School Counselor Salary in Alexandria, LA: $58,815 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Alexandria, LA earns a median $58,815/year (≈ $28.27/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Alexandria's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.7), that paycheck buys what $68,640 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Alexandria, LA, the school counselor salary reflects both local educational needs and national trends. With a median annual income of $58,815 for 2026, the compensation for these professionals positions Alexandria below the national median of $64,335. Salary ranges extend from $46,825 at the lower 10th percentile to the upper echelon of $58,815, as derived from official BLS OEWS surveys. This discrepancy highlights the challenge in meeting the American School Counselor Association's (ASCA) recommended counselor-to-student ratio of 1:250 when the national average stands at 1:385. Thus, the prevailing salary structure may signal systemic pressures on school resources and the demand for enhanced support in schools, particularly in light of recent mental health concerns post-COVID.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,825 | $22.51 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,934 | $24.00 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $58,815 | $28.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $58,815 | $28.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $58,815 | $28.27 |
Median Salary Position
8.58% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Alexandria
In Alexandria, LA, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $11,990 (2026 est.). At $58,815, the local median is 8.58% below the national median of $64,335.
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At 40 hours/week in Alexandria: You'd be in the top 10% of earners
How Alexandria School Counselor Pay Compares
Alexandria median: $58,815/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Alexandria Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $60,886 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -8.58% less |
School Counselors in Alexandria, LA earn a median of $58,815 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.58% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 3.40% below the Louisiana state average of $60,886.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Alexandria has a cost of living 14.31% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Alexandria, LA has a cost-of-living index of 85.686 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $58,815 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $68,640 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.7% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,080
2025 BLS Actual
$57,634
2026 Current Est.
$58,815
2019–2027 Growth
+11.0%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Alexandria (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,080 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,870 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,170 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $66,400 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,634 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $58,815 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $60,021 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Alexandria metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 6.6% from $54,080 (2019) to $57,634 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,021 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,941 (10.99%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Alexandria 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) | $46,825 – $49,934 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,934 – $58,815 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $58,815 – $58,815 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $58,815 – $58,815 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Alexandria
Analyzing the local job market, roughly 70 school counselors are employed in Alexandria, translating to a competitive yet modest landscape for professionals in this sector. Given the cost-of-living index of 85.686, school counselor pay in Alexandria, LA, affords a relatively better purchasing power compared to many areas. Compensation varies across employers, with K-12 public school districts generally providing robust benefits. Factors such as experience, education level, and additional roles — like summer programs or department head positions — significantly influence the salary spectrum. Counselors aiming to amplify their earnings should focus on gaining advanced qualifications beyond a master's degree, exploring supplemental roles, or considering the potential for contracts with extended school years. Understanding these nuances is essential for maximizing potential earnings within the school counselor salary framework in Alexandria.
More salary data for Alexandria, LA:
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 $57,634 for school counselorsin the Alexandria 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