School Counselor Pay

San Francisco vs Victorville: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between San Francisco, CA and Victorville, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

San Francisco, CA
$94,609
$45.48/hr
Victorville, CA
$95,262
$45.80/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSan Francisco, CAVictorville, CA
Median Salary$94,609$95,262
Hourly Rate$45.48$45.80
Entry Level (P10)$58,015$65,713
25th Percentile$69,936$72,672
75th Percentile$122,031$121,934
Top Earner (P90)$149,993$147,655
Total Employed5,27030
Side-by-side bar chart comparing San Francisco ($94,609) and Victorville ($95,262) school counselor salaries.San FranciscoVictorvilleMedian Salary$94,609$95,262Entry Level (P10)$58,015$65,713Top Earner (P90)$149,993$147,655US Median $64,335

Verdict

San Francisco and Victorville are closely matched on overall school counselor compensation, each winning on different metrics.

The salary gap between San Francisco and Victorville is $653 (0.69%). Victorville's median is +48.07% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in San Francisco spans $91,978,Victorville spans $81,942. San Francisco has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$58,015
P25$69,936
Median$94,609
P75$122,031
P90 (Top)$149,993
Victorville
P10 (Entry)$65,713
P25$72,672
Median$95,262
P75$121,934
P90 (Top)$147,655

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Victorville ($84,228 effective) pays 2.93% more than San Francisco ($81,832 effective).

San Francisco
Nominal: $94,609
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $81,832
Victorville
Nominal: $95,262
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $84,228

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose San Francisco if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($149,993)
  • Larger job market (5,270 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Victorville if…

  • Higher median salary ($95,262/year)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $84,228)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in San Francisco grew 26.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -4.8% growth in Victorville over the same period.

San Francisco, CA

+26.3%

$73,410 (2019) → $92,708 (2025)

Victorville, CA

+-4.8%

$98,018 (2024) → $93,348 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: San Francisco or Victorville?

Victorville has a higher median school counselor salary at $95,262/year, compared to San Francisco at $94,609/year — a difference of $653 (0.69%).

What is the hourly rate difference between San Francisco and Victorville?

San Francisco school counselors earn $45.48/hr while Victorville hygienists earn $45.80/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from San Francisco to Victorville as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing San Francisco and Victorville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Francisco = $81,832, Victorville = $84,228), job availability (5,270 vs 30 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in San Francisco vs Victorville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $58,015 in San Francisco and $65,713 in Victorville. The Victorville 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