School Counselor Hourly Pay in Lake Havasu City, AZ: $23.80 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Lake Havasu City, AZ runs $23.80 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $49,494 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Lake Havasu City's regional price level (BEA RPP 94.1, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $25.29 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $29,700 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lake Havasu City, Arizona, the projected school counselor hourly pay is $23.80, which falls significantly below the national median of $30.93. This discrepancy highlights the challenges faced by school counselors in the area, particularly for those working part-time or on a per-diem basis. For example, a school counselor working three days a week would find it difficult to match the income of a full-time role while managing various responsibilities such as classroom guidance lessons, small group counseling for middle school students, and individual counseling sessions for high school students. The hourly wage varies considerably across the profession, with entry-level positions starting at $17.10, while more experienced counselors may earn up to $30.84 per hour as they progress in their careers, reflecting the salary range from $35,563 to $64,156 as reported in the official Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17.10 | $136.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21.41 | $171.28 |
| Median (P50) | $23.80 | $190.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $28.00 | $224.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $30.84 | $246.72 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lake Havasu City
Based on $23.80/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $23.80/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lake Havasu City, AZ can expect to earn approximately $49,500 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $28,558. With a cost-of-living index of 94.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lake Havasu City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lake Havasu City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $951.92 | $4,125 | $49,500 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $571.15 | $2,475 | $29,700 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $380.77 | $1,650 | $19,800 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Lake Havasu City) | $23.80 |
| 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 Lake Havasu City, AZ earn a median of $49,494 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.07% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 5.70% below the Arizona state average of $52,486.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $23.80/hr = $29,700/year (purchasing power: $31,563).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $49,500/year (purchasing power: $52,605).
CoL index: 94.098 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$22.06/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.32/hr
2026 Current Est.
$23.80/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+10.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Lake Havasu City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22.06/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $21.93/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.61/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.80/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.07/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.85/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.32/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23.80/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24.29/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Lake Havasu City grew 5.7% from $22.06/hr (2019) to $23.32/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $24.29/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 Lake Havasu City 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 Lake Havasu City
Exploring the specifics of part-time earnings reveals that a school counselor working just 24 hours per week could take home significantly less than their full-time counterparts over the course of the year. While a full-time position typically offers more consistent income, part-time counselors must often supplement their income through per-diem or contract roles. Private college counselors in high-cost living markets may charge rates as high as $400 per hour for admissions consulting, presenting a stark contrast to the school counselor hourly rate in Lake Havasu City. Additionally, working in different educational settings such as K-12 public schools or charter networks may yield varied hourly rates; counselors in public school districts often receive additional benefits like health insurance, which is an important consideration for many. Locally negotiated rates can align with the step-and-lane salary structures, common in most K-12 districts. Those seeking to improve their hourly rate may want to negotiate for appraisals based on experience or additional certifications, reflecting growing demand in the profession following the recent expansions in mental health funding post-COVID.
More salary data for Lake Havasu City, AZ:
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 Lake Havasu City. 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