School Counselor Salary in Greeley, CO: $60,826 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Greeley, CO earns a median $60,826/year (≈ $29.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Greeley's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.2), that paycheck buys what $60,719 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the Colorado state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Greeley, Colorado, the anticipated salary for school counselors in 2026 is $60,826 annually, which is nearly 5.5% below the national median of $64,335. This compensation reflects the challenges of maintaining the recommended ASCA ratio of 1:250, as many local districts struggle with higher ratios that can impact workload and effectiveness. The local salary range projects from $49,665 at the 10th percentile to a top pay of $79,557 at the 90th percentile. Derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, this insight into compensation reveals the implications of Greeley's market conditions, where the hiring of school counselors has been augmented following increased mental health funding in recent years, a response to the post-COVID situation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,665 | $23.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,105 | $27.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $60,826 | $29.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,617 | $36.35 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79,557 | $38.25 |
Median Salary Position
5.45% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Greeley
In Greeley, CO, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $29,892 (2026 est.). At $60,826, the local median is 5.45% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Greeley: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Greeley School Counselor Pay Compares
Greeley median: $60,826/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Greeley Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Average | $62,643 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -5.45% less |
School Counselors in Greeley, CO earn a median of $60,826 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.45% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 2.90% below the Colorado state average of $62,643.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Greeley has a cost of living 0.18% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Greeley, CO has a cost-of-living index of 100.176 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $60,826 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $60,719 — a 0.18% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$49,050
2025 BLS Actual
$59,604
2026 Current Est.
$60,826
2019–2027 Growth
+26.6%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Greeley (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,050 | Actual |
| 2020 | $50,220 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,560 | Actual |
| 2022 | $52,550 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,920 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,604 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $60,826 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,073 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Greeley metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 21.5% from $49,050 (2019) to $59,604 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,073 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,023 (26.55%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Greeley 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $49,665 – $57,105 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,105 – $60,826 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $60,826 – $75,617 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,617 – $79,557 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Greeley
With approximately 340 school counselors currently employed in Greeley, the job market for this profession remains stable, but the local cost of living, indexed at 100.176, slightly exceeds the national average. This means that while salaries may seem competitive, take-home pay must be carefully managed for effective purchasing power in a relatively high-cost area. Among local employers, K-12 public school districts often provide the most lucrative positions, but there’s also variability based on experience, educational credentials, and additional responsibilities such as extended contracts or club advisorships. Prospective school counselors can enhance their earnings by pursuing advanced degrees or taking on specialized roles, as salary can vary significantly depending on where one falls on the step-and-lane pay scale commonly used in Colorado districts. Thus, understanding the nuances of school counselor pay in Greeley CO is essential for maximizing career growth and financial well-being.
More salary data for Greeley, CO:
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
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 $59,604 for school counselorsin the Greeley 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
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