School Counselor Hourly Pay in Bangor, ME: $24.84 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Bangor, ME runs $24.84 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $51,675 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Bangor's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.5, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $25.74 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,999 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Bangor, Maine, school counselors earn a median hourly rate of $24.84, which is significantly lower than the national median of $30.93. This disparity reflects the local job market and cost of living index of 96.508, indicating that Bangor operates below the national average. For part-time workers, such as those teaching guidance lessons in elementary schools or facilitating small group counseling in middle schools, this hourly wage translates to various levels of income depending on their schedule. A counselor working three days a week might find this pay limiting, with hourly earnings ranging from $21.68 at entry-level positions to $37.89 for those with more experience or specialized roles in settings like high school counseling offices or crisis response teams. These projected figures, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, provide a clear picture of what school counselor hourly pay in Bangor looks like in 2026.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.68 | $173.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.36 | $178.87 |
| Median (P50) | $24.84 | $198.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30.93 | $247.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.89 | $303.13 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bangor
Based on $24.84/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.84/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bangor, ME can expect to earn approximately $51,665 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,807. With a cost-of-living index of 96.51 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bangor.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bangor
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $993.56 | $4,305 | $51,665 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $596.14 | $2,583 | $30,999 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $397.42 | $1,722 | $20,666 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Bangor) | $24.84 |
| 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 Bangor, ME earn a median of $51,675 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.68% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 17.70% below the Maine state average of $62,789.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.84/hr = $30,999/year (purchasing power: $32,121).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $51,665/year (purchasing power: $53,534).
CoL index: 96.508 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.31/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$24.34/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.84/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+8.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Bangor (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.31/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.46/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.70/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.95/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.21/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.01/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $24.34/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.84/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $25.35/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Bangor grew 4.4% from $23.31/hr (2019) to $24.34/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $25.35/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 Bangor 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 Bangor
Considering part-time positions, school counselors working 24 hours a week could anticipate an annual income substantially less than their full-time counterparts. For example, a part-timer earning $24.84 hourly would net just over $30,000 a year, while full-time counselors could access benefits that often include health insurance—an attractive trade-off for those who value job security. Additionally, the per diem school counselor pay in Bangor can differ widely, especially for private college counseling roles, where consultants can charge between $150-$400 per hour for services. The variability in compensation can be striking when comparing employer types; K-12 positions offer consistent pay structures similar to teachers, while private and charter institutions might provide different hourly rates. For those negotiating their hourly pay in this competitive environment, it’s beneficial to highlight their experience and the growing demand for mental health support in schools, especially as counseling positions expand in light of post-COVID funding initiatives.
More salary data for Bangor, ME:
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 Bangor. 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