School Counselor Hourly Pay in St. Cloud, MN: $31.22 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in St. Cloud, MN runs $31.22 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,916 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against St. Cloud's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.6, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.62 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,959 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, school counselors can expect to earn a median hourly pay of $31.22, marginally higher than the national median hourly rate of $30.93. This pay structure provides a solid framework for both full-time and part-time professionals, particularly those working three days a week or in per-diem roles. In typical settings such as elementary classroom guidance lessons, middle school small group counseling, high school individual counseling offices, and college counseling resource rooms, the hourly pay allows flexibility for those balancing multiple roles. The hourly salaries range significantly, with entry-level positions starting from approximately $22.63 and top earners reaching around $40.16, showcasing a variety of earning potentials tailored to experience and specialized skill sets in the field.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.63 | $181.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26.96 | $215.69 |
| Median (P50) | $31.22 | $249.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.72 | $293.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $40.16 | $321.25 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Cloud
Based on $31.22/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.22/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Cloud, MN can expect to earn approximately $64,932 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,461. With a cost-of-living index of 87.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Cloud.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Cloud
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,248.68 | $5,411 | $64,932 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $749.21 | $3,247 | $38,959 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $499.47 | $2,164 | $25,973 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (St. Cloud) | $31.22 |
| 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 St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $64,916 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.90% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 0.50% above the Minnesota state average of $64,593.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.22/hr = $38,959/year (purchasing power: $44,457).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,932/year (purchasing power: $74,096).
CoL index: 87.632 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.17/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.59/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.22/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+13.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.17/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.98/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.94/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.27/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $30.27/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.50/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.59/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.22/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.86/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in St. Cloud grew 8.6% from $28.17/hr (2019) to $30.59/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.86/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 St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud
Delving deeper, part-time school counselors working 24 hours a week may bring home a salary that translates to different financial realities compared to full-time counterparts. For example, a counselor in this setup could expect an annual take-home closer to $47,157—significantly less than a full-time salary but still advantageous given the schedule flexibility. Per diem school counselor pay in St. Cloud can vary widely; while employed counselors typically earn around $31.22 per hour, private college consultants might charge $150-$400 per hour in high-cost-of-living markets for direct-pay services. St. Cloud’s diverse educational landscape includes K-12 public districts, charter schools, and private institutions, each offering varying hourly rates based on funding and student needs. Some school counselors may opt for positions that provide health insurance benefits, sacrificing higher hourly pay for stability. Negotiating pay becomes crucial in this context, as hourly workers in counseling should emphasize their qualifications and the growing demand for mental health support in schools, particularly in light of the expanded funding following the COVID-19 crisis.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
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 St. Cloud. 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