School Counselor Salary in Mankato, MN: $62,445 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Mankato, MN earns a median $62,445/year (≈ $30.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Mankato's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.0), that paycheck buys what $68,655 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The 2026 median annual salary for school counselors in Mankato, MN, is projected at $62,445, which falls just below the national median of $64,335. The salary ranges from $46,664 at the 10th percentile to $83,157 at the 90th percentile, indicating a robust salary landscape driven by recent expansions in mental health funding and local hiring efforts. This funding has facilitated an increase in counselor positions within schools that have a high demand for mental health support, particularly following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the job market for school counselors in Mankato is favorable, reflecting both the growing need for mental health services and the support for educational workforce enhancement.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,664 | $22.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,694 | $22.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,445 | $30.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,627 | $32.99 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,157 | $39.98 |
Median Salary Position
2.94% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Mankato
In Mankato, MN, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $36,493 (2026 est.). At $62,445, the local median is 2.94% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Mankato: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Mankato School Counselor Pay Compares
Mankato median: $62,445/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Mankato Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $64,576 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -2.94% less |
School Counselors in Mankato, MN earn a median of $62,445 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.94% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 3.30% below the Minnesota state average of $64,576.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Mankato has a cost of living 9.05% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Mankato, MN has a cost-of-living index of 90.955 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $62,445 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $68,655 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.94% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$48,540
2025 BLS Actual
$61,191
2026 Current Est.
$62,445
2019–2027 Growth
+31.3%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Mankato (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,540 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,990 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,840 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,610 | Actual |
| 2023 | $52,200 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,340 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,191 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,445 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,726 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Mankato metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 26.1% from $48,540 (2019) to $61,191 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,726 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,186 (31.29%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Mankato 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) | $46,664 – $46,694 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,694 – $62,445 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,445 – $68,627 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,627 – $83,157 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Mankato
A total of 100 school counselors are currently employed in Mankato, which contributes to the competitive job market in this region, especially when considering the cost of living index at 90.955—indicating that expenses are relatively lower than the national average. Among the local employers, K-12 public school districts typically provide the highest salaries, with pay differentiated along the step-and-lane pay scale that mirrors teacher compensation based on years of experience and education level. The variability in salaries can also be influenced by factors such as district premiums pertaining to high-cost areas, or additional responsibilities like department head positions or summer programs. For school counselors looking to maximize their pay in Mankato, pursuing advanced qualifications beyond a master's degree—such as obtaining a doctorate—and actively seeking roles that offer summer contracts or stipends can offer significant financial benefits.
More salary data for Mankato, MN:
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 $61,191 for school counselorsin the Mankato 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