School Counselor Hourly Pay in Jackson, MS: $28.19 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Jackson, MS runs $28.19 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,626 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Jackson's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.0, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.65 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,176 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Jackson, Mississippi, school counselors earn a median hourly pay of $28.19, which is slightly below the national hourly median of $30.93. This figure reflects the typical earnings for counselors working in various educational environments, including elementary school guidance lessons, middle school small group counseling, high school individual counseling settings, and college counseling resource areas. The hourly wage spectrum ranges from $18.77 for entry-level positions (P10) to $36.71 for the most experienced professionals (P90). With cost of living factors considered, this median rate positions school counselor hourly pay in Jackson competitively for part-time and per-diem roles, which are particularly valuable in a profession that often demands flexibility and responsiveness to student needs.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.77 | $150.14 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.13 | $177.08 |
| Median (P50) | $28.19 | $225.49 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.75 | $253.98 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $36.71 | $293.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Jackson
Based on $28.19/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.19/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Jackson, MS can expect to earn approximately $58,627 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,823. With a cost-of-living index of 89.05 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Jackson.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Jackson
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,127.45 | $4,886 | $58,627 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $676.47 | $2,931 | $35,176 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $450.98 | $1,954 | $23,451 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Jackson) | $28.19 |
| 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 Jackson, MS earn a median of $58,626 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.87% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 8.50% above the Mississippi state average of $54,033.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.19/hr = $35,176/year (purchasing power: $39,503).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,627/year (purchasing power: $65,838).
CoL index: 89.048 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.42/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.62/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.19/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Jackson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.42/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.40/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.54/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.09/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.18/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $26.76/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.62/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.19/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.76/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Jackson grew 17.9% from $23.42/hr (2019) to $27.62/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.76/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 Jackson 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 Jackson
When assessing the earning potential for part-time school counselors in Jackson, those working three days a week for 24 hours often find that their annual income significantly differs from full-time counterparts. Part-time salaries can accumulate to around $34,000, but many counselors opt for per-diem roles in higher-cost markets, where college counselors charge between $150 and $400 per hour for admissions consulting. Positions across various employer types—K-12 public schools, charter networks, private schools, and DoDEA schools—can display varying hourly pay rates. Some school counselors choose lower hourly wages for the security of health benefits. When negotiating pay in Jackson, it’s vital to consider both the hourly rate and the total compensation package, particularly as demand for school counselors continues to rise in light of expanded mental health initiatives and the ongoing need to lower the student-to-counselor ratio in schools.
More salary data for Jackson, MS:
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 Jackson. 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