School Counselor Pay

Charlottesville vs Danville: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Charlottesville, VA and Danville, VA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Charlottesville, VA
$63,335
$30.45/hr
Danville, VA
$61,924
$29.77/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCharlottesville, VADanville, VA
Median Salary$63,335$61,924
Hourly Rate$30.45$29.77
Entry Level (P10)$41,554$43,169
25th Percentile$54,515$48,526
75th Percentile$78,837$78,164
Top Earner (P90)$86,698$95,982
Total Employed4807
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Charlottesville ($63,335) and Danville ($61,924) school counselor salaries.CharlottesvilleDanvilleMedian Salary$63,335$61,924Entry Level (P10)$41,554$43,169Top Earner (P90)$86,698$95,982US Median $64,335

Verdict

Charlottesville, VA offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Danville.

The salary gap between Charlottesville and Danville is $1,411 (2.28%). Charlottesville's median is -1.55% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Charlottesville spans $45,144,Danville spans $52,813. Danville has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced school counselors.

Charlottesville
P10 (Entry)$41,554
P25$54,515
Median$63,335
P75$78,837
P90 (Top)$86,698
Danville
P10 (Entry)$43,169
P25$48,526
Median$61,924
P75$78,164
P90 (Top)$95,982

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Charlottesville ($63,881 effective) pays 6.46% more than Danville ($60,004 effective).

Charlottesville
Nominal: $63,335
CoL Index: 99.146
Adjusted: $63,881
Danville
Nominal: $61,924
CoL Index: 103.2
Adjusted: $60,004

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Charlottesville if…

  • Higher median salary ($63,335/year)
  • Larger job market (480 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $63,881)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Choose Danville if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($95,982)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Charlottesville grew 1.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -14.1% growth in Danville over the same period.

Charlottesville, VA

+1.2%

$61,350 (2019) → $62,063 (2025)

Danville, VA

+-14.1%

$70,631 (2024) → $60,680 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Charlottesville or Danville?

Charlottesville has a higher median school counselor salary at $63,335/year, compared to Danville at $61,924/year — a difference of $1,411 (2.28%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Charlottesville and Danville?

Charlottesville school counselors earn $30.45/hr while Danville hygienists earn $29.77/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Charlottesville to Danville as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Charlottesville and Danville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Charlottesville = $63,881, Danville = $60,004), job availability (480 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Charlottesville vs Danville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $41,554 in Charlottesville and $43,169 in Danville. The Danville area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed.

Content Lead

Maria has over 10 years of experience in school counseling. She specializes in academic and emotional support for high school students. She works at a public high school in California.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, M.A.Data verified by Linda Chen, LPC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.05% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed., a licensed school counselor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov