School Counselor Hourly Pay in Grants Pass, OR: $34.20 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Grants Pass, OR runs $34.20 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $71,124 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Grants Pass's regional price level (BEA RPP 102.6, 3% above national), each hour of work buys what $33.33 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $42,678 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Grants Pass, Oregon, the projected school counselor hourly pay for 2026 is $34.20. This figure exceeds the national hourly median of $30.93 by a significant margin, highlighting the competitive compensation in this locale. For part-time counselors working three days a week, typically around 24 hours, this rate translates to a decent income that supports a flexible work style while allowing professionals to engage in various school environments—such as elementary classrooms for guidance lessons or high school offices for one-on-one counseling. Entry-level counselors at the 10th percentile can expect to earn around $25.92 per hour, whereas the top 10% can earn as much as $53.00 per hour, illustrating a broad range of earning potential based on experience, specialization, and employment setting.
About the Grants Pass Market
Salary estimated from Oregon average ($74,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $25.92 | $207.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.37 | $226.96 |
| Median (P50) | $34.20 | $273.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $43.77 | $350.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $53.00 | $424.04 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Grants Pass
Based on $34.20/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.20/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Grants Pass, OR can expect to earn approximately $71,130 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,036. With a cost-of-living index of 102.60 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Grants Pass.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Grants Pass
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,367.88 | $5,927 | $71,130 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $820.73 | $3,556 | $42,678 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $547.15 | $2,371 | $28,452 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Grants Pass) | $34.20 |
| 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 Grants Pass, OR earn a median of $71,124 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.55% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 3.40% below the Oregon state average of $73,627.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.20/hr = $42,678/year (purchasing power: $41,596).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $71,130/year (purchasing power: $69,327).
CoL index: 102.6 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$21.96/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.51/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.20/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+58.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Grants Pass (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.96/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $30.28/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.24/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.33/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $32.15/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.25/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.51/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.20/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.90/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Grants Pass grew 52.6% from $21.96/hr (2019) to $33.51/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.90/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 Grants Pass 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 Grants Pass
Exploring the financial realities of school counselors in Grants Pass reveals a complex picture. A part-time school counselor working three days a week could take home an annual income of approximately $42,000, juxtaposed against a full-time peer earning more than $70,000. For those engaged in per-diem roles, the landscape shifts again, with rates for private college counseling potentially reaching $150 to $400 per hour, thereby enhancing earning capacity significantly. Compensation structures can also vary among different types of employers, including K-12 public districts and charter schools, as well as private institutions. Counselors often face a trade-off between higher hourly wages without benefits and lower rates that come with healthcare and retirement options. Developing negotiation skills can be vital; those in Grants Pass should consider both total compensation and personal priorities, leveraging their credentials in ASCA and CACREP-accredited programs to secure favorable terms.
More salary data for Grants Pass, OR:
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 Grants Pass. 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 Grants Pass 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