School Counselor Salary in Delaware: $73,645 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Delaware's 6 metropolitan areas, the average median school counselor pay sits at $73,645/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 21-1012. Because Delaware sits at BEA RPP 101.7 (2% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $72,414 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Dover ($73,128), Wilmington ($65,974), Newark ($62,427).
In 2026, school counselors in Delaware can expect an average median salary of $73,645, which is approximately 14.5% higher than the national median of $64,335. The salary landscape varies significantly across the state’s cities, with Dover leading at $74,627, while Middletown offers the lowest at $59,243. This $15,384 gap is influenced by local cost of living, school funding, and the demand for counseling services in different areas. Delaware has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that impact the education and experience needed to enter the field. The demand for school counselors in Delaware is driven by an increasing awareness of the importance of mental health support in educational settings. With a projected annual growth rate of 2.05%, the job market for school counselors in the state is poised for steady expansion. Other significant cities include Wilmington at $67,326, Newark at $63,707, Bear at $61,447, and Smyrna at $59,402. These figures highlight the variations in salary across the state and emphasize the factors that potential school counselors should consider when evaluating employment opportunities in Delaware.
Delaware School Counselor Salary Range
Overall salary range in Delaware: $43,297 (lowest entry-level) to $104,356 (highest top earner)
Delaware vs National Average
Delaware school counselors earn 14.47% more than the national median (+$9,310/year difference).
Delaware School Counselor Salary Distribution (2026)
School Counselor salaries in Delaware range from $43,853 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $91,586 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $73,645. The Delaware median is $9,310 above the US national median of $64,335. The average hourly rate is $35.40/hr. Approximately 382 school counselors are employed across 6 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$63,460
2025 BLS Actual
$72,166
2026 Current Est.
$73,645
2019–2027 Growth
+18.4%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Delaware (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,460 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,520 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,280 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,830 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,120 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,866 | Actual |
| 2025 | $72,166 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,645 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $75,155 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Delaware metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 13.7% from $63,460 (2019) to $72,166 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,155 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,695 (18.43%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Delaware 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 Delaware
Lowest Paying Cities in Delaware
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Middletown | $59,243 |
| Smyrna | $59,402 |
| Bear | $61,447 |
| Newark | $63,707 |
| Wilmington | $67,326 |
Best Value Cities for School Counselors in Delaware
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Delaware cities offer the most purchasing power for school counselors.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $74,627 | 97.507 | $76,535 |
| Wilmington | $67,326 | 101.7 | $66,201 |
| Newark | $63,707 | 101.7 | $62,642 |
| Bear | $61,447 | 101.7 | $60,420 |
| Smyrna | $59,402 | 101.7 | $58,409 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Delaware
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $43,853 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $73,645 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $91,586 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Delaware metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 6 Cities in Delaware
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover | $74,627 |
| 2 | Wilmington | $67,326 |
| 3 | Newark | $63,707 |
| 4 | Bear | $61,447 |
| 5 | Smyrna | $59,402 |
| 6 | Middletown | $59,243 |
More Delaware Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced school counselors.
Explore More School Counselor Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do school counselors make in Delaware in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for school counselors in Delaware?
How does Delaware school counselor pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level school counselor salary in Delaware?
How many school counselors are employed in Delaware?
Which Delaware city offers the best value for school counselors?
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
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 Delaware. State averages are employment-weighted across 6 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 (–). 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