School Counselor Hourly Pay in Fort Wayne, IN: $28.66 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Fort Wayne, IN runs $28.66 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $59,585 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Fort Wayne's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.95 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,762 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fort Wayne, IN, school counselors receive a median hourly rate of $28.66, slightly below the national median of $30.93. This figure plays a crucial role in understanding the financial landscape for both part-time school counselors working three days a week and per-diem workers in various educational environments. Roles for school counselors exist in elementary classrooms for guidance lessons, middle school small group counseling, high school individual counseling offices, and even college counseling resource rooms. The hourly wage range, from $20.61 at the entry-level to $38.77 for top earners, highlights the potential earning variations based on experience and specific responsibilities. These insights reflect official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) hourly data for 2026, providing a framework for emerging professionals to gauge their financial expectations in this critical field.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.61 | $164.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.60 | $188.83 |
| Median (P50) | $28.66 | $229.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.17 | $281.33 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.77 | $310.15 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Fort Wayne
Based on $28.66/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.66/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Fort Wayne, IN can expect to earn approximately $59,604 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,387. With a cost-of-living index of 92.57 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Fort Wayne.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Fort Wayne
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,146.23 | $4,967 | $59,604 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $687.74 | $2,980 | $35,762 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $458.49 | $1,987 | $23,841 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Fort Wayne) | $28.66 |
| 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 Fort Wayne, IN earn a median of $59,585 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.38% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 2.20% above the Indiana state average of $58,302.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.66/hr = $35,762/year (purchasing power: $38,632).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $59,604/year (purchasing power: $64,386).
CoL index: 92.572 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.18/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.08/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.66/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+11.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Fort Wayne (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.18/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.17/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.87/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.17/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.16/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.94/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.08/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.66/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.24/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Fort Wayne grew 7.3% from $26.18/hr (2019) to $28.08/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.24/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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne
For those considering part-time options, working as a school counselor three days per week at 24 hours totals about $36,000 annually, significantly less than a full-time counselor's earnings, which may exceed $59,585. The per-diem model can further complicate earning potential; while substitute counseling positions are rare, per-diem private college counselors in high-cost-of-living regions often charge between $150 to $400 per hour for specialized services. School counselors in Fort Wayne may also encounter different pay structures across employer types: K-12 public districts typically follow a step-and-lane salary schedule similar to teachers, while charter and private schools may offer varying rates. Some choose lower hourly pay for benefits like health insurance, whereas others prefer higher pay without benefits. Counselors negotiating their hourly pay should be informed about local market rates for all school counseling roles to ensure they maximize their earning potential in this evolving environment.
More salary data for Fort Wayne, IN:
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 Fort Wayne. 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