Counselor Salary Overview
The Counselor is a sought-after profession in the United States with a median annual salary of $53,000. Compensation typically ranges from $32,200 for entry-level positions to $82,600 for experienced professionals in high-demand markets.Salary Range: The typical Counselor in the US earns between $32,200 and $82,600 per year, with a median of $53,000.
Counselor Salary by Experience
Entry-level counselors earn around $34,450, while those with 10+ years of experience can earn $71,550 or more.
| Level | Salary | Hourly | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | $34,450 | $17/hr | $29,160 |
| Mid | $53,000 | $25/hr | $43,153 |
| Senior | $67,840 | $33/hr | $53,586 |
| Lead | $83,740 | $40/hr | $63,372 |
Counselor Salary by State (After Tax)
Gross salary, federal tax, state tax, and estimated take-home pay for a Counselor in each US state.
Pay for counselors varies significantly by state, with coastal and high-cost-of-living areas generally offering higher salaries to offset expenses.
| State | Gross | Federal | State Tax | FICA | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,485 | $4,054 | $42,139 | 20.5% |
| Alaska | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| Arizona | $53,000 | $4,322 | $960 | $4,054 | $43,664 | 17.6% |
| Arkansas | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,106 | $4,054 | $42,518 | 19.8% |
| California | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,471 | $4,054 | $43,153 | 18.6% |
| Colorado | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,672 | $4,054 | $42,952 | 19.0% |
| Connecticut | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,165 | $4,054 | $42,459 | 19.9% |
| Delaware | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,375 | $4,054 | $42,249 | 20.3% |
| District of Columbia | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,104 | $4,054 | $42,520 | 19.8% |
| Florida | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| Georgia | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,251 | $4,054 | $42,373 | 20.1% |
| Hawaii | $53,000 | $4,322 | $3,445 | $4,054 | $41,179 | 22.3% |
| Idaho | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,227 | $4,054 | $42,397 | 20.0% |
| Illinois | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,486 | $4,054 | $42,138 | 20.5% |
| Indiana | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,616 | $4,054 | $43,008 | 18.9% |
| Iowa | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,014 | $4,054 | $42,610 | 19.6% |
| Kansas | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,364 | $4,054 | $42,260 | 20.3% |
| Kentucky | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,994 | $4,054 | $42,630 | 19.6% |
| Louisiana | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,671 | $4,054 | $42,953 | 19.0% |
| Maine | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,345 | $4,054 | $42,279 | 20.2% |
| Maryland | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,344 | $4,054 | $42,280 | 20.2% |
| Massachusetts | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,430 | $4,054 | $42,194 | 20.4% |
| Michigan | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,014 | $4,054 | $42,610 | 19.6% |
| Minnesota | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,153 | $4,054 | $42,471 | 19.9% |
| Mississippi | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,913 | $4,054 | $42,711 | 19.4% |
| Missouri | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,673 | $4,054 | $42,951 | 19.0% |
| Montana | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,020 | $4,054 | $42,604 | 19.6% |
| Nebraska | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,575 | $4,054 | $43,049 | 18.8% |
| Nevada | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| New Hampshire | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| New Jersey | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,436 | $4,054 | $43,188 | 18.5% |
| New Mexico | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,602 | $4,054 | $43,022 | 18.8% |
| New York | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,419 | $4,054 | $42,205 | 20.4% |
| North Carolina | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,811 | $4,054 | $42,813 | 19.2% |
| North Dakota | $53,000 | $4,322 | $749 | $4,054 | $43,875 | 17.2% |
| Ohio | $53,000 | $4,322 | $740 | $4,054 | $43,884 | 17.2% |
| Oklahoma | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,027 | $4,054 | $42,597 | 19.6% |
| Oregon | $53,000 | $4,322 | $4,112 | $4,054 | $40,512 | 23.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,627 | $4,054 | $42,997 | 18.9% |
| Rhode Island | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,592 | $4,054 | $43,032 | 18.8% |
| South Carolina | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,765 | $4,054 | $42,859 | 19.1% |
| South Dakota | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| Tennessee | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| Texas | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| Utah | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,464 | $4,054 | $42,160 | 20.5% |
| Vermont | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,557 | $4,054 | $43,067 | 18.7% |
| Virginia | $53,000 | $4,322 | $2,531 | $4,054 | $42,093 | 20.6% |
| Washington | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
| West Virginia | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,853 | $4,054 | $42,771 | 19.3% |
| Wisconsin | $53,000 | $4,322 | $1,721 | $4,054 | $42,903 | 19.1% |
| Wyoming | $53,000 | $4,322 | $0 | $4,054 | $44,624 | 15.8% |
Top Cities for Counselor Pay
The highest-paying metro areas for counselors tend to be major metropolitan centers with strong industry demand and higher costs of living.
| City | Avg Salary |
|---|---|
| Newark, NJ | $58,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $58,300 |
| Hartford, CT | $58,300 |
| Anchorage, AK | $58,300 |
| Washington, DC | $58,300 |
Calculate Counselor Take-Home Pay
Adjust the state and filing status to see your estimated after-tax income.
Estimated Take-Home Pay
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Tax Breakdown
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Pay Frequency Breakdown
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How to Become a Counselor
Becoming a counselor typically requires relevant education, training, or certification in the field. Many employers also value practical experience, professional development, and industry-specific credentials.Counselor Career Outlook
Employment of counselors is projected to grow steadily over the next decade, driven by continued demand across industries. Professionals who stay current with evolving requirements and build specialized expertise will find the strongest job prospects.Counselor Salary FAQ
The median annual salary for counselors in the US is $53,000, with a typical range from $32,200 to $82,600 depending on experience and location.
The highest-paying states for counselors include NJ, CA, CT. These states typically have strong demand and higher costs of living.
Entry-level counselors can expect to earn around $34,450 per year, with salary increasing as they gain experience and expertise.
Being a counselor can be a rewarding career with solid compensation and growth potential. Job outlook is generally positive across most regions.
The median hourly rate for counselors is approximately $25.48, though this varies based on experience, location, and employer.