School Counselor Salary in California: $88,525 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median school counselor pay sits at $88,525/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 21-1012. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $78,271 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: El Centro ($138,925), Santa Ana ($100,429), Folsom ($99,580).

School Counselor Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California school counselor salary overview (2026)

$88,525

Avg Median Salary

$42.56

Avg Hourly Rate

46,739

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In 2026, school counselors in California are projected to earn an average median salary of $88,524, which is significantly higher than the national median of $64,335, representing a difference of 37.6%. The highest paying city for school counselors is El Centro, where salaries can reach $141,773, while the lowest is Redding, at $58,895. This disparity can be attributed to various factors, including cost of living, funding for education, and local demand for school counseling services. California has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can impact salaries and employment opportunities. School counselors are essential in addressing mental health and emotional challenges facing students, increasing the demand for their services. The projected annual compounded growth rate for this profession stands at 2.05%, indicating steady job market strength and outlook. With a total of 46,739 school counselors employed across 158 metro areas, cities like Santa Ana ($102,488), Folsom ($101,621), Yuba City ($101,359), and Fresno ($101,289) also reflect healthy salary figures, benefitting from localized educational demands and funding initiatives. Understanding these factors is crucial for aspiring school counselors considering where to establish their careers in California.

California School Counselor Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$53,509

avg across 158 cities

Median

$88,525

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$140,146

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $45,454 (lowest entry-level) to $174,426 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$88,525

National Median

$64,335

California school counselors earn 37.60% more than the national median (+$24,190/year difference).

California School Counselor Salary Distribution (2026)

School Counselor salaries in California range from $53,509 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $140,146 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $88,525. The California median is $24,190 above the US national median of $64,335. The average hourly rate is $42.56/hr. Approximately 46,739 school counselors are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$75,590

2025 BLS Actual

$86,746

2026 Current Est.

$88,525

2019–2027 Growth

+19.5%

Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in California (2019–2027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$75,590	Actual
2020	$80,207	Actual
2021	$76,615	Actual
2022	$70,577	Actual
2023	$79,352	Actual
2024	$92,341	Actual
2025	$86,746	Actual
2026(current)	$88,525	Estimated
2027	$90,339	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 14.8% from $75,590 (2019) to $86,746 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,339 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,749 (19.51%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

El Centro

200 employed · $68.17/hr

$141,773

+60.15% vs avg

Santa Ana

69 employed · $49.27/hr

$102,488

+15.77% vs avg

Folsom

17 employed · $48.86/hr

$101,621

+14.79% vs avg

Yuba City

140 employed · $48.74/hr

$101,359

+14.50% vs avg

Fresno

1,210 employed · $48.70/hr

$101,289

+14.42% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Redding	$58,895	-33.47%	$28.31
Santa Cruz	$74,997	-15.28%	$36.05
Lodi	$78,745	-11.05%	$37.86
Los Angeles	$79,007	-10.75%	$37.98
Long Beach	$79,269	-10.46%	$38.11

Best Value Cities for School Counselors in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for school counselors.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
El Centro	$141,773	95.174	$148,962
Fresno	$101,289	102.158	$99,149
Hanford	$100,399	101.612	$98,806
Yuba City	$101,359	104.233	$97,243
Visalia	$96,729	99.825	$96,899

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$53,509	$25.73	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$88,525	$42.56	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$140,146	$67.38	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	El Centro	$141,773	$68.17	$66,016	$174,426	200
2	Santa Ana	$102,488	$49.27	$66,079	$158,856	69
3	Folsom	$101,621	$48.86	$68,107	$157,513	17
4	Yuba City	$101,359	$48.74	$60,935	$133,812	140
5	Fresno	$101,289	$48.70	$48,125	$129,251	1,210
6	Sacramento	$100,939	$48.52	$57,776	$134,492	2,730
7	Oxnard	$100,799	$48.46	$52,784	$140,673	690
8	Fontana	$100,592	$48.36	$64,943	$155,917	32
9	Roseville	$100,522	$48.33	$72,521	$155,810	35
10	Irvine	$100,480	$48.31	$69,122	$155,745	72
11	Hanford	$100,399	$48.27	$63,585	$131,322	110
12	Thousand Oaks	$100,392	$48.27	$72,540	$155,607	32
13	Salinas	$100,369	$48.26	$56,826	$136,033	400
14	Pomona	$99,991	$48.08	$68,323	$154,985	36
15	Simi Valley	$99,936	$48.05	$68,499	$154,900	23
16	Escondido	$99,912	$48.03	$68,545	$154,864	31
17	Napa	$99,909	$48.03	$57,155	$171,695	120
18	Fairfield	$99,732	$47.95	$68,034	$154,585	25
19	Fullerton	$99,365	$47.77	$66,898	$154,016	25
20	San Luis Obispo	$99,339	$47.76	$58,326	$130,402	390
21	Daly City	$99,279	$47.73	$66,703	$153,883	20
22	El Monte	$99,248	$47.72	$67,031	$153,834	20
23	Vista	$99,194	$47.69	$66,907	$153,751	24
24	Concord	$99,170	$47.68	$66,854	$153,714	29
25	Clovis	$99,021	$47.61	$66,517	$153,483	19
26	Garden Grove	$98,919	$47.56	$65,891	$153,325	37
27	Temecula	$98,896	$47.55	$66,235	$153,288	25
28	Santa Clarita	$98,830	$47.51	$68,384	$153,187	41
29	Lancaster	$98,701	$47.45	$65,795	$152,986	40
30	Inglewood	$98,701	$47.45	$65,795	$152,986	21
31	Corona	$98,575	$47.39	$65,414	$152,791	24
32	Richmond	$98,560	$47.38	$65,082	$152,768	25
33	Rialto	$98,513	$47.36	$65,372	$152,695	17
34	Santa Rosa	$98,488	$47.35	$55,395	$140,502	500
35	Torrance	$98,388	$47.30	$64,697	$152,502	26
36	Elk Grove	$98,201	$47.21	$64,573	$152,211	25
37	Oceanside	$98,177	$47.20	$64,521	$152,175	28
38	Whittier	$98,149	$47.19	$69,034	$152,130	22
39	San Rafael	$98,140	$47.19	$68,915	$152,118	11
40	Ontario	$98,093	$47.16	$65,881	$152,043	42
41	Rancho Cucamonga	$98,052	$47.14	$64,241	$151,980	46
42	Hayward	$97,998	$47.12	$64,120	$151,896	23
43	Woodland	$97,972	$47.11	$68,520	$151,857	15
44	Buena Park	$97,957	$47.10	$68,586	$151,833	20
45	Encinitas	$97,949	$47.09	$68,567	$151,821	16
46	Downey	$97,942	$47.09	$63,704	$151,811	22
47	Dublin	$97,887	$47.07	$68,425	$151,726	14
48	Redlands	$97,857	$47.05	$68,352	$151,678	16
49	Chino	$97,804	$47.02	$68,128	$151,595	17
50	Westminster	$97,773	$47.00	$67,756	$151,548	21
51	Santa Monica	$97,765	$47.00	$68,038	$151,536	20
52	San Mateo	$97,755	$46.99	$63,581	$151,520	21
53	Tulare	$97,727	$46.98	$67,949	$151,477	17
54	Bakersfield	$97,709	$46.97	$49,875	$129,041	830
55	San Buenaventura	$97,692	$46.96	$70,810	$151,424	19
56	Sunnyvale	$97,638	$46.94	$67,108	$151,339	26
57	Mission Viejo	$97,627	$46.93	$67,817	$151,322	23
58	Moreno Valley	$97,626	$46.93	$66,135	$151,321	53
59	Pleasanton	$97,612	$46.93	$67,782	$151,298	16
60	Petaluma	$97,547	$46.90	$71,033	$151,197	12
61	Pasadena	$97,474	$46.86	$67,912	$151,085	35
62	Santee	$97,405	$46.83	$67,301	$150,977	9
63	Glendale	$97,317	$46.79	$69,952	$150,841	36
64	Mountain View	$97,267	$46.76	$66,982	$150,764	13
65	Pittsburg	$97,260	$46.76	$66,566	$150,752	19
66	Novato	$97,229	$46.75	$66,794	$150,705	11
67	Costa Mesa	$97,192	$46.73	$67,276	$150,648	23
68	Berkeley	$97,090	$46.68	$69,436	$150,490	23
69	Huntington Beach	$97,067	$46.67	$69,675	$150,453	50
70	Santa Clara	$96,998	$46.64	$65,645	$150,346	32
71	Jurupa Valley	$96,981	$46.63	$69,480	$150,321	24
72	Hemet	$96,953	$46.62	$66,257	$150,277	14
73	Union City	$96,945	$46.61	$66,240	$150,266	11
74	West Covina	$96,934	$46.61	$69,373	$150,248	25
75	San Bernardino	$96,909	$46.59	$61,419	$150,208	33
76	Chino Hills	$96,907	$46.59	$66,052	$150,205	21
77	Riverside	$96,788	$46.53	$49,154	$154,434	3,800
78	Gilroy	$96,769	$46.52	$65,833	$149,992	10
79	Oakland	$96,762	$46.52	$64,499	$149,981	78
80	Visalia	$96,729	$46.50	$47,434	$162,244	390
81	San Marcos	$96,716	$46.49	$65,315	$149,909	17
82	Tustin	$96,631	$46.45	$65,121	$149,779	18
83	San Ramon	$96,624	$46.45	$65,500	$149,768	19
84	Eastvale	$96,532	$46.41	$65,290	$149,625	10
85	Murrieta	$96,528	$46.41	$68,549	$149,619	25
86	Vacaville	$96,528	$46.41	$68,549	$149,619	15
87	Brentwood	$96,486	$46.39	$65,184	$149,553	13
88	Hesperia	$96,440	$46.36	$65,079	$149,483	14
89	Lake Elsinore	$96,432	$46.36	$65,062	$149,470	18
90	Citrus Heights	$96,310	$46.30	$64,781	$149,280	19
91	El Cajon	$96,223	$46.26	$64,722	$149,146	18
92	San Clemente	$96,194	$46.25	$64,421	$149,101	10
93	Bellflower	$96,157	$46.23	$64,432	$149,043	11
94	Palmdale	$96,114	$46.21	$67,519	$148,977	29
95	La Mirada	$96,113	$46.21	$69,502	$148,975	10
96	Apple Valley	$96,095	$46.20	$64,294	$148,948	19
97	Chico	$96,088	$46.20	$45,854	$128,151	330
98	Menifee	$96,067	$46.19	$67,510	$148,903	20
99	Yucaipa	$96,026	$46.17	$64,136	$148,840	14
100	Norwalk	$96,020	$46.17	$67,309	$148,831	22
101	Rancho Cordova	$95,934	$46.13	$63,927	$148,698	20
102	Montebello	$95,842	$46.08	$63,719	$148,555	16
103	Compton	$95,804	$46.06	$63,534	$148,495	25
104	Porterville	$95,735	$46.02	$63,476	$148,390	11
105	Lompoc	$95,723	$46.02	$68,664	$147,932	8
106	Hawthorne	$95,574	$45.95	$63,113	$148,140	13
107	Antioch	$95,543	$45.93	$66,244	$148,092	17
108	Burbank	$95,535	$45.93	$63,205	$148,080	22
109	San Jose	$95,398	$45.86	$61,066	$156,954	2,440
110	Alhambra	$95,314	$45.82	$70,151	$147,736	13
111	Livermore	$95,314	$45.82	$66,978	$147,736	21
112	Orange	$95,285	$45.81	$65,765	$147,692	21
113	South Gate	$95,283	$45.81	$69,689	$147,689	25
114	Victorville	$95,262	$45.80	$65,713	$147,655	30
115	West Sacramento	$95,229	$45.78	$69,564	$147,605	9
116	Poway	$95,204	$45.77	$67,425	$146,347	8
117	San Leandro	$95,076	$45.71	$69,501	$147,367	23
118	Indio	$94,969	$45.66	$68,961	$147,202	23
119	Lake Forest	$94,969	$45.66	$68,961	$147,202	14
120	Carson	$94,800	$45.58	$68,960	$146,941	21
121	Rocklin	$94,785	$45.57	$68,925	$146,917	10
122	Fremont	$94,628	$45.49	$59,824	$146,673	43
123	Newport Beach	$94,624	$45.49	$68,553	$146,667	12
124	Redwood City	$94,617	$45.49	$68,439	$146,656	13
125	San Francisco	$94,609	$45.48	$58,015	$149,993	5,270
126	Turlock	$94,593	$45.47	$68,386	$146,619	17
127	Manteca	$94,563	$45.46	$68,412	$146,572	13
128	Perris	$94,555	$45.46	$68,007	$146,561	12
129	Madera	$94,479	$45.42	$68,218	$146,443	8
130	Modesto	$94,379	$45.37	$51,815	$129,891	430
131	Baldwin Park	$94,311	$45.34	$67,735	$146,182	19
132	Palo Alto	$94,311	$45.34	$67,832	$146,182	15
133	Lakewood	$94,272	$45.32	$67,743	$146,121	19
134	Beaumont	$93,996	$45.19	$66,726	$145,694	9
135	Tracy	$93,973	$45.18	$67,059	$145,658	14
136	Alameda	$93,942	$45.17	$66,989	$145,610	12
137	Laguna Niguel	$93,920	$45.16	$66,552	$145,575	16
138	Milpitas	$93,874	$45.14	$66,833	$145,504	16
139	Camarillo	$93,674	$45.03	$66,378	$145,195	13
140	Oakley	$93,636	$45.01	$63,732	$145,136	8
141	Davis	$93,613	$45.00	$66,143	$145,100	14
142	Upland	$93,544	$44.97	$65,700	$144,994	18
143	La Habra	$93,406	$44.90	$65,674	$144,780	16
144	Lynwood	$93,368	$44.89	$65,683	$144,720	16
145	Brea	$91,775	$44.13	$66,935	$142,251	10
146	Vallejo	$91,679	$44.08	$50,955	$132,512	270
147	Santa Maria	$86,508	$41.60	$57,555	$126,591	710
148	Chula Vista	$83,625	$40.21	$52,664	$129,619	51
149	San Diego	$83,528	$40.16	$52,505	$134,202	3,900
150	Merced	$83,028	$39.91	$54,675	$130,652	350
151	Carlsbad	$82,830	$39.82	$58,956	$128,386	23
152	Anaheim	$80,413	$38.66	$52,915	$124,641	51
153	Stockton	$79,847	$38.38	$47,004	$127,822	580
154	Long Beach	$79,269	$38.11	$50,491	$122,867	89
155	Los Angeles	$79,007	$37.98	$49,694	$135,042	17,110
156	Lodi	$78,745	$37.86	$56,727	$122,055	14
157	Santa Cruz	$74,997	$36.05	$62,606	$131,202	550
158	Redding	$58,895	$28.31	$45,454	$132,222	280

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore school counselor hourly pay in California cities.

El Centro →Santa Ana →Folsom →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new school counselors.

El Centro →Santa Ana →Folsom →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced school counselors.

El Centro →Santa Ana →Folsom →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More School Counselor Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do school counselors make in California in 2026?

The average median school counselor salary in California is $88,525/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $58,895 in Redding to $141,773 in El Centro. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 37.60% above the national median of $64,335. The state employs approximately 46,739 school counselors.

What is the highest paying city for school counselors in California?

El Centro offers the highest school counselor salary in California at $141,773/year ($68.17/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are El Centro ($141,773), Santa Ana ($102,488), Folsom ($101,621). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for school counseling services, and competition among employers for licensed school counselors.

How does California school counselor pay compare to the national average?

California's average school counselor salary of $88,525 is 37.60% above the national median of $64,335 in 2026. The state employs approximately 46,739 school counselors across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level school counselor salary in California?

Entry-level school counselors (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $53,509/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $45,454 in lower-paying areas to $72,540 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many school counselors are employed in California?

California employs approximately 46,739 school counselors across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of school counselors nationally. Demand continues to grow as the school counseling field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for school counselors?

When adjusted for cost of living, El Centro offers the highest purchasing power for school counselors in California, with an adjusted salary of $148,962 (nominal: $141,773, CoL index: 95.174). This means your dollar goes 5% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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

Statewide 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. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 school counselor compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more school counselorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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