School Counselor Salary in Dover, DE: $74,627 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Dover, DE earns a median $74,627/year (≈ $35.87/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Dover's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.5), that paycheck buys what $76,535 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.4% above the Delaware state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the school counselor salary in Dover, Delaware, is projected to be approximately $74,627, reflecting a robust growth trend following recent expansions in mental health funding in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase has led to heightened demand for school counselors, with salaries ranging from $43,704 at the entry-level (P10) to $91,148 for more experienced professionals (P90). These figures come from data derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, indicating a healthy job market for this occupation. With new initiatives encouraging mental health support in schools, opportunities for school counselors have been enhanced, making this a crucial time to consider a career in this field in Dover.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,704 | $21.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,184 | $25.57 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $74,627 | $35.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,697 | $39.28 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $91,148 | $43.82 |
Median Salary Position
16.00% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Dover
In Dover, DE, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,444 (2026 est.). At $74,627, the local median is 16% above the national median of $64,335.
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At 40 hours/week in Dover: You'd be above the median
How Dover School Counselor Pay Compares
Dover median: $74,627/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Dover Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Average | $64,113 | +16.40% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | +16.00% more |
School Counselors in Dover, DE earn a median of $74,627 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.00% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 16.40% above the Delaware state average of $64,113.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Dover has a cost of living 2.49% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Dover, DE has a cost-of-living index of 97.507 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $74,627 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $76,535 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.56% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,460
2025 BLS Actual
$73,128
2026 Current Est.
$74,627
2019–2027 Growth
+20.0%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Dover (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 | $76,640 | Actual |
| 2025 | $73,128 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,627 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,157 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Dover metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 15.2% from $63,460 (2019) to $73,128 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,157 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,697 (20.01%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Dover 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) | $43,704 – $53,184 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,184 – $74,627 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $74,627 – $81,697 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,697 – $91,148 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Dover
The local job market is relatively strong, with 350 school counselors currently employed across various educational settings in Dover. The cost of living index in the area is reported at 97.507, slightly below the national average, which tends to improve purchasing power despite the increasing salary trends. Among the primary employers, K-12 public school districts typically offer the most competitive pay. Variations in compensation often stem from factors such as the school district's step-and-lane pay structure for teachers, which directly affects school counselor salaries based on experience and educational attainment. Additional financial incentives may be available through extended school year contracts or leadership roles, suggesting that school counselors can enhance their earnings through professional development. To maximize school counselor pay in Dover DE, it is advisable to pursue advanced degrees or certifications, engage in continuous education, and actively seek roles that offer stipends for extracurricular responsibilities.
More salary data for Dover, DE:
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 $73,128 for school counselorsin the Dover 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