School Counselor Pay

Noblesville vs South Bend: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Noblesville, IN and South Bend, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Noblesville, IN
$58,974
$28.35/hr
South Bend, IN
$58,326
$28.04/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNoblesville, INSouth Bend, IN
Median Salary$58,974$58,326
Hourly Rate$28.35$28.04
Entry Level (P10)$41,079$39,824
25th Percentile$46,461$45,725
75th Percentile$75,192$64,885
Top Earner (P90)$91,409$78,557
Total Employed11390
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Noblesville ($58,974) and South Bend ($58,326) school counselor salaries.NoblesvilleSouth BendMedian Salary$58,974$58,326Entry Level (P10)$41,079$39,824Top Earner (P90)$91,409$78,557US Median $64,335

Verdict

Noblesville, IN offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to South Bend.

The salary gap between Noblesville and South Bend is $648 (1.11%). Noblesville's median is -8.33% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Noblesville spans $50,330,South Bend spans $38,733. Noblesville has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Noblesville
P10 (Entry)$41,079
P25$46,461
Median$58,974
P75$75,192
P90 (Top)$91,409
South Bend
P10 (Entry)$39,824
P25$45,725
Median$58,326
P75$64,885
P90 (Top)$78,557

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Noblesville ($64,594 effective) pays 2.84% more than South Bend ($62,812 effective).

Noblesville
Nominal: $58,974
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $64,594
South Bend
Nominal: $58,326
CoL Index: 92.858
Adjusted: $62,812

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Noblesville if…

  • Higher median salary ($58,974/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($91,409)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $64,594)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose South Bend if…

  • Larger job market (390 employed)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Noblesville grew 1.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 14.1% growth in South Bend over the same period.

Noblesville, IN

+1.0%

$57,235 (2024) → $57,789 (2025)

South Bend, IN

+14.1%

$50,090 (2019) → $57,154 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Noblesville or South Bend?

Noblesville has a higher median school counselor salary at $58,974/year, compared to South Bend at $58,326/year — a difference of $648 (1.11%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Noblesville and South Bend?

Noblesville school counselors earn $28.35/hr while South Bend hygienists earn $28.04/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Noblesville to South Bend as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Noblesville and South Bend. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Noblesville = $64,594, South Bend = $62,812), job availability (11 vs 390 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Noblesville vs South Bend?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $41,079 in Noblesville and $39,824 in South Bend. The Noblesville area offers higher starting salaries.
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