School Counselor Pay

Orem vs Provo: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Orem, UT and Provo, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Orem, UT
$56,801
$27.31/hr
Provo, UT
$57,405
$27.60/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOrem, UTProvo, UT
Median Salary$56,801$57,405
Hourly Rate$27.31$27.60
Entry Level (P10)$41,275$37,533
25th Percentile$45,987$47,394
75th Percentile$72,706$77,857
Top Earner (P90)$88,042$94,219
Total Employed24870
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Orem ($56,801) and Provo ($57,405) school counselor salaries.OremProvoMedian Salary$56,801$57,405Entry Level (P10)$41,275$37,533Top Earner (P90)$88,042$94,219US Median $64,335

Verdict

Provo, UT offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Orem.

The salary gap between Orem and Provo is $604 (1.06%). Provo's median is -10.77% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Orem spans $46,767,Provo spans $56,686. Provo has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced school counselors.

Orem
P10 (Entry)$41,275
P25$45,987
Median$56,801
P75$72,706
P90 (Top)$88,042
Provo
P10 (Entry)$37,533
P25$47,394
Median$57,405
P75$77,857
P90 (Top)$94,219

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Provo ($58,438 effective) pays 0.93% more than Orem ($57,901 effective).

Orem
Nominal: $56,801
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $57,901
Provo
Nominal: $57,405
CoL Index: 98.232
Adjusted: $58,438

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Orem if…

  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Provo if…

  • Higher median salary ($57,405/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($94,219)
  • Larger job market (870 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $58,438)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Orem grew -3.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 35.1% growth in Provo over the same period.

Orem, UT

+-3.5%

$57,658 (2024) → $55,660 (2025)

Provo, UT

+35.1%

$41,650 (2019) → $56,252 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Orem or Provo?

Provo has a higher median school counselor salary at $57,405/year, compared to Orem at $56,801/year — a difference of $604 (1.06%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Orem and Provo?

Orem school counselors earn $27.31/hr while Provo hygienists earn $27.60/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Orem to Provo as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Orem and Provo. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Orem = $57,901, Provo = $58,438), job availability (24 vs 870 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Orem vs Provo?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $41,275 in Orem and $37,533 in Provo. The Orem 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