Highest Paying Cities for School Counselors (2026)
Fresno, California, has the highest median salary among metro areas with 500 or more people employed: $101,280 (May 2025). Sacramento and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura follow just behind, and California holds 12 of the top 20 metros. The national median is $64,330 (May 2025).
These rankings use BLS data for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012). They include workers in K-12 schools, colleges and other settings, so the figures do not represent school counselors exclusively.
Two people in this field can earn medians more than $54,000 apart. In Fresno, California, the median salary is $101,280. In Tallahassee, Florida, it’s $46,900. Both figures come from the same May 2025 federal survey.
Where you work can have a major influence on pay, alongside experience, qualifications and employer. That’s something you can weigh before you pick a program or apply for a license. Below you’ll find the 20 highest paying metro areas, the top paying metros outside California, what counselors earn in the country’s biggest job markets, and how to read these numbers.
The 20 Highest Paying Metro Areas for School Counselors
| Rank | Metro Area | Median Salary (May 2025) | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $101,280 | 1,210 |
| 2 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,930 | 2,730 |
| 3 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $100,790 | 690 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $98,480 | 500 |
| 5 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,700 | 830 |
| 6 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,780 | 3,800 |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,390 | 2,440 |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,600 | 5,270 |
| 9 | Lake Charles, LA | $87,940 | 850 |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $87,280 | 3,570 |
| 11 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,500 | 710 |
| 12 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,520 | 3,900 |
| 13 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $80,760 | 8,170 |
| 14 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $80,390 | 990 |
| 15 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,840 | 580 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $79,180 | 810 |
| 17 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,000 | 17,110 |
| 18 | Springfield, MA | $78,870 | 720 |
| 19 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,400 | 2,400 |
| 20 | Worcester, MA | $78,040 | 1,170 |
How this list was built. We ranked metro areas by annual median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012). The data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025. Only metropolitan areas with at least 500 people employed in the occupation were included, which left 121 metros. Small areas can swing on a handful of survey responses, so a few high figures from very small metros don’t appear here. Nonmetropolitan areas were left out.
Why California Dominates the List
California’s statewide median is $86,500 (May 2025), more than $22,000 above the national figure. Twelve of the 20 metros above are in California, and the top eight all are.
To work as a school counselor in a California public school, you generally need a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential. It carries a School Counseling specialization and is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Requirements depend on whether you completed your preparation program in California or another state.
California districts set their own counselor pay. Local salary schedules are one factor that can contribute to differences in counselor pay between California metros.
The surprise is the Central Valley. Fresno ($101,280) and Bakersfield ($97,700) both outrank San Jose ($95,390) and San Francisco ($94,600). Living costs also differ between the Central Valley and the Bay Area, so compare both sides of the ledger. If you’re set on California, the inland metros deserve a close look. For credential details and statewide figures, see our California school counselor guide.
Highest Paying Metros Outside California
If you aren’t planning to work in California, the ranking starts to look different. These are the 10 best paying cities for school counselors in the rest of the country.
| Rank | Metro Area | Median Salary (May 2025) | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles, LA | $87,940 | 850 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $87,280 | 3,570 |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $80,760 | 8,170 |
| 4 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $80,390 | 990 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $79,180 | 810 |
| 6 | Springfield, MA | $78,870 | 720 |
| 7 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,400 | 2,400 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $78,040 | 1,170 |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,580 | 19,890 |
| 10 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $77,420 | 7,260 |
A few patterns stand out. Massachusetts places three metros in this group: Boston, Springfield and Worcester. Its statewide median is $79,930 (May 2025). Washington also pays well overall, with a statewide median of $82,670 (May 2025) and Seattle close to the top.
Texas is the more interesting case. Its statewide median is $67,900 (May 2025), but McAllen, on the border, comes in at $80,390. Lake Charles shows the same pattern. It ranks first outside California even though Louisiana’s statewide median is $61,870 (May 2025). A metro’s pay can sit far above its state’s, so check the local figure before you rule a state in or out.
Our state pages go further, including Massachusetts, Washington, Texas and Louisiana.
What School Counselors Earn in the Largest Job Markets
The highest paying metro and the place with the most jobs often aren’t the same. These 10 metros employ the most people in the BLS category.
| Metro Area | Employed | Median Salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 19,890 | $77,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 17,110 | $79,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9,790 | $64,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 8,170 | $80,760 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,980 | $76,380 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 7,260 | $77,420 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,050 | $66,190 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 6,550 | $67,730 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 6,480 | $75,930 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 6,250 | $57,110 |
New York and Los Angeles together employ about 37,000 people in this occupation. Both pay well above the national median of $64,330 (May 2025). Chicago lands within $400 of it, and Miami falls more than $7,000 below.
How to Read These Salary Figures
These numbers are a starting point. Keep four things in mind before you plan around them.
The category is broader than school counseling. BLS reports school counselors under Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, which also includes college advisors and career counselors. Among metros with at least 500 people employed, the three lowest medians are Tallahassee ($46,900), Gainesville ($47,600) and Orlando ($48,840), all May 2025. In metros with large universities, the mix of school counselors and college or career advisors can affect the reported median. BLS does not provide separate metro-level wage figures for K-12 school counselors within this occupation.
A median isn’t a starting salary. Many public school districts use salary schedules that account for education and experience. Actual starting pay varies by district, contract and placement on the schedule. A new counselor in Fresno should not assume they’ll earn the metro-wide median of $101,280.
Don’t read the national figure as a trend. The published national median was $64,330 in May 2025, compared with $65,140 in May 2024. These estimates should not be treated as definitive evidence of a decline in individual counselors’ pay.
Pay figures say nothing about living costs. Compare housing and everyday costs in any metro you’re seriously considering before you weigh it against another.
For national figures and pay by work setting, read our full breakdown of school counselor pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays school counselors the most?
Among metro areas with at least 500 people employed, Fresno, California, ranks first with a median of $101,280 (BLS, May 2025). Sacramento and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura follow closely, both just above $100,000.
Why do school counselors in California earn so much more?
California’s statewide median is $86,500 (May 2025), and districts set their own counselor pay. Local salary schedules are one factor that can contribute to differences between metros. BLS data shows how much counselors earn, but it doesn’t explain why.
Do these figures only include school counselors?
No. BLS reports school counselors under Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (SOC 21-1012), which also covers college advisors and career counselors. In metros with large universities, that mix can affect the reported median. BLS does not provide separate metro-level wage figures for K-12 school counselors.
What’s the national median salary for this occupation?
The national median was $64,330 in May 2025, compared with $65,140 in May 2024. The May 2025 mean was $71,430. BLS cautions against treating year-over-year changes in these estimates as definitive.
- California leads by a wide margin: 12 of the 20 highest paying metros are in California, led by Fresno at $101,280 (May 2025).
- Inland can beat coastal: Fresno and Bakersfield outrank San Francisco and San Jose.
- Strong options exist elsewhere: Lake Charles, Seattle, Boston and McAllen all post medians above $80,000 (May 2025).
- The biggest markets pay unevenly: New York and Los Angeles pay well, while Miami sits below the national median of $64,330 (May 2025).
- Read medians with care: the BLS category includes college advisors, and starting pay depends on the district.
School counselor credential requirements vary by state. Before choosing a master’s program, check the education, supervised experience and examination requirements of the state where you plan to work.
