School counseling is a growing field with strong earning potential. Whether you are exploring a career change or considering school counseling as a first path, salary data matters. Understanding what school counselors earn, and what drives those earnings, helps you plan with confidence.
Looking to enter the field? Texas A&M International University’s online Master of Science in School Counseling program prepares graduates for Texas school counselor certification and a career supporting K-12 students.
What Is the Average School Counselor Salary?
The median annual school counselor salary was $65,140 as of May 2024. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks this figure as part of its occupational employment survey. That figure sits near the middle of a wide earning range.
The bottom 10% of earners took home less than $43,580. The top 10% earned $105,870 or more.
The 25th percentile stands at $51,690 per year. The 75th percentile reaches $83,490. Those numbers reflect the real difference that experience, credentials and location make over the course of a career.
Counselors who pursue continuing education tend to move toward the upper end of the range. Working in a high-demand market helps too.
What Is the School Counselor Salary in Texas?
For those drawn to the profession, Texas offers a robust and active job market for school counselors. Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston rank among the leading metro markets for counselor employment in the state, per BLS metro-area employment data.
Texas has also made entering the profession easier. As of September 1, 2023, the state no longer requires classroom teaching experience for school counselor certification. The Texas Education Agency notes that Senate Bill 798 eliminated that requirement. Candidates can now move directly from a master’s program to certification.
How Does Education Affect School Counselor Salary?
A master’s degree is the minimum requirement to become a school counselor in Texas and most other states, and TAMIU’s online M.S. in School Counseling program is designed to deliver exactly that credential. Earning the degree is the foundation, but how you build on it shapes your earning potential over time.
Counselors who add professional credentials can access higher salary bands. The National Board for Certified Counselors offers the National Certified Counselor (NCC) designation. Earning it signals advanced competency to employers and may support salary negotiations. Continuing education through organizations like the American School Counselor Association supports both credential maintenance and career growth.
What Factors Affect School Counselor Salary?
Several variables influence where a school counselor’s salary falls within the national range. The four factors below carry the most weight for most counselors:
- Geographic location: Has the largest effect. State pay varies widely: BLS data shows California leading the nation with the highest annual mean wage at $85,820, followed by Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland, while lower-paying states report averages tens of thousands of dollars less.
- School level: High school counselors often earn more than their elementary counterparts, driven by workload differences and the added demands of college and career advising. National data doesn’t break salaries out by school level, so actual pay in this area depends heavily on district size, budget and union agreements rather than a single figure.
- Public vs. private school setting: Public school counselors typically follow district salary scales and union agreements, while private school pay varies by institution. Public school counselors in large, well-funded urban districts often earn above the state median. Private school salaries can be higher or lower depending on the school’s resources and location.
- Years of experience: Most district salary scales include step increases for each year of service. Counselors in their first few years often start below the median. Those with a decade or more of experience frequently earn well above it.
What Is the Job Outlook for School Counselors?
The job outlook for school counselors is strong. BLS projects 4% employment growth for school and career counselors from 2024 to 2034. About 31,000 job openings are projected each year over the decade.
Student enrollment is rising at all school levels. Increased focus on mental health and social-emotional support is also expanding demand for counselors. Texas ranks among the top states for school counselor employment, according to BLS data. That makes it a strong market for graduates entering the field.
Prepare for Your School Counseling Career
School counselor salaries reflect a wide range shaped by geography, credentials and experience more than any single number can capture. Texas offers a strong starting point, with growing demand and a streamlined path to certification for those ready to enter the field.
Graduates are prepared to serve in elementary, middle and high school settings throughout Texas and beyond. Explore admission requirements and upcoming start dates to find the path that fits your goals.
Explore Texas A&M International University’s online M.S. in School Counseling program to learn how it prepares graduates for Texas school counselor certification.
About Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a member of The Texas A&M University System. It serves students from its campus in Laredo, Texas.
TAMIU’s online Master of Science in School Counseling prepares students for Texas school counselor certification while developing the skills to support K-12 students across school communities statewide. The program follows the ASCA National Model and meets educator preparation requirements for Texas certification. Learn more about TAMIU’s online M.S. in School Counseling program and how it prepares graduates for state certification.
