School Counselor Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO: $55,525 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Cape Girardeau, MO earns a median $55,525/year (≈ $26.70/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Cape Girardeau's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.1), that paycheck buys what $64,505 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cape Girardeau, Missouri, school counselors can expect a median annual salary of $55,525, reflecting a notable gap compared to the national median of $64,335. This salary encompasses a range from $41,324 at the lower end (P10) to $65,156 at the higher end (P90), indicating significant variance in compensation based on experience and qualifications. Such figures stem from projections based on the 2025 BLS OEWS data. Moreover, with school counselor-to-student ratios often exceeding the ASCA recommended benchmark of 1:250, the need for qualified professionals in Cape Girardeau is evident, signaling a potentially competitive market for those entering this crucial field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,324 | $19.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,884 | $23.02 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $55,525 | $26.70 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $63,796 | $30.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $65,156 | $31.32 |
Median Salary Position
13.69% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cape Girardeau
In Cape Girardeau, MO, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,832 (2026 est.). At $55,525, the local median is 13.69% below the national median of $64,335.
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At 40 hours/week in Cape Girardeau: You'd be above the median
How Cape Girardeau School Counselor Pay Compares
Cape Girardeau median: $55,525/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cape Girardeau Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $64,335 | -13.69% less |
School Counselors in Cape Girardeau, MO earn a median of $55,525 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.69% lower than the national median of $64,335.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cape Girardeau has a cost of living 13.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cape Girardeau, MO has a cost-of-living index of 86.078 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $55,525 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,505 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$44,370
2025 BLS Actual
$54,410
2026 Current Est.
$55,525
2019–2027 Growth
+27.7%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Cape Girardeau (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $44,370 | Actual |
| 2020 | $49,730 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,300 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,130 | Actual |
| 2023 | $46,010 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,410 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $55,525 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56,664 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cape Girardeau metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 22.6% from $44,370 (2019) to $54,410 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,664 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,294 (27.71%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cape Girardeau 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) | $41,324 – $47,884 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,884 – $55,525 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $55,525 – $63,796 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $63,796 – $65,156 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Cape Girardeau
A closer look at the local job market reveals that there are approximately 190 school counselors currently employed in the Cape Girardeau area. Given the region's cost-of-living index of 86.078, which is below the national average, the purchasing power of these salaries is strengthened. Among the various educational institutions, K-12 public school districts typically offer the most competitive pay compared to charter and private schools as well as post-secondary roles. The disparity in pay largely stems from the traditional step-and-lane pay scale, where years of experience and educational attainment significantly influence salary levels. To maximize earnings in Cape Girardeau, pursuing higher education qualifications such as a master's degree plus additional credits or even a doctorate can be beneficial. Engaging in extended contracts, summer programs, and stipend-based roles also offers avenues for increasing overall compensation.
More salary data for Cape Girardeau, MO:
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 $54,410 for school counselorsin the Cape Girardeau 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