A school counselor helps students with personal, academic and career-related issues. School counselors may work at a high school, middle school or even at the elementary level. A master’s degree in school counseling is usually required for this job. The average annual salary for counselors who graduated from an accredited graduate program is $47,000 as of May 2012
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “School counselors work with students and their families to identify academic and career strengths, explore educational and career options, set achievable educational goals and develop plans for meeting them. They also advise students on academic matters and refer students with personal or academic problems to resources within the school or community.”
School counselors help students by developing a range of skills and qualities that are important to their well-being and future success. These include helping them understand the importance of education, connecting with family members and teachers, helping students develop a personal plan for success, and staying on top of what’s going on at school and in the community. School counselors are licensed or certified by their state as required to provide services to students.
Salary For School Counselor With Masters Degree Overview
So you’re considering a career as a school counselor. That’s great! We love helping people like you find the right path to their dream job, and we’re here to help you take the first step.
First things first: let’s talk about salary. You’ve probably heard that becoming a school counselor is a “low-paying” career, but we think that’s just because people aren’t talking about it enough.
School counselors make an average of $56,000 per year. That’s more than what most entry level teachers make, and it’s also more than some experienced teachers make—and it’s way more than what other entry-level jobs pay. Now that’s not exactly “low-paying.”
We think it comes down to the fact that most people don’t realize how much opportunity there is for growth in this field—you could move up to principal or superintendent within 10 years if you work hard enough! And if you get into administration, your salary goes way up—the average superintendent makes over $120,000 per year!
School Counselor Salary and Projected Job Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $56,310 per year in 2018 for school and career counselors. Employment in this field is expected to grow 23 percent through 2026, which is much faster than average compared to all occupations.3 School enrollment through 2027 is projected to increase 3 percent, driving the need for school counselors.4
The top-paying industries for school, educational, guidance and vocational counselors are:5
- Federal executive branch: $71,690 annual mean wage
- Computer systems design: $70,990 annual mean wage
- Elementary and secondary schools: $66,910 annual mean wage
- General medical and surgical hospitals: $69,170 annual mean wage
- Office administrative services: $65,110 annual mean wage
How Much Do School Counselors Make?
If you want to help students succeed by addressing their academic, social, and emotional needs, a career as a guidance counselor, or school counselor, might be a good fit. A school counselor’s salary averages at $58,620 nationally; however, your earnings can vary based on your experience, specialization (elementary, middle or high school), and location. To give you an idea of how much a school counselor’s salary can range based on these factors, the top 10% of earners bring in on average $91,000 whereas the bottom 10% bring in about $32,000.
We can also take a look at the average school counselor salary based on experience level:
| Experience Level | Average Annual Salary (2018) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (0-5 years) | $43,745 |
| Mid-Career (5-10 years) | $49,394 |
| Late-Career (More than 20 years) | $63,117 |
As can be expected in most jobs, you can generally anticipate earning a higher salary as you gain more and more experience. Now let’s see how your salary may differ depending on your counselor specialization or location.
High School Counselor Salary
If you want to work as a guidance counselor for a high school, you can expect to make an average of $51,415 a year, although salary earnings range from around $31,000 to $72,000. Typically though, a high school guidance counselor salary is higher than that of elementary or middle school counselors.
As a high school counselor, you’ll primarily help students prepare for life beyond their senior year. This can include administering and interpreting career aptitude tests as well as helping students apply to colleges or universities and fill out financial aid and scholarship forms. You also might provide substance abuse education and teach students effective ways to resolve conflicts.
Elementary School Counselor Salary
Elementary school counselors make a salary of between $32,000 and $68,000, but the national average is $42,729.
Your duties as a counselor in an elementary school will require you to counsel your students one-on-one, in small group settings, and with classes as a whole. At this level, you’ll primarily be focused on the overall health and safety of your students, and will be responsible for identifying those who are at risk, addressing behavioral concerns, helping students develop problem-solving skills, and encouraging diversity awareness.
While you’ll likely make less than your middle and high school counterparts as an elementary school counselor, this can be a lucrative career if you stay in the field long enough. In fact, those with 10-20 years’ experience as an elementary school counselor can expect to be compensated about $80,000 per year on average.
Middle School Counselor Salary
Middle school counselors, or junior high school counselors, typically work with students in grades six through eight. The average annual salary for this position is $50,016, although those in the top 10 percent can make around $77,000 yearly.
As a middle school counselor, your main focus is helping students develop the social skills they need to navigate the transition from child to teenager. You also might help students strengthen their academic skills and provide introductory substance abuse education.
School Counselor Salary with a Master’s
Most school counselors have a master’s degree, as the majority of states require one to qualify for licensure to work in a public elementary, middle, or high school.
The school counseling program at your college or university might award a Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Education (M.Ed.), all of which typically take two years to complete and have similar curricula and clinical components. However, you’ll generally find that M.S. programs are intended for those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, M.Ed. programs for those with a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, and M.A. programs for those with a bachelor’s degree in the humanities.
Your salary as a school counselor should vary only slightly based on your specific master’s degree, as is represented in the table below:
| Degree Title | Average Annual Salary (2018) |
|---|---|
| Master of Arts | $47,565 |
| Master of Science | $48,776 |
| Master of Education | $49,962 |
Keep in mind that other contributing factors such as location and professional experience will impact your salary.
Average School Counselor Salary by State
As with public school teachers, public school counselors’ salaries are determined by states and local school districts, which means that your pay can vary greatly by the location in which you work. Nationwide, the highest average salaries for school counselors are located in the northeastern part of the country and the west coast.
Let’s compare the average salary of a school counselor in the five highest-paying states vs. the five lowest-paying states:
| State | Average Annual Salary (2017) |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $72,190 |
| Alaska | $69,820 |
| California | $68,000 |
| New York | $67,100 |
| Massachusetts | $66,640 |
| State | Average Annual Salary (2017) |
|---|---|
| Montana | $47,070 |
| West Virginia | $45,790 |
| Oklahoma | $42,270 |
| South Dakota | $41,680 |
| Idaho | $41,660 |
