School Counselor
School & Career Counselors
SOC 21-1012
How Much Does a School Counselor Make?
The national median salary for a School Counselor is $61,710 per year ($29.67/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).
That's 6% below the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.
How to Become a School Counselor
State license/certification REQUIRED
School Counselor Job Outlook
Faster than avg — the BLS projects 5% growth from 2024 to 2034.
That's faster than the average across all occupations (4%).
About 30,300 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.
Student mental health awareness; staffing ratio improvements
What It's Like to Work as a School Counselor
This is primarily desk-based or low-physical-effort work.
This role typically requires in-person work at a specific location.
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Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.
View on BLS.gov