School Counselor Hourly Pay in Cincinnati, OH: $29.73 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Cincinnati, OH runs $29.73 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $61,835 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Cincinnati's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.4, 5% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.17 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,100 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cincinnati, the projected median hourly pay for school counselors is $29.73, slightly below the national median of $30.93. This competitive rate offers various opportunities for part-time and per-diem workers who may work in diverse settings such as elementary classroom guidance, middle school small group sessions, high school counseling offices, and resource rooms in higher education institutions. For those newly entering the field, hourly pay can start at around $22.23, whereas experienced professionals can earn as much as $46.48 per hour. These numbers reflect the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data and illuminate the potential for growth and variability in earnings for school counselors across Cincinnati.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.23 | $177.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.18 | $193.41 |
| Median (P50) | $29.73 | $237.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $38.22 | $305.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $46.48 | $371.87 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cincinnati
Based on $29.73/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.73/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cincinnati, OH can expect to earn approximately $61,833 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $35,673. With a cost-of-living index of 95.37 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cincinnati.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cincinnati
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,189.09 | $5,153 | $61,833 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $713.45 | $3,092 | $37,100 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $475.63 | $2,061 | $24,733 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Cincinnati) | $29.73 |
| 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 Cincinnati, OH earn a median of $61,835 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.89% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 1.40% above the Ohio state average of $60,981.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.73/hr = $37,100/year (purchasing power: $38,901).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $61,833/year (purchasing power: $64,834).
CoL index: 95.37 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.19/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.13/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.73/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+20.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Cincinnati (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.19/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.30/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.74/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.01/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.51/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.68/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.13/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.73/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30.34/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Cincinnati grew 15.6% from $25.19/hr (2019) to $29.13/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $30.34/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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Focusing on part-time work, a school counselor in Cincinnati working three days a week could potentially bring home around $36,000 annually, a significant decrease compared to full-time counterparts. Per-diem school counselors often command higher rates—ranging from $150 to $400 per hour—when offering specialized services such as college admissions consulting. Such roles capitalize on higher costs of living in urban settings. Earnings can also shift based on employer type, with K-12 public schools typically offering lower hourly pay compared to charter schools or private institutions. Counselors must weigh the benefits of full-time employment, which often comes with health insurance, against higher hourly pay that lacks these benefits. In negotiating hourly wages, it’s beneficial for school counselors in Cincinnati to highlight their expertise, stay informed about local salary trends, and consider the full compensation package when evaluating job offers.
More salary data for Cincinnati, OH:
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 Cincinnati. 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