook: growing. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for School Counselors is $70,997 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $51,118, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $100,816.
The highest-paying city for School Counselors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $129,320. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($129,320), Santa Clara ($120,780), Irvine ($112,240). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median School Counselor salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $50,630. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level School Counselors (10th percentile) average $51,118 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $93,110. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), School Counselors average $100,816 nationally — $49,698 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior School Counselors can earn up to $183,634.
The top-paying states for School Counselors are California ($85,690 median), Massachusetts ($82,808 median), Hawaii ($82,350 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a School Counselor involves Master's in counseling. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically school-based.
With a national median of $70,997 and representation across 288 metro areas, School Counselor offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $49,698 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.