School Counselor Hourly Pay in Chapel Hill, NC: $28.34 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Chapel Hill, NC runs $28.34 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,954 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Chapel Hill's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.28 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,367 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Chapel Hill, NC, the school counselor hourly pay is projected to be $28.34 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $30.93 per hour. For part-time counselors, those working three days a week can expect to earn about $27,113 annually based on this hourly rate, allowing them to engage in meaningful work within varied educational settings such as elementary guidance lessons, middle school group counseling, high school individual consultations, and college admission resource services. The hourly wage can range significantly, from $19.19 for entry-level positions to as much as $43.93 for top earners, reflecting the diverse responsibilities and settings across K-12 public schools, private institutions, and other educational environments in Chapel Hill. Such varied pay rates are reflective of the professional landscape within which these counselors operate, derived from annual salary estimates.
About the Chapel Hill Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.19 | $153.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21.89 | $175.12 |
| Median (P50) | $28.34 | $226.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.28 | $290.23 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43.93 | $351.46 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Chapel Hill
Based on $28.34/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.34/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Chapel Hill, NC can expect to earn approximately $58,946 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,007. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Chapel Hill.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Chapel Hill
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,133.57 | $4,912 | $58,946 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $680.14 | $2,947 | $35,367 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $453.43 | $1,965 | $23,578 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Chapel Hill) | $28.34 |
| 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 Chapel Hill, NC earn a median of $58,954 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.36% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 4.80% above the North Carolina state average of $56,254.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.34/hr = $35,367/year (purchasing power: $37,786).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,946/year (purchasing power: $62,976).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.62/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.77/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.34/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Chapel Hill (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.62/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.09/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.12/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $25.96/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.64/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $26.05/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.77/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.34/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.92/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Chapel Hill grew 12.8% from $24.62/hr (2019) to $27.77/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.92/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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill
Exploring the earning potential for part-time and per-diem school counselor roles offers insights into unique financial opportunities in Chapel Hill. A school counselor working a typical 24-hour week could see their annual earnings fall significantly short of a full-time salary, which is often structured around a step-and-lane schedule similar to that of teachers, with salaries that can exceed $58,954 annually. Interestingly, per-diem school counselors or those working in private college admissions may charge hourly rates well above the average, ranging from $150 to $400, making such positions highly lucrative but less stable. Counseling in public K-12 settings typically offers lower hourly pay but includes benefits like health insurance, prompting professionals to weigh options carefully. Negotiating for better hourly pay in Chapel Hill can include demonstrating specialized skills or aligning with compensation trends in competing educational sectors.
More salary data for Chapel Hill, NC:
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 Chapel Hill. 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 Chapel Hill 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