School Counselor Pay

School Counselor Salary in Texarkana, AR: $61,140 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Texarkana, AR earns a median $61,140/year (≈ $29.39/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Texarkana's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 86.9), that paycheck buys what $70,357 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the Arkansas state average.

$61,140
Median Annual Salary
$29.39/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$46,019
Entry Level (P10)
$94,768
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

School Counselor Salary in Texarkana, AR — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Texarkana, AR school counselor salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, school counselors in Texarkana, Arkansas, can anticipate a median annual salary of $61,140, which is approximately 4.97% lower than the national median for the same year. Their earnings typically fall within a range from $46,019 at the lower end to $94,768 at the higher end, reflecting the step-and-lane salary structure prevalent among school districts in the area. Those positioned with a master’s degree or additional qualifications may find themselves placed higher on this scale. With localized estimates derived from BLS state-level data and regional price adjustments, this financial outlook offers valuable insight for aspiring or current counselors considering where they stand in the local market.

About the Texarkana Market

Salary estimated from Arkansas average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$46,019$22.12
Lower Range (P25)$50,421$24.24
Median (P50)(typical)$61,140$29.39
Upper Range (P75)$78,199$37.60
Top Earners (P90)$94,768$45.57

Median Salary Position

$46,019$94,768
City Median: $61,140
National: $64,335
P10–P90 Range

4.97% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Texarkana

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for school counselors in Texarkana. The median salary is $61,140, compared to the national median of $64,335.$41.4K$55.9K$70.5K$85.0K$99.5K$46.0K10th Pctl$50.4K25th Pctl$61.1KMedian$78.2K75th Pctl$94.8K90th PctlUS Median$64.3K

In Texarkana, AR, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $48,749 (2026 est.). At $61,140, the local median is 4.97% below the national median of $64,335.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of school counselor pay in the Texarkana metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,176
per week
$5,094
per month
$61,132
per year

At 40 hours/week in Texarkana: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Texarkana School Counselor Pay Compares

Texarkana median: $61,140/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryTexarkana Pays
Arkansas Average$61,695-0.90% less
National Average$64,335-4.97% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing school counselor median salary in Texarkana ($61,140) with Arkansas average ($61,695) and the US national median ($64,335).Texarkana$61,140Arkansas Avg$61,695-0.90%US National$64,335-4.97%

School Counselors in Texarkana, AR earn a median of $61,140 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.97% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 0.90% below the Arkansas state average of $61,695.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$61,140
Nominal Salary
86.9
CoL Index
$70,357
Adjusted Salary

Texarkana has a cost of living 13.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $61,140. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 86.9, the purchasing-power equivalent is $70,357, a gain of $9,217.$52.0K$59.2K$66.4K$73.7K$80.9K$61,140NominalSalary$70,357CoL Adjusted(CoL: 86.9) 15.08%US Median $64.3K

Texarkana, AR has a cost-of-living index of 86.9 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $61,140 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,357 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.08% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$53,123

2025 BLS Actual

$59,912

2026 Current Est.

$61,140

2019–2027 Growth

+17.5%

Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Texarkana (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for school counselors in Texarkana. Baseline $53,123 in 2025, projected to $62,394 by 2027.$42.7K$48.4K$54.2K$59.9K$65.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$53.1K$54.1K$56.4K$56.0K$57.5K$46.0K$59.9K$61.1K$62.4K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$53,123Actual
2020$54,128Actual
2021$56,354Actual
2022$56,010Actual
2023$57,472Actual
2024$45,974Actual
2025$59,912Actual
2026(current)$61,140Estimated
2027$62,394Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Texarkana metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 12.8% from $53,123 (2019) to $59,912 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,394 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,271 (17.45%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Texarkana metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$46,019$50,421
3-5 years (Mid Career)$50,421$61,140
5+ years (Experienced)$61,140$78,199
10+ years (Top Earner)$78,199$94,768

SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

School Counselor Job Market in Texarkana

The job market for school counselors in Texarkana consists of seven positions, offering a snapshot of local employment opportunities. The cost of living index stands at 86.9, signaling that living expenses in Texarkana are below the national average, which can positively impact take-home pay. For school counselor pay in Texarkana AR, the K-12 public school districts typically provide the most stable employment prospects, while specialized roles in private and charter schools may vary. Compensation disparities stem from factors such as years of experience and educational attainment within the step-and-lane salary system. Counselors aiming to enhance their income potential should consider the benefits of further education, additional certifications, and opportunities for extended contracts or stipend positions, which can add considerable value to their overall compensation while effectively addressing the increasing demands for mental health support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do school counselors make in Texarkana, AR in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median school counselor salary in Texarkana is $61,140/year ($29.39/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 2.05% annual growth). Salaries range from $46,019 at entry level (10th percentile) to $94,768 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Texarkana at 5.0% below the national median. Full-time school counselors typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Texarkana, AR a good place to work as a school counselor?

Texarkana school counselor salaries are 5.0% below the national average and 0.9% below the Arkansas state average. The metro area employs approximately 7 school counselors. With a cost-of-living index of 86.9, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can school counselors make $100K in Texarkana?

The median school counselor salary in Texarkana is $61,140, and the 90th percentile earns $94,768. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted school counselor salary in Texarkana?

After adjusting for Texarkana's cost-of-living index of 86.9 (where 100 equals the national average), the $61,140 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $70,357 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 15.1% further in Texarkana compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for school counselors seeking strong real wages.

How much does a school counselor make per hour in Texarkana?

School Counselors in Texarkana earn a median hourly rate of $29.39, which translates to approximately $61,140/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $22.12 for entry-level positions to $45.57 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem school counselors sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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MG

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.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, M.A.Data verified by Linda Chen, LPC

Methodology & Data Source

Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $59,912 for school counselorsin the Texarkana metropolitan area. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Salary data for Texarkana is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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

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