Highest-Paying Cities and Metro Areas for School Counselors
BLS May 2024 data for the top 25 metro areas. From $109,390 in Bremerton, WA to $59,240 in Phoenix. The national median is $65,140.
| Rank | Metro Area | Annual Median | Employed | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Keyport, WA | $109,390 | 180 | +67.9% |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,280 | 1,290 | +63.2% |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $102,510 | 110 | +57.4% |
| 4 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $91,540 | 2,540 | +40.5% |
| 5 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $90,780 | 610 | +39.4% |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $89,970 | 2,130 | +38.1% |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $88,640 | 8,950 | +36.1% |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,250 | 3,410 | +32.4% |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $85,890 | 1,480 | +31.9% |
| 10 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85,120 | 2,020 | +30.7% |
| 11 | Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $83,240 | 4,210 | +27.8% |
| 12 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $82,690 | 640 | +26.9% |
| 13 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $80,570 | 5,230 | +23.7% |
| 14 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $79,880 | 14,320 | +22.6% |
| 15 | Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $78,950 | 1,210 | +21.2% |
| 16 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $77,860 | 2,150 | +19.5% |
| 17 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $76,430 | 1,640 | +17.3% |
| 18 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $74,690 | 4,530 | +14.7% |
| 19 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,410 | 2,680 | +11.2% |
| 20 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $71,250 | 2,340 | +9.4% |
| 21 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $70,130 | 5,870 | +7.7% |
| 22 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,540 | 4,120 | +5.2% |
| 23 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $67,890 | 5,340 | +4.2% |
| 24 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,240 | 3,180 | -9.1% |
| 25 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $62,150 | 3,920 | -4.6% |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. SOC 21-1012. Metros ranked by annual median salary.
Top 5 Metros Analyzed
1. Bremerton-Silverdale-Keyport, WA - $109,390
This small metro west of Seattle leads the nation, driven by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school positions on Naval Base Kitsap. These federally funded positions pay above state scales. With only 180 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. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $106,280
Silicon Valley salaries reflect the extreme cost of living in the region. Housing costs can consume 40-50% of a counselor's take-home pay. However, the salary is genuinely high even by California standards. Districts like Palo Alto USD and San Jose USD compete with tech-sector salaries for talent, pushing counselor pay above $100K.
3. Napa, CA - $102,510
Napa's high salary reflects the wine country cost of living and strong California education funding. With only 110 counselors employed, this is a very small market. Positions are rare but well-compensated when they open.
4. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA - $91,540
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 5-10% lower. With 2,540 counselors employed, this is also a large job market with regular openings.
5. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA - $90,780
Ventura County offers a coastal California lifestyle with salaries near $91K. The cost of living is high but lower than Los Angeles and San Francisco. With 610 counselors employed, openings are moderate.
Major City Salary Breakdown
New York City
NYC DOE counselors start at $62,773 and can reach $128,657 with longevity differentials. The metro employs 14,320 counselors, the most in the country. High cost of living and competitive application process, but the salary 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 $63,380. No state income tax gives counselors an effective boost. Suburban districts around both cities (Katy ISD, Plano ISD, Frisco ISD) often pay $65,000 to $78,000, above the metro median.
Frequently Asked Questions
What city pays school counselors the most?
The Bremerton-Silverdale-Keyport, WA metro area pays school counselors the most at $109,390 median annual salary according to BLS May 2024 data. This is driven by Department of Defense school system positions on military bases. Among larger metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads at $106,280.
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 $79,880 per year. NYC DOE school counselors specifically start at $62,773 (Step 1) and can reach $128,657 with longevity differentials and advanced step placement. The NYC metro area employs approximately 14,320 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 $88,640 per year. LAUSD counselors are among the highest-paid in California. The metro employs approximately 8,950 counselors, second only to New York City.
Are metro area salaries worth the higher cost of living?
Not always. While San Jose pays $106,280, the extreme housing costs can negate much of the salary premium. Metros like Riverside-San Bernardino ($91,540) offer high salaries with notably lower housing costs than coastal California metros. The Bremerton, WA metro combines the highest salary with a moderate cost of living, making it one of the best value metros for school counselors.