School Counselor Salary in Syracuse, NY: $67,877 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Syracuse, NY earns a median $67,877/year (≈ $32.64/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Syracuse's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.7), that paycheck buys what $70,896 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.3% above the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Syracuse, New York, school counselors earn a median annual salary of $67,877, positioning them above the national average of $64,335. This salary reflects a range from $39,193 at the 10th percentile to $98,319 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variability in compensation based on experience and qualifications. The salary figures are derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. With the city’s current school counselor-to-student ratio being notably high in comparison to the ASCA's recommended 1:250 ratio, challenges persist in addressing student needs, which can affect overall employment dynamics in the field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,193 | $18.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,205 | $24.15 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,877 | $32.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,537 | $38.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $98,319 | $47.27 |
Median Salary Position
5.51% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Syracuse
In Syracuse, NY, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,126 (2026 est.). At $67,877, the local median is 5.51% above the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Syracuse: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Syracuse School Counselor Pay Compares
Syracuse median: $67,877/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Syracuse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $62,101 | +9.30% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | +5.51% more |
School Counselors in Syracuse, NY earn a median of $67,877 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.51% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 9.30% above the New York state average of $62,101.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Syracuse has a cost of living 4.26% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Syracuse, NY has a cost-of-living index of 95.742 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $67,877 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,896 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.45% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,320
2025 BLS Actual
$66,513
2026 Current Est.
$67,877
2019–2027 Growth
+11.1%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Syracuse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,320 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,410 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,380 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,710 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,860 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,070 | Actual |
| 2025 | $66,513 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,877 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $69,268 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Syracuse metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 6.7% from $62,320 (2019) to $66,513 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $69,268 by 2027 — a total increase of $6,948 (11.15%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Syracuse 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) | $39,193 – $50,205 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,205 – $67,877 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,877 – $80,537 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,537 – $98,319 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Syracuse
The job market in Syracuse shows strength with approximately 1,020 school counselors currently employed, despite the area's low cost-of-living index of 95.742. This offers a potentially greater purchasing power for counselors compared to other markets. Among local employers, K-12 public school districts typically provide the highest pay, with compensation varying significantly based on factors such as years of experience and educational attainment. The difference in salary is further influenced by the K-12 step-and-lane pay structure, which grants increases based on additional education and longevity in the role, as well as roles in extended contracts and stipends. As mental health funding continues to expand post-COVID, counselors looking to maximize their salary should consider pursuing advanced degrees or certifications, engaging in summer programs, or seeking positions with school leadership roles that offer added stipends.
More salary data for Syracuse, NY:
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 $66,513 for school counselorsin the Syracuse 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