School Counselor Salary in Great Falls, MT: $61,116 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Great Falls, MT earns a median $61,116/year (≈ $29.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Great Falls's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.8), that paycheck buys what $63,107 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Great Falls, MT, school counselor salaries are projected to be competitive in comparison to national trends. With a median annual salary of $61,116, there’s a notable slight dip of approximately 5% from the national median of $64,335. The salary landscape shows a range from $36,683 at the 10th percentile to $79,867 at the 90th percentile, indicating a potential for varied compensation based on experience and education. These figures are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, which highlight the relevance of the work school counselors perform. Given the city's current student-to-counselor ratio, which typically surpasses the ASCA-recommended 1:250, the demand for effective school counselors is evident, offering a compelling context for career opportunities in Great Falls.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,683 | $17.64 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45,744 | $21.99 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,116 | $29.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,507 | $36.78 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79,867 | $38.39 |
Median Salary Position
5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Great Falls
In Great Falls, MT, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,184 (2026 est.). At $61,116, the local median is 5% below the national median of $64,335.
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At 40 hours/week in Great Falls: You'd be above the median
How Great Falls School Counselor Pay Compares
Great Falls median: $61,116/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Great Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $64,335 | -5.00% less |
School Counselors in Great Falls, MT earn a median of $61,116 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.00% lower than the national median of $64,335.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Great Falls has a cost of living 3.16% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Great Falls, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.845 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $61,116 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,107 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.26% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$43,340
2025 BLS Actual
$59,888
2026 Current Est.
$61,116
2019–2027 Growth
+43.9%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $43,340 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,107 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,050 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,300 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,050 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,960 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,888 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,116 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,369 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Great Falls metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 38.2% from $43,340 (2019) to $59,888 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,369 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,029 (43.91%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Great Falls 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) | $36,683 – $45,744 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $45,744 – $61,116 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,116 – $76,507 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,507 – $79,867 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Great Falls
Contemplating the local job market, Great Falls currently employs around 80 school counselors, presenting a stable environment for potential hires. The cost of living index stands at 96.845, suggesting that salaries, while slightly lower than the national median, allow for reasonable purchasing power in this area. Among local employers, K-12 public school districts, particularly larger entities, generally offer the most competitive pay structures, often following a step-and-lane system dependent on years of service and educational advancement. Factors contributing to the disparity in compensation include educational achievements—such as master’s versus doctorate degrees—and additional roles like department heads or club advisors. To enhance earnings, counselors should consider leveraging such additional roles or seeking professional development opportunities, particularly in light of heightened funding for mental health resources post-COVID that may bolster hiring and salary significantly in the coming years.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
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 $59,888 for school counselorsin the Great Falls 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, 6-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