School Counselor Hourly Pay in Eau Claire, WI: $28.25 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Eau Claire, WI runs $28.25 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,735 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Eau Claire's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.8, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.44 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,253 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Eau Claire, the school counselor hourly pay is projected to be $28.25 in 2026, falling short of the national median hourly salary of $30.93. This difference translates into a noticeable gap for part-time and per-diem workers in the field. For counselors working three days a week, primarily in settings like elementary classrooms, middle school counseling groups, and high school offices, the hourly pay is critical to understanding their financial situation. Those starting their careers can expect to earn around $23.29, while more experienced counselors might command as much as $39.91 per hour, emphasizing a varied landscape based on experience and position levels as indicated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.29 | $186.30 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.29 | $194.30 |
| Median (P50) | $28.25 | $225.98 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.37 | $282.96 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39.91 | $319.29 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Eau Claire
Based on $28.25/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.25/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Eau Claire, WI 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 92.80 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Eau Claire.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Eau Claire
| 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 (Eau Claire) | $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 Eau Claire, WI earn a median of $58,735 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.70% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 4.90% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,761.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.25/hr = $35,253/year (purchasing power: $37,990).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,755/year (purchasing power: $63,316).
CoL index: 92.796 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.08/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.68/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.25/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+6.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Eau Claire (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.08/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.20/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.37/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $32.04/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 Eau Claire grew 2.2% from $27.08/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 Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire
For part-time counselors in Eau Claire, working 24 hours per week would mean an annual income of approximately $35,160, which significantly contrasts with full-time earnings, highlighting financial trade-offs. The per-diem landscape offers another earnings avenue; while substitute school counselor coverage is not common, private school counselors in high-cost-of-living (HCOL) markets often charge between $150 and $400 per hour for direct college admissions consulting, marking a stark difference from traditional school settings. Counselors working in K-12 public schools often fall under a step-and-lane pay structure similar to teachers, while those in charter or private schools may find varied compensation. Some choose to trade a lower hourly rate within a traditional school framework for the benefits and stability that accompany full-time roles. In Eau Claire, effective negotiation strategies can help school counselors maximize their earnings, whether through considering benefits or weighing the financial viability of part-time work versus full-time roles.
More salary data for Eau Claire, WI:
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 Eau Claire. 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