Highest-Paying Cities and Metro Areas for School Counselors
BLS May 2025 data for 25 major metro areas. From $102,650 in Bremerton, WA to $60,520 in Phoenix. The national median is $64,330.
| Rank | Metro Area | Annual Median | Employed | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $102,650 | 150 | +59.6% |
| 2 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,930 | 2,730 | +56.9% |
| 3 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $100,790 | 690 | +56.7% |
| 4 | Napa, CA | $99,900 | 120 | +55.3% |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,780 | 3,800 | +50.4% |
| 6 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,390 | 2,440 | +48.3% |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,600 | 5,270 | +47.1% |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $87,280 | 3,570 | +35.7% |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,520 | 3,900 | +29.8% |
| 10 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $80,760 | 8,170 | +25.5% |
| 11 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,000 | 17,110 | +22.8% |
| 12 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,400 | 2,400 | +21.9% |
| 13 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,580 | 19,890 | +20.6% |
| 14 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $77,420 | 7,260 | +20.3% |
| 15 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $76,680 | 810 | +19.2% |
| 16 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $76,380 | 7,980 | +18.7% |
| 17 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $75,930 | 6,480 | +18.0% |
| 18 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $74,740 | 3,100 | +16.2% |
| 19 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $74,360 | 1,160 | +15.6% |
| 20 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $67,730 | 6,550 | +5.3% |
| 21 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $67,080 | 2,990 | +4.3% |
| 22 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,190 | 7,050 | +2.9% |
| 23 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,730 | 9,790 | +0.6% |
| 24 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,600 | 3,050 | +0.4% |
| 25 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $60,520 | 4,330 | -5.9% |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. SOC 21-1012. Major metro areas ranked by annual median salary.
Top 5 Metros Analyzed
1. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA - $102,650
This small metro west of Seattle leads the major metros, driven by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school positions on Naval Base Kitsap. These federally funded positions pay above state scales. With only about 150 employed counselors, the market is small but lucrative. The moderate cost of living compared to Seattle makes this metro one of the best values nationally for school counselors.
2. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA - $100,930
California's capital region pairs strong statewide education funding with a cost of living below the coastal metros. Unlike the smallest top payers, this is a sizeable market with roughly 2,730 counselors employed, so openings are regular and the high median rests on a much larger sample.
3. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA - $100,790
Ventura County offers a coastal California lifestyle with salaries near $101K. The cost of living is high but lower than Los Angeles and San Francisco. With about 690 counselors employed, openings are moderate.
4. Napa, CA - $99,900
Napa's high salary reflects the wine country cost of living and strong California education funding. With only about 120 counselors employed, this is a very small market. Positions are rare but well-compensated when they open.
5. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA - $96,780
The Inland Empire offers one of the best combinations of high salary and affordable living in California. Housing costs are 30-40% lower than coastal metros, while counselor salaries are only modestly lower. With about 3,800 counselors employed, this is also a large job market with regular openings.
Major City Salary Breakdown
New York City
NYC DOE counselors are paid on the UFT salary schedule, starting in the low $60,000s and climbing into six figures with longevity differentials and advanced step placement. The metro employs about 19,890 counselors, the most in the country. High cost of living and a competitive application process, but the schedule offers a clear path to six figures.
Los Angeles
LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the nation and employs thousands of counselors. The salary is high but housing costs in LA are substantial. Districts in the outer metro (Riverside, San Bernardino) offer competitive salaries with lower living costs.
Chicago
Chicago Public Schools is the third-largest district nationally. Suburban districts (Naperville, Highland Park) often pay more than CPS. Cost of living is moderate compared to coastal cities, making the Chicago metro a reasonable value.
Houston and Dallas
Texas metros pay above the state average of $67,900. No state income tax gives counselors an effective boost. Large suburban districts around both cities (Katy ISD, Plano ISD, Frisco ISD) are competitive with the metro median and often exceed it for experienced counselors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What city pays school counselors the most?
The Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro area pays school counselors the most among major metros at $102,650 median annual salary according to BLS May 2025 data. This is driven by Department of Defense school system positions on military bases. Among larger metro areas, the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro leads at $100,930.
How much do school counselors make in New York City?
School counselors in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area earn a median of $77,580 per year. NYC DOE school counselors are paid on the UFT salary schedule, starting in the low $60,000s and reaching into six figures with longevity differentials and advanced step placement. The NYC metro area employs approximately 19,890 school counselors, the most of any metro in the country.
How much do school counselors make in Los Angeles?
School counselors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area earn a median of $79,000 per year. LAUSD counselors are among the highest-paid in California. The metro employs approximately 17,110 counselors, second only to New York City.
Are metro area salaries worth the higher cost of living?
Not always. While San Jose pays $95,390, the extreme housing costs can negate much of the salary premium. Metros like Riverside-San Bernardino ($96,780) offer high salaries with notably lower housing costs than coastal California metros. The Bremerton, WA metro combines the highest salary among major metros with a moderate cost of living, making it one of the best value metros for school counselors.