Texas high school counselors earn relatively low salaries compared to those in other states, and the increased demand for their services likely won’t be enough to garner raises anytime soon.
high school counselor salary in texas
High school counselor salary in Texas is dependent on the geographical location and level of education. For example, a high school counselor with a Bachelors degree in Counseling can earn between $49,000 per year to $58,000 per year at a public school district. Those with Masters degrees and above can receive salaries up to $68,000 per year.
high school counselor salary with masters
With a master’s degree in counseling, you might earn even more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), counselors can make up to $51 per hour or $112,480 per year in 2012. The lowest 10% earned less than $23 per hour, but the highest 10% earned more than $75 per hour. Those who work in hospitals and schools tend to earn higher salaries than those who work in non-profit agencies or private practices.
High School Counselor: Career and Salary Facts
Research what it takes to become a high school counselor. Learn about job duties, education requirements, licensure, and potential salary to find out if this is the career for you.View Schools
What Is a High School Counselor?
High school counselors, or guidance counselors, assist students in making post-graduation goals and plans. Counselors also help students with any academic and/or social issues they may encounter while in school. They assess students’ abilities and interests to help them make goals for their futures, and they work with students on any issues that may be hurting their school performance.
High school counselors work with students one on one and in group settings, depending on the issue being addressed. These counselors help students learn skills needed to succeed in school and in future careers. They also are responsible for reporting any abuse or neglect. See the table below for information about education requirements, licensure, salary, and job outlook for this career.
| Education Required | Master’s degree |
| Education Field of Study | School counseling |
| Licensure and Certification | License is required in all 50 states for public high school counselors; certification is voluntary |
| Job Growth (2020-2030) | 11%* (for all school and career counselors) |
| Median Salary (May 2020) | $58,120* (for all educational, guidance, school, and vocational counselors) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Does a High School Counselor Do?
Many public high schools hire guidance counselors to help students sort out academic, social and vocational issues. If you find a job as a high school guidance counselor, the bulk of your job duties revolve around helping students to determine their goals beyond high school. You could work with students individually to help them select a college, determine a vocation, fill out university applications and sort out financial aid.
You might also be called upon to help students with personal, social or academic problems. You could work with parents and teachers to help students devise academic goals or address behavioral issues. You might pursue specialized training to help students deal with more personal problems like substance abuse, unplanned pregnancies or bullying.
What Education Might I Need?
It is common for high school counselors to have graduate-level education. If you are interested in gaining licensure and becoming a counselor, you should consider completing a Master of Science in School Counseling. Some schools have programs that let you concentrate in secondary school counseling. Such programs are designed to prepare you for licensure by providing you with a theoretical background of counseling techniques while also requiring you to complete supervised practicum hours. Courses cover subjects such as student assessment, individual counseling processes, career mentoring, group dynamics and counseling theory.
Will I Need Licensure and Certification?
Each state has its own particular licensure and certification requirements for high school counselors. Most require you to have either a master’s degree or some graduate-level credits before you can gain licensure. Most states also require you to complete supervised practicum hours as part of a graduate program.
You might also gain voluntary certification from a national organization such as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The NBPTS offers a School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood Certificate for school counselors who pass an evaluation.
So what’s the big takeaway here? It looks like school counselors in Texas really can make a six-figure salary if they have the right qualifications. A high school counselor salary in Texas with five years of experience and a Master’s degree is just over $100,000 per year and can go up to around $111,000 per year when you add in bonuses. That’s really good pay even for a counselor—and that’s not including any additional bonuses or incentives, which are available at certain schools or districts.
