School Counselor Pay

Cincinnati vs Delaware: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Cincinnati, OH and Delaware, OH. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Cincinnati, OH
$61,835
$29.73/hr
Delaware, OH
$60,233
$28.96/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCincinnati, OHDelaware, OH
Median Salary$61,835$60,233
Hourly Rate$29.73$28.96
Entry Level (P10)$46,225$42,993
25th Percentile$50,275$50,272
75th Percentile$79,487$75,450
Top Earner (P90)$96,688$92,833
Total Employed2,4707
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cincinnati ($61,835) and Delaware ($60,233) school counselor salaries.CincinnatiDelawareMedian Salary$61,835$60,233Entry Level (P10)$46,225$42,993Top Earner (P90)$96,688$92,833US Median $64,335

Verdict

Cincinnati, OH offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Delaware.

The salary gap between Cincinnati and Delaware is $1,602 (2.66%). Cincinnati's median is -3.89% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Cincinnati spans $50,463,Delaware spans $49,840. Cincinnati has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Cincinnati
P10 (Entry)$46,225
P25$50,275
Median$61,835
P75$79,487
P90 (Top)$96,688
Delaware
P10 (Entry)$42,993
P25$50,272
Median$60,233
P75$75,450
P90 (Top)$92,833

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Delaware ($66,409 effective) pays 2.42% more than Cincinnati ($64,837 effective).

Cincinnati
Nominal: $61,835
CoL Index: 95.37
Adjusted: $64,837
Delaware
Nominal: $60,233
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $66,409

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Cincinnati if…

  • Higher median salary ($61,835/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($96,688)
  • Larger job market (2,470 employed)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Delaware if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $66,409)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Cincinnati grew 15.6% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 3.0% growth in Delaware over the same period.

Cincinnati, OH

+15.6%

$52,400 (2019) → $60,593 (2025)

Delaware, OH

+3.0%

$57,322 (2024) → $59,023 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Cincinnati or Delaware?

Cincinnati has a higher median school counselor salary at $61,835/year, compared to Delaware at $60,233/year — a difference of $1,602 (2.66%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cincinnati and Delaware?

Cincinnati school counselors earn $29.73/hr while Delaware hygienists earn $28.96/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Cincinnati to Delaware as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cincinnati and Delaware. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cincinnati = $64,837, Delaware = $66,409), job availability (2,470 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Cincinnati vs Delaware?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $46,225 in Cincinnati and $42,993 in Delaware. The Cincinnati 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