School Counselor Hourly Pay in Kingsport, TN: $29.01 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Kingsport, TN runs $29.01 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,355 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Kingsport's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.56 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,208 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Kingsport, Tennessee, the projected median hourly pay for school counselors is $29.01, which positions them slightly below the national hourly median of $30.93. This rate reflects the economic realities of part-time school counseling roles, which are common in various educational settings. For instance, a school counselor working three days a week might find this rate appealing as it allows for flexible scheduling while delivering essential support in elementary classrooms, middle school counseling groups, or high school individual sessions. The hourly pay range for counselors in Kingsport spans from $21.15 at the lower end (P10) to $36.63 for the top earners (P90), highlighting opportunities for varying experience levels within educational institutions and community development programs. This data is derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.15 | $169.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.37 | $194.96 |
| Median (P50) | $29.01 | $232.10 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $33.76 | $270.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $36.63 | $293.01 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kingsport
Based on $29.01/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.01/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kingsport, TN can expect to earn approximately $60,347 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,815. With a cost-of-living index of 86.45 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Kingsport.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kingsport
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,160.51 | $5,029 | $60,347 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $696.31 | $3,017 | $36,208 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $464.21 | $2,012 | $24,139 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Kingsport) | $29.01 |
| 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 Kingsport, TN earn a median of $60,355 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.19% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 1.40% above the Tennessee state average of $59,522.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.01/hr = $36,208/year (purchasing power: $41,885).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,347/year (purchasing power: $69,808).
CoL index: 86.447 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.16/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.43/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.01/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+13.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Kingsport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.16/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.50/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.52/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.93/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.95/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.34/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.43/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.01/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.61/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Kingsport grew 8.7% from $26.16/hr (2019) to $28.43/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.61/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 Kingsport 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 Kingsport
Part-time school counselors in Kingsport can expect their earning potential to vary significantly compared to their full-time counterparts. Working a typical 24-hour week, a part-time counselor stands to take home approximately $36,403 annually, which contrasts with the full-time median earnings that adjust proportionally higher. Additionally, opportunities for per diem or agency work can result in much higher compensation rates, particularly when providing private college admissions consulting, where they can charge between $150-$400 per hour in higher-cost markets. In Kingsport, hourly rates will also differ based on the employment type; K-12 public schools, charter institutions, private schools, and post-secondary counseling roles each offer unique pay structures. While many counselors accept lower hourly rates for benefits like health insurance, negotiating higher rates for positions without benefits may prove advantageous in the long run. Counselors should understand the local market dynamics and utilize them to advocate for appropriate compensation based on their qualifications and expertise.
More salary data for Kingsport, TN:
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 Kingsport. 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