School Counselor Pay

School Counselor Salary in Largo, FL: $58,117 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Largo, FL earns a median $58,117/year (≈ $27.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Largo's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.8), that paycheck buys what $57,656 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% above the Florida state average.

$58,117
Median Annual Salary
$27.94/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$40,334
Entry Level (P10)
$90,083
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

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

In Largo, Florida, school counselors can expect a median annual salary of $58,117 in 2026, which is notably below the national median of $64,335. This figure, derived from state-level estimates and regional cost adjustments, falls within a salary range of $40,334 for the lowest 10% of earners to $90,083 for the top 10%. Counselors in the area will find that their compensation is influenced by the K-12 step-and-lane scale prevalent in most school districts, where placement is determined by both education level—such as a master's versus a master's+30—and years of experience. As Largo actively employs 12 school counselors, emerging trends in hiring driven by increased funding for mental health resources post-COVID may provide additional opportunities for employment and salary growth.

About the Largo Market

Salary estimated from Florida average ($60,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$40,334$19.39
Lower Range (P25)$45,631$21.94
Median (P50)(typical)$58,117$27.94
Upper Range (P75)$73,989$35.57
Top Earners (P90)$90,083$43.31

Median Salary Position

$40,334$90,083
City Median: $58,117
National: $64,335
P10–P90 Range

9.67% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Largo

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for school counselors in Largo. The median salary is $58,117, compared to the national median of $64,335.$36.3K$50.9K$65.4K$80.0K$94.6K$40.3K10th Pctl$45.6K25th Pctl$58.1KMedian$74.0K75th Pctl$90.1K90th PctlUS Median$64.3K

In Largo, FL, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,749 (2026 est.). At $58,117, the local median is 9.67% below the national median of $64,335.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,118
per week
$4,843
per month
$58,118
per year

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

How Largo School Counselor Pay Compares

Largo median: $58,117/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryLargo Pays
Florida Average$57,599+0.90% more
National Average$64,335-9.67% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing school counselor median salary in Largo ($58,117) with Florida average ($57,599) and the US national median ($64,335).Largo$58,117Florida Avg$57,599+0.90%US National$64,335-9.67%

School Counselors in Largo, FL earn a median of $58,117 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.67% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 0.90% above the Florida state average of $57,599.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$58,117
Nominal Salary
100.8
CoL Index
$57,656
Adjusted Salary

Largo has a cost of living 0.80% above the national average.

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

The nominal salary is $58,117. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 100.8, the purchasing-power equivalent is $57,656, a loss of $461.$49.0K$55.3K$61.5K$67.7K$74.0K$58,117NominalSalary$57,656CoL Adjusted(CoL: 100.8) -0.79%US Median $64.3K

Largo, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.8 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $58,117 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $57,656 — a 0.79% reduction.

Compare Purchasing Power

Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living

Select a city above to compare purchasing power

2019 BLS Actual

$50,496

2025 BLS Actual

$56,950

2026 Current Est.

$58,117

2019–2027 Growth

+17.5%

Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Largo (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 Largo. Baseline $50,496 in 2025, projected to $59,309 by 2027.$48.4K$52.1K$55.8K$59.4K$63.1K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$50.5K$51.5K$53.6K$53.2K$54.6K$61.0K$57.0K$58.1K$59.3K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$50,496Actual
2020$51,452Actual
2021$53,568Actual
2022$53,241Actual
2023$54,631Actual
2024$61,018Actual
2025$56,950Actual
2026(current)$58,117Estimated
2027$59,309Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Largo metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 12.8% from $50,496 (2019) to $56,950 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,309 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,813 (17.45%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Largo 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)$40,334$45,631
3-5 years (Mid Career)$45,631$58,117
5+ years (Experienced)$58,117$73,989
10+ years (Top Earner)$73,989$90,083

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

School Counselor Job Market in Largo

Standing at a cost-of-living index of 100.8, Largo presents a unique financial environment for school counselors, impacting overall take-home purchasing power. Local employers, ranging from elementary to high school districts, are pivotal in determining salary levels, often dictated by the established step-and-lane pay scale. Counselors seeking to maximize their pay should consider options such as extending their education or seeking roles that offer additional stipends, such as department heads or summer program coordinators. The spread between the lower and higher pay brackets reflects factors like years of experience, educational attainment, and the specific roles within the school counseling profession. With the current demand for mental health support in schools and the backing of organizations like ASCA, those entering the field can strategically position themselves to benefit in Largo's evolving job market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do school counselors make in Largo, FL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median school counselor salary in Largo is $58,117/year ($27.94/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 2.05% annual growth). Salaries range from $40,334 at entry level (10th percentile) to $90,083 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Largo at 9.7% 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 Largo, FL a good place to work as a school counselor?

Largo school counselor salaries are 9.7% below the national average and 0.9% above the Florida state average. The metro area employs approximately 12 school counselors. With a cost-of-living index of 100.8, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can school counselors make $100K in Largo?

The median school counselor salary in Largo is $58,117, and the 90th percentile earns $90,083. 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 Largo?

After adjusting for Largo's cost-of-living index of 100.8 (where 100 equals the national average), the $58,117 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $57,656 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Largo reduce the effective value of your salary by 0.8% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

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

School Counselors in Largo earn a median hourly rate of $27.94, which translates to approximately $58,117/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $19.39 for entry-level positions to $43.31 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

Nearby Cities in Florida

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 $56,950 for school counselorsin the Largo 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 Largo 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

Last verified: