School Counselor Salary by State: All 50 States Ranked
School counselor pay ranges from $51,140 in Oklahoma to $94,320 in California. The national median is $65,140 per year.
| Rank | State | Annual Median | Hourly | Employed | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $94,320 | $45.35 | 28,230 | +44.8% |
| 2 | Washington | $82,340 | $39.59 | 5,870 | +26.4% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $78,460 | $37.72 | 5,890 | +20.4% |
| 4 | New Jersey | $76,140 | $36.61 | 6,390 | +16.9% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $75,580 | $36.34 | 3,520 | +16.0% |
| 6 | New York | $73,590 | $35.38 | 14,670 | +13.0% |
| 7 | Maryland | $73,210 | $35.20 | 4,320 | +12.4% |
| 8 | Oregon | $72,330 | $34.78 | 2,890 | +11.0% |
| 9 | Alaska | $71,480 | $34.37 | 560 | +9.7% |
| 10 | Hawaii | $69,720 | $33.52 | 1,050 | +7.0% |
| 11 | Virginia | $68,750 | $33.05 | 7,120 | +5.5% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $68,540 | $32.95 | 740 | +5.2% |
| 13 | Delaware | $66,330 | $31.89 | 630 | +1.8% |
| 14 | Illinois | $65,030 | $31.27 | 8,130 | -0.2% |
| 15 | Minnesota | $64,710 | $31.11 | 3,940 | -0.7% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $64,200 | $30.87 | 9,350 | -1.4% |
| 17 | Nevada | $63,870 | $30.71 | 1,710 | -1.9% |
| 18 | Texas | $63,380 | $30.47 | 22,490 | -2.7% |
| 19 | Colorado | $62,940 | $30.26 | 4,890 | -3.4% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $62,790 | $30.19 | 980 | -3.6% |
| 21 | Michigan | $60,420 | $29.05 | 6,550 | -7.2% |
| 22 | Georgia | $60,250 | $28.97 | 6,470 | -7.5% |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $59,410 | $28.56 | 4,240 | -8.8% |
| 24 | Vermont | $59,140 | $28.43 | 610 | -9.2% |
| 25 | Ohio | $58,460 | $28.11 | 7,870 | -10.3% |
| 26 | Maine | $58,210 | $27.99 | 1,120 | -10.6% |
| 27 | Wyoming | $57,830 | $27.81 | 410 | -11.2% |
| 28 | North Dakota | $57,650 | $27.72 | 550 | -11.5% |
| 29 | Florida | $57,640 | $27.71 | 12,900 | -11.5% |
| 30 | Nebraska | $57,490 | $27.64 | 1,530 | -11.7% |
| 31 | Montana | $57,130 | $27.47 | 820 | -12.3% |
| 32 | North Carolina | $57,120 | $27.46 | 7,230 | -12.3% |
| 33 | Utah | $57,020 | $27.41 | 2,210 | -12.5% |
| 34 | Indiana | $56,610 | $27.22 | 4,270 | -13.1% |
| 35 | Iowa | $56,470 | $27.15 | 2,290 | -13.3% |
| 36 | Idaho | $56,210 | $27.02 | 1,280 | -13.7% |
| 37 | New Mexico | $56,150 | $27.00 | 1,480 | -13.8% |
| 38 | Kansas | $55,820 | $26.84 | 2,080 | -14.3% |
| 39 | Arizona | $55,640 | $26.75 | 4,620 | -14.6% |
| 40 | Missouri | $55,620 | $26.74 | 4,570 | -14.6% |
| 41 | Tennessee | $55,140 | $26.51 | 4,510 | -15.4% |
| 42 | Louisiana | $54,350 | $26.13 | 3,590 | -16.6% |
| 43 | South Carolina | $54,190 | $26.05 | 3,750 | -16.8% |
| 44 | Kentucky | $54,080 | $26.00 | 3,040 | -17.0% |
| 45 | Alabama | $52,770 | $25.37 | 3,710 | -19.0% |
| 46 | West Virginia | $51,720 | $24.87 | 1,240 | -20.6% |
| 47 | Arkansas | $51,530 | $24.77 | 2,150 | -20.9% |
| 48 | South Dakota | $51,480 | $24.75 | 690 | -21.0% |
| 49 | Mississippi | $51,310 | $24.67 | 2,120 | -21.2% |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $51,140 | $24.59 | 2,840 | -21.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024. SOC 21-1012. Figures are median estimates.
Top 10 Highest-Paying States
California - $94,320
California leads the nation by a wide margin. Strong teacher unions, high per-pupil spending, and legislated student-to-counselor ratios in high schools all contribute. The state employs 28,230 school counselors, more than any other state. However, California also has one of the worst actual student-to-counselor ratios (464:1) despite its mandates, creating ongoing hiring demand.
Washington - $82,340
Washington ranks second with strong education funding and union representation. The Seattle metro area drives the state average up, with counselors there earning $86,250. The Bremerton-Silverdale metro pays the highest of any metro nationally at $109,390, driven by Department of Defense school system positions.
Massachusetts - $78,460
Massachusetts combines high education standards with strong compensation. The state requires counselors to pass the MTEL exam and hold a master's degree. The Boston metro area pays $83,240 on average. The state also has a relatively good student-to-counselor ratio of 310:1.
New Jersey and Connecticut
New Jersey ($76,140) and Connecticut ($75,580) round out the top five. Both states benefit from proximity to the New York City metro area, strong education union contracts, and high per-pupil spending. Connecticut has a 289:1 student-to-counselor ratio, better than 40 other states.
Lowest-Paying States
Oklahoma ($51,140), Mississippi ($51,310), South Dakota ($51,480), Arkansas ($51,530), and West Virginia ($51,720) are the five lowest-paying states for school counselors. These states share common characteristics: lower overall education funding, weaker or nonexistent teacher union representation, and a lower cost of living.
However, lower pay does not necessarily mean worse purchasing power. When adjusted for cost of living using BEA Regional Price Parities, several of these states climb significantly in the rankings. West Virginia, for example, has one of the lowest costs of living in the nation (RPP 84.7), which stretches a $51,720 salary further than the raw number suggests.
Regional Pay Patterns
Education funding and state budgets
States with higher per-pupil education spending generally pay counselors more. California and New York consistently rank among the highest for per-pupil spending and have strong teacher unions that also cover counselors. States relying heavily on local property tax funding see wide district-level variance within the state.
Counselor-to-student ratio mandates
States with legislated maximum counselor-to-student ratios must hire more counselors, which increases both job supply and negotiating power. California law requires one counselor per 500 students in high schools; the mandate creates sustained demand and helps support wages above the national average.
Salary schedule lane placement
In most states, counselors are placed on the same salary schedule as teachers, with lanes for master's and additional graduate credits. States that offer higher lane differentials reward advanced degrees more generously. Negotiating your degree placement at time of hire can be worth thousands annually.
Urban vs rural district differences
Within any state, large urban districts typically pay more than rural ones due to cost of living, larger budgets, and competition with private employers. Texas suburban districts around Austin and Dallas, for example, pay $65,000 to $75,000, well above the statewide average of $63,380.
Frequently Asked Questions
What state pays school counselors the most?
California pays school counselors the most with a median annual salary of $94,320 according to BLS May 2024 data. Washington ($82,340), Massachusetts ($78,460), New Jersey ($76,140), and Connecticut ($75,580) are the next highest-paying states.
What state pays school counselors the least?
Oklahoma pays school counselors the least with a median annual salary of $51,140. Mississippi ($51,310), South Dakota ($51,480), Arkansas ($51,530), and West Virginia ($51,720) are also among the lowest-paying states. These states typically have lower education funding and cost of living.
How does cost of living affect school counselor salary rankings?
Cost of living significantly changes the effective value of school counselor salaries. California pays the highest raw salary ($94,320) but also has a high cost of living index (113.4). When adjusted for Regional Price Parities, states like Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana offer stronger purchasing power relative to their raw salary rankings.
Why do some states pay school counselors so much more than others?
The main drivers are state education funding levels, teacher union strength, cost of living, and student-to-counselor ratio mandates. States with strong unions and high per-pupil spending (California, New York, Massachusetts) pay more. States with lower education budgets and cost of living (Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas) pay less.
Do school counselors in high-paying states actually earn more after expenses?
Not always. A school counselor earning $94,320 in California may have less purchasing power than one earning $65,000 in Ohio or Tennessee after accounting for housing, taxes, and general cost of living. See our cost-of-living adjusted rankings for state-by-state comparisons using BEA Regional Price Parities.