School Counselor Hourly Pay in Birmingham, AL: $30.30 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Birmingham, AL runs $30.30 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $63,026 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Birmingham's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.6, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.06 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,813 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
School counselors in Birmingham, Alabama, earn a median hourly rate of $30.30, which is slightly below the national median of $30.93. For those considering part-time roles or per-diem positions, this hourly pay suggests a promising opportunity in various educational settings, such as elementary classroom guidance sessions, middle school small group counseling, high school individual counseling offices, and even college counseling resource rooms. For entry-level professionals, hourly rates begin at around $18.11, while more experienced counselors can earn up to $38.76 per hour. This data, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS projections for 2026, emphasizes Birmingham's competitive pay within the context of the broader national average for school counselor hourly wages.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.11 | $144.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.82 | $182.55 |
| Median (P50) | $30.30 | $242.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.27 | $290.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.76 | $310.07 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Birmingham
Based on $30.30/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.30/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Birmingham, AL can expect to earn approximately $63,021 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,358. With a cost-of-living index of 91.64 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Birmingham.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Birmingham
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,211.95 | $5,252 | $63,021 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $727.17 | $3,151 | $37,813 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $484.78 | $2,101 | $25,208 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Birmingham) | $30.30 |
| Mental Health Counselor (National Avg) | $28.69 |
| Social Worker (National Avg) | $29.33 |
| Elementary School Teacher (National Avg) | $32.79 |
| Instructional Coordinator (National Avg) | $36.21 |
School Counselors in Birmingham, AL earn a median of $63,026 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.03% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 7.40% above the Alabama state average of $58,684.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.30/hr = $37,813/year (purchasing power: $41,260).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $63,021/year (purchasing power: $68,767).
CoL index: 91.644 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.07/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.69/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.30/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+10.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Birmingham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.07/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.16/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.41/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.56/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.64/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $31.16/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.69/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.30/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30.92/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Birmingham grew 5.8% from $28.07/hr (2019) to $29.69/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $30.92/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem school counselors can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Birmingham metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.05% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly School Counselor in Birmingham
For part-time school counselors working three days a week, the financial implications can be significant when compared to full-time salaries. A typical schedule of 24 hours per week can yield an annual income considerably lower than that of a full-time counselor, which may affect lifestyle and financial planning. Per diem options also exist although coverage for substitutes in K-12 schools is rare; many private college counselors charge between $150 to $400 per hour in higher-cost markets, addressing a gap in schooling services. Furthermore, school counselors in Birmingham may experience pay variability depending on the type of educational institution—in public school districts, charter schools, and private settings, including colleges or even DoDEA schools. While some counselors may choose to accept lower hourly rates for the benefits of health insurance, others prefer higher pay with no additional benefits. Negotiating salary in Birmingham comes down to weighing benefits against hourly wages, making it essential for professionals to understand both their worth and the market dynamics.
More salary data for Birmingham, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for school counselors in Birmingham. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.05%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for school counselors (SOC 21-1012).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed., a licensed school counselor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov