School Counselor Hourly Pay in Simpsonville, SC: $28.25 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Simpsonville, SC runs $28.25 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,751 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Simpsonville's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.5, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.87 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,253 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Simpsonville, South Carolina, the school counselor hourly pay is projected to be $28.25 in 2026, which lags behind the national hourly median of $30.93. This median rate reflects the financial landscape for school counselors typically working in diverse settings such as elementary classrooms, middle school group counseling, and high school individual sessions. For part-time workers or those engaged in per-diem roles, a position involving three days a week could yield an annual take-home that varies widely, depending on whether they are in public schools or private institutions. The hourly compensation in Simpsonville spans from $21.08 among entry-level positions to approximately $43.49 for top earners, illustrating a significant variation based on experience and specific job responsibilities.
About the Simpsonville Market
Salary estimated from South Carolina average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.08 | $168.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.06 | $184.51 |
| Median (P50) | $28.25 | $225.98 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.62 | $284.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43.49 | $347.95 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Simpsonville
Based on $28.25/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.25/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Simpsonville, SC can expect to earn approximately $58,755 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,897. With a cost-of-living index of 91.50 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Simpsonville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Simpsonville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,129.90 | $4,896 | $58,755 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $677.94 | $2,938 | $35,253 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $451.96 | $1,958 | $23,502 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Simpsonville) | $28.25 |
| 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 Simpsonville, SC earn a median of $58,751 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.68% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 3.70% below the South Carolina state average of $61,009.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.25/hr = $35,253/year (purchasing power: $38,528).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,755/year (purchasing power: $64,213).
CoL index: 91.5 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.54/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.68/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.25/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Simpsonville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.54/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.01/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.04/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $25.88/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.55/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.57/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.68/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.25/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.83/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Simpsonville grew 12.8% from $24.54/hr (2019) to $27.68/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.83/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 Simpsonville 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 Simpsonville
Focusing on the part-time earning potential, a school counselor contracted for 24 hours a week can see a different financial picture compared to their full-time counterparts, often making strategic choices to balance income against benefits. Per diem school counselor pay in Simpsonville can be particularly lucrative if they explore private college counseling opportunities, with rates in other regions reaching up to $400 per hour for specialized services. Additionally, counselors working in contrasting settings may find that K-12 public schools offer stability but typically less hourly pay compared to charter and private schools. This variation poses a dilemma where counselors might opt for lower hourly rates with full benefits rather than higher rates that don’t include health coverage. When negotiating, prospective school counselors should understand the salary structures of local schools and advocate for equitable compensation corresponding to their experience and the projected job growth of 2.05% annually in this field.
More salary data for Simpsonville, SC:
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 Simpsonville. 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 Simpsonville 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