School Counselor Salary in Peoria, IL: $59,516 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Peoria, IL earns a median $59,516/year (≈ $28.61/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Peoria's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.2), that paycheck buys what $65,237 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.1% above the Illinois state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Peoria, Illinois, the projected median annual compensation for school counselors in 2026 is $59,516, which reflects a competitive landscape compared to the national median of $64,335. The salary range for counselors spans from $42,074 at the 10th percentile to $82,368 at the 90th percentile, underscoring the potential for advancement in this profession. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights how local districts utilize a step-and-lane pay scale for compensation, where placement often depends on education level and years of experience. When considering the specific dynamics of Peoria's job market, these salary figures provide a clear picture of what school counselors can expect as they navigate their careers within the field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,074 | $20.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,094 | $23.12 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $59,516 | $28.61 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $73,377 | $35.28 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,368 | $39.61 |
Median Salary Position
7.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Peoria
In Peoria, IL, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $40,294 (2026 est.). At $59,516, the local median is 7.49% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Peoria: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Peoria School Counselor Pay Compares
Peoria median: $59,516/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Peoria Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $57,726 | +3.10% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | -7.49% less |
School Counselors in Peoria, IL earn a median of $59,516 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.49% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 3.10% above the Illinois state average of $57,726.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Peoria has a cost of living 8.77% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Peoria, IL has a cost-of-living index of 91.231 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $59,516 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $65,237 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.61% boost.
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
$51,590
2025 BLS Actual
$58,320
2026 Current Est.
$59,516
2019–2027 Growth
+17.7%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Peoria (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,590 | Actual |
| 2020 | $49,490 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $46,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,030 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,330 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,320 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,516 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $60,736 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Peoria metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 13.0% from $51,590 (2019) to $58,320 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,736 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,146 (17.73%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Peoria 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) | $42,074 – $48,094 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,094 – $59,516 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $59,516 – $73,377 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $73,377 – $82,368 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Peoria
In Peoria, approximately 280 school counselors are actively engaged in helping students, which reflects a stable demand within the job market. Despite this, the lower cost-of-living index of 91.231 presents a unique situation where take-home purchasing power may vary. Among the employers, K-12 public school districts generally offer the most competitive salaries, with the highest earnings likely found in larger district networks that employ a substantial number of counselors. The disparity in pay can often be attributed to the traditional step-and-lane structure tied to professional qualifications and experience, bonuses for summer contracts, and stipend payments for additional responsibilities, such as club advising or department leadership roles. For those seeking to maximize their school counselor pay in Peoria, pursuing a master's+30 or doctorate can open higher pay lanes, along with actively seeking positions that may offer extended contracts or specialty roles that align with the expanding mental health initiatives funded post-COVID.
More salary data for Peoria, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do school counselors make in Peoria, IL in 2026?
Is Peoria, IL a good place to work as a school counselor?
Can school counselors make $100K in Peoria?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted school counselor salary in Peoria?
How much does a school counselor make per hour in Peoria?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 $58,320 for school counselorsin the Peoria 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