School Counselor Salary in Ames, IA: $50,265 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Ames, IA earns a median $50,265/year (≈ $24.17/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Ames's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $56,586 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.6% below the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the school counselor salary in Ames, IA, is projected to be $50,265, placing it notably below the national median of $64,335. This compensation reflects a salary range from $50,265 at the 10th percentile to $73,517 at the 90th percentile. According to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, this figure illustrates the typical earnings for school counselors operating within a K-12 district step-and-lane scale. Placement within this scale is influenced by educational attainment, such as holding a master's degree versus a master’s plus 30 credits. Furthermore, the growing importance of mental health services in schools has prompted a more robust hiring of counselors, allowing for potential salary increases down the line.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,265 | $24.17 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,265 | $24.17 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $50,265 | $24.17 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $61,926 | $29.77 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $73,517 | $35.34 |
Median Salary Position
21.87% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ames
In Ames, IA, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,252 (2026 est.). At $50,265, the local median is 21.87% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Ames: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Ames School Counselor Pay Compares
Ames median: $50,265/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ames Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $56,861 | -11.60% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -21.87% less |
School Counselors in Ames, IA earn a median of $50,265 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.87% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 11.60% below the Iowa state average of $56,861.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ames has a cost of living 11.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ames, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.83 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $50,265 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $56,586 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.58% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$48,930
2025 BLS Actual
$49,255
2026 Current Est.
$50,265
2019–2027 Growth
+4.8%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Ames (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $49,710 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,390 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $51,970 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,570 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,255 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50,265 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $51,295 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ames metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 0.7% from $48,930 (2019) to $49,255 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,295 by 2027 — a total increase of $2,365 (4.83%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ames 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) | $50,265 – $50,265 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,265 – $50,265 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $50,265 – $61,926 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $61,926 – $73,517 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Ames
Ames employs approximately 400 school counselors, suggesting a stable local job market for this profession. The cost of living index in this area is 88.83, which indicates that the overall living expenses are below the national average, somewhat enhancing the purchasing power of school counselor pay in Ames, IA. Within the local education sector, K-12 public school districts tend to offer the most competitive salaries compared to other education-related entities like charter schools and private institutions. Variations in pay may arise from factors such as years of experience, additional educational credentials, and extra roles like department head or summer program coordinator. For those in the field seeking to maximize their pay, targeting positions in larger districts or pursuing advanced qualifications will better leverage the prevalent step-and-lane pay structure, propelling their earnings potential in the region.
More salary data for Ames, IA:
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 $49,255 for school counselorsin the Ames 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