School Counselor Hourly Pay in Waterloo, IA: $25.59 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Waterloo, IA runs $25.59 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $53,225 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Waterloo's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.1, 13% below national), each hour of work buys what $29.40 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $31,941 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Waterloo, Iowa, the current school counselor hourly pay is projected to be $25.59, which falls noticeably below the national median of $30.93 per hour. This hourly rate reflects the compensation for positions in various educational settings, including elementary classroom guidance lessons, middle school small group counseling, and high school individual counseling offices. For part-time workers, such as those employed three days a week, this translates into a manageable income that still allows for professional engagement across different counseling roles. The hourly compensation in Waterloo varies, with entry-level positions starting around $20.07 and top earners potentially making up to $36.30 per hour, based on official Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.07 | $160.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21.76 | $174.06 |
| Median (P50) | $25.59 | $204.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30.54 | $244.35 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $36.30 | $290.39 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Waterloo
Based on $25.59/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $25.59/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Waterloo, IA can expect to earn approximately $53,236 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $30,713. With a cost-of-living index of 87.06 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Waterloo.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Waterloo
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,023.77 | $4,436 | $53,236 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $614.26 | $2,662 | $31,941 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $409.51 | $1,775 | $21,294 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Waterloo) | $25.59 |
| 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 Waterloo, IA earn a median of $53,225 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.27% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 6.40% below the Iowa state average of $56,865.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $25.59/hr = $31,941/year (purchasing power: $36,690).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $53,236/year (purchasing power: $61,151).
CoL index: 87.057 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.44/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$25.08/hr
2026 Current Est.
$25.59/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+6.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Waterloo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.44/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.88/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.94/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $21.62/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.71/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $26.82/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $25.08/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $25.59/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $26.12/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Waterloo grew 2.6% from $24.44/hr (2019) to $25.08/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $26.12/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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo
Focusing on part-time opportunities, a school counselor working 24 hours a week in Waterloo would take home a more modest income compared to their full-time counterparts, translating to a total of approximately $31,539 annually. This presents a practical alternative for professional counselors who prefer flexible schedules or are considering per-diem roles. In Waterloo, the reality of per-diem school counselor pay can vary significantly; while K-12 positions may offer lower hourly rates with some benefits, private colleges may pay a premium, ranging from $150 to $400 per hour for consulting work. Factors that can influence hourly rates include the type of employer—whether it’s a K-12 public school or a charter institution—along with the decision to trade off higher hourly pay for access to health insurance. For school counselors in Waterloo, negotiating an hourly wage can be beneficial, especially for those considering multiple positions or seeking to align their compensation with the growing demand for mental health support in schools since the COVID-19 pandemic.
More salary data for Waterloo, 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 Waterloo. 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