School Counselor Pay

San Antonio vs College Station: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between San Antonio, TX and College Station, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

San Antonio, TX
$59,095
$28.41/hr
College Station, TX
$49,425
$23.76/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSan Antonio, TXCollege Station, TX
Median Salary$59,095$49,425
Hourly Rate$28.41$23.76
Entry Level (P10)$37,543$24,473
25th Percentile$47,854$39,843
75th Percentile$73,767$62,716
Top Earner (P90)$97,519$80,178
Total Employed3,120830
Side-by-side bar chart comparing San Antonio ($59,095) and College Station ($49,425) school counselor salaries.San AntonioCollege StationMedian Salary$59,095$49,425Entry Level (P10)$37,543$24,473Top Earner (P90)$97,519$80,178US Median $64,335

Verdict

San Antonio, TX offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to College Station.

The salary gap between San Antonio and College Station is $9,670 (19.56%). San Antonio's median is -8.14% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in San Antonio spans $59,976,College Station spans $55,705. San Antonio has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

San Antonio
P10 (Entry)$37,543
P25$47,854
Median$59,095
P75$73,767
P90 (Top)$97,519
College Station
P10 (Entry)$24,473
P25$39,843
Median$49,425
P75$62,716
P90 (Top)$80,178

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, San Antonio ($62,392 effective) pays 14.81% more than College Station ($54,342 effective).

San Antonio
Nominal: $59,095
CoL Index: 94.716
Adjusted: $62,392
College Station
Nominal: $49,425
CoL Index: 90.951
Adjusted: $54,342

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose San Antonio if…

  • Higher median salary ($59,095/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($97,519)
  • Larger job market (3,120 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $62,392)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose College Station if…

  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in San Antonio grew 0.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 2.7% growth in College Station over the same period.

San Antonio, TX

+0.9%

$57,400 (2019) → $57,908 (2025)

College Station, TX

+2.7%

$47,140 (2019) → $48,432 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: San Antonio or College Station?

San Antonio has a higher median school counselor salary at $59,095/year, compared to College Station at $49,425/year — a difference of $9,670 (19.56%).

What is the hourly rate difference between San Antonio and College Station?

San Antonio school counselors earn $28.41/hr while College Station hygienists earn $23.76/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from San Antonio to College Station as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing San Antonio and College Station. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Antonio = $62,392, College Station = $54,342), job availability (3,120 vs 830 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in San Antonio vs College Station?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $37,543 in San Antonio and $24,473 in College Station. The San Antonio 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