How much does a counselor make?
Answer: A typical counselor in the United States makes $50,860 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 29,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Counselor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,240 | $50,860 | $91,940 | about 29,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $79,490 | about 760 |
| New Jersey | $73,360 | about 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,160 | about 1,000 |
| Texas | $54,450 | about 3,000 |
| Tennessee | $51,900 | about 740 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, skills, credentials such as a license, and the kind of counseling work. Employer type, location, and hours worked can matter too.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a counselor do?
All counselors not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
Depending on their specialty, counselors meet people one-to-one or in groups, listen to what is going on, and help them choose goals or next steps. They may connect clients with useful services, speak with colleagues, and write notes between meetings.
How to get this job
Because this “All Other” group covers many specialties, start by choosing one and completing the education its jobs require. For an independent professional-counselor license, the usual route is a master’s degree, supervised practice, and an exam; state rules vary.
Did you know?
“All Other” is a catch-all label for counselors whose varied jobs don’t fit one of the more specific counselor categories.
Earn more in the same field
Community and Social Service jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1019.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/Community-and-Social-Service/School-and-career-counselors.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder
- www.counseling.org/resources/licensure-requirements
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1015.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY