School Counselor Hourly Pay in Thomasville, NC: $26.52 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Thomasville, NC runs $26.52 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $55,169 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Thomasville's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.34 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $33,100 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Thomasville, NC, school counselors earn a median hourly rate of $26.52, which is noticeably lower than the national median of $30.93. This hourly pay reflects the unique demands school counselors face in various settings, such as conducting elementary classroom guidance lessons, leading small group counseling in middle schools, and providing individual counseling in high school offices. For those working part-time, such as three days a week, the earning potential may vary substantially, with entry-level positions starting at about $18.61 per hour potentially rising to over $41 per hour for seasoned professionals. Compensation in this field is organized around an annual salary framework, which provides a basic structure for hourly rates although it varies based on experience, school type, and specific duties within the role.
About the Thomasville 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) | $18.61 | $148.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $20.90 | $167.20 |
| Median (P50) | $26.52 | $212.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $32.99 | $263.94 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $41.12 | $328.93 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Thomasville
Based on $26.52/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $26.52/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Thomasville, NC can expect to earn approximately $55,167 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $31,827. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Thomasville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Thomasville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,060.91 | $4,597 | $55,167 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $636.55 | $2,758 | $33,100 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $424.36 | $1,839 | $22,067 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Thomasville) | $26.52 |
| 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 Thomasville, NC earn a median of $55,169 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.25% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 1.90% below the North Carolina state average of $56,238.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $26.52/hr = $33,100/year (purchasing power: $35,364).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $55,167/year (purchasing power: $58,940).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.04/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$25.99/hr
2026 Current Est.
$26.52/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Thomasville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.04/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.48/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.45/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.30/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.61/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $25.99/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $26.52/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $27.07/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Thomasville grew 12.8% from $23.04/hr (2019) to $25.99/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $27.07/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 Thomasville 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 Thomasville
For part-time school counselors in Thomasville, a typical 24-hour workweek translates to an annual income of approximately $33,061, considerably less than full-time counterparts, who enjoy a higher total income along with potential benefits such as health insurance. Per-diem school counselors in private settings can charge significantly more—between $150 and $400 per hour, especially in high-cost markets—indicating that different employment models can lead to diverse earning potentials. School counselor hourly pay in this area may vary depending on the employer: K-12 public school districts offer structured pay comparable to teachers, while charter and private institutions might present lower hourly compensation without the same benefits. When negotiating pay in Thomasville, factors such as benefits, job security, and work-life balance could influence a counselor's choices between accepting a lower hourly rate for the health benefits provided by public schools versus pursuing higher hourly pay as a per-diem counselor, which typically comes without the safety net of traditional employment.
More salary data for Thomasville, 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 Thomasville. 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 Thomasville 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