School Counselor Hourly Pay in Iowa City, IA: $28.78 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Iowa City, IA runs $28.78 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $59,855 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Iowa City's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.5, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.45 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,915 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Iowa City, the projected school counselor hourly pay for 2026 is $28.78, which falls below the national median hourly rate of $30.93. This figure can significantly impact part-time workers in various educational settings, including schools and colleges. For those considering a part-time position, such as a counselor working three days a week, the pay reflects the financial realities of balancing professional responsibilities with personal ones. The hourly range, beginning at $23.00 for entry-level positions and extending to $36.14 for top earners, illustrates the income potential for school counselors in different roles, such as elementary guidance lessons, small group counseling in middle schools, or one-on-one sessions in high school counseling offices. These statistics are derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, ensuring accuracy and reliability for prospective employees.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.00 | $184.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.00 | $184.02 |
| Median (P50) | $28.78 | $230.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.69 | $285.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $36.14 | $289.09 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Iowa City
Based on $28.78/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.78/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Iowa City, IA can expect to earn approximately $59,858 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,534. With a cost-of-living index of 91.51 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Iowa City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Iowa City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,151.12 | $4,988 | $59,858 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $690.67 | $2,993 | $35,915 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $460.45 | $1,995 | $23,943 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Iowa City) | $28.78 |
| 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 Iowa City, IA earn a median of $59,855 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.96% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 5.30% above the Iowa state average of $56,843.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.78/hr = $35,915/year (purchasing power: $39,248).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $59,858/year (purchasing power: $65,413).
CoL index: 91.509 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.36/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.20/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.78/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+11.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Iowa City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.36/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.06/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.57/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.95/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $31.08/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $33.48/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.20/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.78/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.37/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Iowa City grew 7.0% from $26.36/hr (2019) to $28.20/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.37/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 Iowa 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 Iowa City
When evaluating the financial impacts of part-time employment, a school counselor working 24 hours a week in Iowa City at the median hourly rate can expect to take home around $35,785 annually, compared to a full-time counselor, who would earn $59,855. Additionally, the landscape of per-diem school counselor pay in Iowa City offers enticing opportunities; while full-time positions may provide benefits like health insurance, many per-diem counselors command rates between $150 and $400 hourly, especially in private settings like colleges. This choice often represents a trade-off between a higher hourly wage and job security. Variations in hourly rates are also observed across different educational institutions, including K-12 public schools, charter organizations, and private schools, with each type of employer offering different compensation structures. School counselors should consider negotiating their pay by emphasizing their qualifications or exploring strategic opportunities, especially in light of the increased demand for mental health support since the post-COVID expansion of funding in many districts.
More salary data for Iowa City, IA:
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 Iowa 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