School Counselor Hourly Pay in Milwaukee, WI: $29.24 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Milwaukee, WI runs $29.24 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,795 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Milwaukee's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.9, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.16 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,488 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Milwaukee, the school counselor hourly pay stands at a median of $29.24, slightly below the national median of $30.93. This rate can significantly benefit part-time and per-diem workers, who may engage in various counseling settings, such as elementary classrooms for guidance lessons, middle schools for small group interventions, high schools for individual counseling, or college counseling resource rooms. Given the hourly wage range available in Milwaukee, starting at $22.71 for entry-level positions and going up to $44.57 for top earners, there's ample opportunity for school counselors to find a pay scale that aligns with their experience and specialty. These figures are derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, providing a reliable basis for understanding the market.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.71 | $181.65 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.12 | $193.00 |
| Median (P50) | $29.24 | $233.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.68 | $301.41 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $44.57 | $356.52 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Milwaukee
Based on $29.24/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.24/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Milwaukee, WI can expect to earn approximately $60,814 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $35,085. With a cost-of-living index of 96.94 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Milwaukee.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Milwaukee
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,169.49 | $5,068 | $60,814 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $701.70 | $3,041 | $36,488 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $467.80 | $2,027 | $24,325 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Milwaukee) | $29.24 |
| 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 Milwaukee, WI earn a median of $60,795 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.50% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 1.60% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,784.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.24/hr = $36,488/year (purchasing power: $37,641).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,814/year (purchasing power: $62,735).
CoL index: 96.937 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.42/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.65/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.24/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Milwaukee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.42/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.18/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.98/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.99/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $30.05/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $32.29/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.65/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.24/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.84/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Milwaukee grew 17.3% from $24.42/hr (2019) to $28.65/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.84/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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Considering the part-time earning potential in this profession, a school counselor who works three days a week, totaling about 24 hours, would earn significantly less annually compared to a full-time position. This pay model may shift for per-diem school counselors, especially in high-cost-of-living markets, where some professionals charge between $150-$400 per hour for private college counseling services. Employment settings play an important role in hourly wage variations; K-12 public school districts usually follow a structured step-and-lane pay system, similar to teachers, while charter and private schools may offer different compensation packages. Some counselors accept lower hourly rates for the added benefit of health insurance—a consideration that can impact long-term financial planning. Negotiation skills are essential for hourly positions; understanding local market rates and being aware of the demand for counseling services can provide leverage in discussions about pay in Milwaukee.
More salary data for Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee. 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