School Counselor Hourly Pay in Bossier City, LA: $31.52 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Bossier City, LA runs $31.52 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $65,558 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Bossier City's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.3, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $34.91 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $39,341 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the median school counselor hourly pay in Bossier City, Louisiana, is projected to be $31.52, slightly above the national median of $30.93. This rate impacts part-time counselors significantly, allowing those who work three days a week to earn a respectable income while focusing on flexible scheduling across various environments like elementary schools, middle schools, high school counseling offices, and even college resource centers. Entry-level counselors at the 10th percentile will earn around $22.60 per hour, while experienced professionals can command up to $48.85 at the 90th percentile. These figures originate from annual salary estimates and therefore highlight both entry-level opportunities and the potential for higher earnings depending on experience and position within the school system.
About the Bossier City Market
Salary estimated from Louisiana average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.60 | $180.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.32 | $202.55 |
| Median (P50) | $31.52 | $252.19 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $40.34 | $322.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48.85 | $390.81 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bossier City
Based on $31.52/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.52/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bossier City, LA can expect to earn approximately $65,568 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,828. With a cost-of-living index of 90.30 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bossier City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bossier City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,260.93 | $5,464 | $65,568 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $756.56 | $3,278 | $39,341 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $504.37 | $2,186 | $26,227 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Bossier City) | $31.52 |
| 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 Bossier City, LA earn a median of $65,558 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.90% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 7.70% above the Louisiana state average of $60,871.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.52/hr = $39,341/year (purchasing power: $43,567).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $65,568/year (purchasing power: $72,612).
CoL index: 90.3 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.39/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.89/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.52/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Bossier City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.39/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.91/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.06/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.88/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.63/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.89/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.52/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.17/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Bossier City grew 12.8% from $27.39/hr (2019) to $30.89/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.17/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 Bossier 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 Bossier City
For part-time counselors in Bossier City working 24 hours weekly, the annual take-home pay translates to about $39,166, which is substantially lower than that of a full-time equivalent but allows for desirable work-life balance. Per-diem roles can also be lucrative; agency school counselors often charge higher rates, reflecting the growing demand for specialized support, particularly in college admissions or summer programs. This dynamic leads to varying pay scales based on employer type, with public K-12 schools generally offering lower hourly rates compared to private institutions or DoDEA schools. Some counselors might opt for positions with less pay to maintain benefits like health insurance, presenting a classic trade-off between salary and job perks. When entering salary negotiations, professionals should focus on the value they bring, emphasizing their qualifications and the current mental health funding expansions that have increased the hiring of counselors in response to post-pandemic needs.
More salary data for Bossier City, LA:
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 Bossier 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
Salary data for Bossier City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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