School Counselor Salary in St. Cloud, MN: $64,916 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in St. Cloud, MN earns a median $64,916/year (≈ $31.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in St. Cloud's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.6), that paycheck buys what $74,078 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% above the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, the expansion of mental health funding post-COVID has significantly impacted the hiring landscape for school counselors. For 2026, the median annual salary sits at $64,916, slightly above the national median of $64,335. The local salary range extends from $47,064 at the 10th percentile to $83,528 at the 90th percentile. These figures are based on projections derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, indicating healthy prospects for aspiring school counselors in the area. With an increase in mental health initiatives and an emphasis on student support, St. Cloud's employment opportunities for school counselors seem favorable and indicative of a burgeoning demand for these vital roles.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $47,064 | $22.63 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,085 | $26.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,916 | $31.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,367 | $36.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,528 | $40.16 |
Median Salary Position
0.90% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Cloud
In St. Cloud, MN, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $36,464 (2026 est.). At $64,916, the local median is 0.9% above the national median of $64,335.
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At 40 hours/week in St. Cloud: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Cloud School Counselor Pay Compares
St. Cloud median: $64,916/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Cloud Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $64,593 | +0.50% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | +0.90% more |
School Counselors in St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $64,916 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.90% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 0.50% above the Minnesota state average of $64,593.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Cloud has a cost of living 12.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Cloud, MN has a cost-of-living index of 87.632 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $64,916 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,078 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.11% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$58,590
2025 BLS Actual
$63,612
2026 Current Est.
$64,916
2019–2027 Growth
+13.1%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $58,590 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,270 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,200 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,800 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,280 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,612 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,916 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,247 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Cloud metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 8.6% from $58,590 (2019) to $63,612 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $66,247 by 2027 — a total increase of $7,657 (13.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Cloud 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) | $47,064 – $56,085 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,085 – $64,916 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,916 – $76,367 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,367 – $83,528 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in St. Cloud
The job market for school counselors in St. Cloud, with 110 current professionals, is promising, especially considering the local cost of living index is 87.632, reflecting a cost of living below the national average. This situation enhances the purchasing power of school counselor salaries, allowing for a more sustainable lifestyle. Among local employers, K-12 public school districts generally offer higher school counselor pay in St. Cloud, while private and charter schools may vary in their compensation strategies. The disparity in salary is often influenced by factors such as the step-and-lane pay scale based on years of experience and education level, as well as supplementary roles like club advisorship or summer programs. Counselors keen on maximizing their salary should focus on obtaining advanced degrees, consider additional certifications, and seek out positions that offer extended contracts or stipends, all strategies that may enhance their overall compensation in the St. Cloud market.
More salary data for St. Cloud, 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 $63,612 for school counselorsin the St. Cloud 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