School Counselor Salary in New Jersey: $73,781 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across New Jersey's 61 metropolitan areas, the average median school counselor pay sits at $73,781/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 21-1012. Because New Jersey sits at BEA RPP 115.2 (15% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $64,046 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Jersey City ($77,333), Princeton ($77,280), Newark ($76,141).

School Counselor Salary in New Jersey - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — New Jersey school counselor salary overview (2026)

$73,781

Avg Median Salary

$35.47

Avg Hourly Rate

1,753

Metro Employed

Cities

In New Jersey, the projected average median salary for school counselors in 2026 is $73,781, which is 14.7% higher than the national median of $64,335. The salary range between the highest and lowest paying cities in the state is significant, with Jersey City leading at $78,918 and Camden at $64,615. This disparity is largely driven by factors such as cost of living, funding for education in respective districts, and the demand for qualified counselors. New Jersey requires school counselors to obtain state licensure, which includes meeting specific educational criteria and passing examinations. The state's public education system also places an emphasis on mental health, increasing the demand for school counselors. With a projected annual growth rate of 2.05%, the job market for school counselors in New Jersey appears stable, with total employment expected to reach around 1,753 positions. Other cities contributing to the highest salaries include Princeton at $78,864, Newark at $77,702, Trenton at $77,327, and Atlantic City at $75,927. Understanding these dynamics can better inform potential school counselors regarding their career pathways and salary expectations in New Jersey.

New Jersey School Counselor Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$51,935

avg across 61 cities

Median

$73,781

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$107,657

avg across 61 cities

Overall salary range in New Jersey: $45,571 (lowest entry-level) to $122,323 (highest top earner)

New Jersey vs National Average

New Jersey

$73,781

National Median

$64,335

New Jersey school counselors earn 14.68% more than the national median (+$9,446/year difference).

New Jersey School Counselor Salary Distribution (2026)

School Counselor salaries in New Jersey range from $51,935 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $107,657 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $73,781. The New Jersey median is $9,446 above the US national median of $64,335. The average hourly rate is $35.47/hr. Approximately 1,753 school counselors are employed across 61 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$74,925

2025 BLS Actual

$72,299

2026 Current Est.

$73,781

2019–2027 Growth

+0.5%

Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in New Jersey (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$74,925	Actual
2020	$76,136	Actual
2021	$66,275	Actual
2022	$68,925	Actual
2023	$73,321	Actual
2024	$83,773	Actual
2025	$72,299	Actual
2026(current)	$73,781	Estimated
2027	$75,294	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Jersey metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew -3.5% from $74,925 (2019) to $72,299 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,294 by 2027 — a total increase of $369 (0.49%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Jersey 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New Jersey

Jersey City

42 employed · $37.94/hr

$78,918

+6.96% vs avg

Princeton

6 employed · $37.91/hr

$78,864

+6.89% vs avg

Newark

61 employed · $37.36/hr

$77,702

+5.31% vs avg

Trenton

440 employed · $37.18/hr

$77,327

+4.81% vs avg

Atlantic City

330 employed · $36.50/hr

$75,927

+2.91% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in New Jersey

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Camden	$64,615	-12.42%	$31.06
Vineland	$67,626	-8.34%	$32.51
Summit	$67,687	-8.26%	$32.54
Rahway	$68,708	-6.88%	$33.03
Evesham	$69,013	-6.46%	$33.18

Best Value Cities for School Counselors in New Jersey

When adjusted for local cost of living, these New Jersey cities offer the most purchasing power for school counselors.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Atlantic City	$75,927	98.857	$76,805
Trenton	$77,327	103.18	$74,944
Vineland	$67,626	95.968	$70,467
Jersey City	$78,918	115.2	$68,505
Princeton	$78,864	115.2	$68,458

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in New Jersey

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$51,935	$24.97	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$73,781	$35.47	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$107,657	$51.76	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New Jersey metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 61 Cities in New Jersey

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Jersey City	$78,918	$37.94	$51,624	$122,323	42
2	Princeton	$78,864	$37.91	$56,530	$121,829	6
3	Newark	$77,702	$37.36	$49,275	$120,438	61
4	Trenton	$77,327	$37.18	$49,675	$102,849	440
5	Atlantic City	$75,927	$36.50	$54,345	$106,439	330
6	East Orange	$73,634	$35.40	$51,687	$114,133	9
7	Franklin	$73,634	$35.40	$51,687	$114,133	15
8	Woodbridge	$73,614	$35.39	$48,286	$114,101	25
9	Parsippany-Troy Hills	$73,508	$35.34	$48,945	$113,937	8
10	Union	$73,324	$35.25	$50,663	$113,652	15
11	Elizabeth	$73,296	$35.24	$53,035	$113,609	25
12	Brick	$73,145	$35.17	$50,249	$113,376	18
13	Gloucester Township	$72,938	$35.06	$49,771	$113,054	10
14	New Brunswick	$72,910	$35.05	$50,003	$113,010	8
15	Howell	$72,668	$34.93	$49,446	$112,635	11
16	Paterson	$72,581	$34.89	$51,699	$112,501	31
17	Plainfield	$72,495	$34.85	$48,754	$112,367	10
18	Irvington	$72,386	$34.80	$48,727	$112,199	10
19	West New York	$72,277	$34.75	$48,478	$112,029	10
20	Piscataway	$72,225	$34.73	$48,433	$111,949	14
21	Jackson	$72,185	$34.71	$48,046	$111,887	10
22	Lakewood	$72,065	$34.65	$50,534	$111,700	31
23	West Orange	$72,023	$34.63	$51,911	$111,636	11
24	Montclair	$71,916	$34.57	$51,350	$111,396	10
25	Washington Township	$71,803	$34.52	$51,080	$111,296	12
26	Old Bridge	$71,776	$34.50	$53,084	$111,253	17
27	Edison	$71,666	$34.45	$49,643	$111,081	20
28	Union City	$71,633	$34.44	$52,823	$111,031	17
29	Toms River	$71,610	$34.43	$52,769	$110,995	17
30	Bridgewater	$71,527	$34.39	$50,421	$110,028	10
31	Middletown	$71,506	$34.38	$52,528	$110,835	15
32	Clifton	$71,287	$34.27	$52,020	$110,495	14
33	South Brunswick	$71,160	$34.21	$49,852	$110,299	7
34	Berkeley	$71,154	$34.21	$49,539	$110,290	7
35	Perth Amboy	$71,143	$34.21	$51,687	$110,272	13
36	Wayne	$71,121	$34.20	$51,634	$110,237	10
37	Linden	$71,109	$34.19	$49,733	$110,220	7
38	Passaic	$71,092	$34.18	$51,569	$110,193	18
39	East Brunswick	$71,065	$34.17	$49,626	$110,150	8
40	Bloomfield	$70,914	$34.09	$51,158	$109,916	11
41	Long Branch	$70,868	$34.07	$49,162	$109,845	8
42	Westfield	$70,670	$33.97	$48,399	$109,538	7
43	Hamilton	$70,597	$33.94	$50,360	$109,425	21
44	Sayreville	$70,575	$33.93	$48,474	$109,390	9
45	Cherry Hill	$70,562	$33.92	$50,065	$109,372	11
46	North Bergen	$70,436	$33.86	$50,065	$109,176	13
47	Hoboken	$70,373	$33.83	$47,795	$109,077	15
48	Kearny	$70,264	$33.78	$53,472	$108,910	11
49	Manalapan	$70,202	$33.75	$53,322	$108,814	8
50	Bayonne	$70,131	$33.72	$49,372	$108,703	16
51	Manchester	$69,972	$33.64	$52,547	$108,456	9
52	Moorestown	$69,697	$33.51	$51,591	$104,463	4
53	Hackensack	$69,695	$33.50	$52,183	$108,027	8
54	Marlboro	$69,334	$33.33	$51,254	$107,468	9
55	Mount Laurel	$69,284	$33.31	$51,134	$107,390	11
56	Egg Harbor	$69,114	$33.23	$50,809	$107,127	8
57	Evesham	$69,013	$33.18	$50,571	$106,971	12
58	Rahway	$68,708	$33.03	$49,785	$106,497	9
59	Summit	$67,687	$32.54	$52,546	$104,230	5
60	Vineland	$67,626	$32.51	$59,045	$101,889	180
61	Camden	$64,615	$31.06	$45,571	$100,153	16

More New Jersey Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore school counselor hourly pay in New Jersey cities.

Jersey City →Princeton →Newark →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new school counselors.

Jersey City →Princeton →Newark →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced school counselors.

Jersey City →Princeton →Newark →

Explore More School Counselor Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do school counselors make in New Jersey in 2026?

The average median school counselor salary in New Jersey is $73,781/year across 61 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $64,615 in Camden to $78,918 in Jersey City. This makes New Jersey one of the higher-paying states, at 14.68% above the national median of $64,335. The state employs approximately 1,753 school counselors.

What is the highest paying city for school counselors in New Jersey?

Jersey City offers the highest school counselor salary in New Jersey at $78,918/year ($37.94/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Jersey City ($78,918), Princeton ($78,864), Newark ($77,702). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for school counseling services, and competition among employers for licensed school counselors.

How does New Jersey school counselor pay compare to the national average?

New Jersey's average school counselor salary of $73,781 is 14.68% above the national median of $64,335 in 2026. The state employs approximately 1,753 school counselors across 61 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level school counselor salary in New Jersey?

Entry-level school counselors (10th percentile) in New Jersey earn approximately $51,935/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $45,571 in lower-paying areas to $59,045 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many school counselors are employed in New Jersey?

New Jersey employs approximately 1,753 school counselors across 61 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the school counseling field expands and the population ages.

Which New Jersey city offers the best value for school counselors?

When adjusted for cost of living, Atlantic City offers the highest purchasing power for school counselors in New Jersey, with an adjusted salary of $76,805 (nominal: $75,927, CoL index: 98.857). This means your dollar goes 1% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, M.A.Data verified by Linda Chen, LPC

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 school counselor compensation across New Jersey. State averages are employment-weighted across 61 metro areas — larger metro areas with more school counselorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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