School Counselor Salary in Burlington, NC: $59,195 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Burlington, NC earns a median $59,195/year (≈ $28.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Burlington's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.2), that paycheck buys what $63,517 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.3% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Burlington, NC, the 2026 estimated compensation for school counselors is projected at $59,195 annually. This figure is slightly below the national median of $64,335, indicating a local pay structure influenced heavily by the post-COVID expansion in mental health funding that has prompted increased hiring across school districts. The salary spectrum for counselors in this area ranges from $37,753 at the lower end (P10) to $73,686 at the higher end (P90), reflecting the diverse qualifications and experiences within the profession. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, captures a job market in Burlington that is actively responding to elevated mental health needs among students, promoting a growing demand for school counseling services and thus impacting hiring strategies.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,753 | $18.15 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,644 | $23.39 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $59,195 | $28.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $62,216 | $29.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $73,686 | $35.42 |
Median Salary Position
7.99% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Burlington
In Burlington, NC, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $35,933 (2026 est.). At $59,195, the local median is 7.99% below the national median of $64,335.
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At 40 hours/week in Burlington: You'd be above the median
How Burlington School Counselor Pay Compares
Burlington median: $59,195/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Burlington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $56,216 | +5.30% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | -7.99% less |
School Counselors in Burlington, NC earn a median of $59,195 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.99% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 5.30% above the North Carolina state average of $56,216.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Burlington has a cost of living 6.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Burlington, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.196 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $59,195 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,517 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.3% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$49,500
2025 BLS Actual
$58,006
2026 Current Est.
$59,195
2019–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Burlington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,500 | Actual |
| 2020 | $50,220 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,900 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,450 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,890 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,006 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,195 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $60,409 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Burlington metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 17.2% from $49,500 (2019) to $58,006 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,409 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,909 (22.04%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Burlington 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) | $37,753 – $48,644 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,644 – $59,195 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $59,195 – $62,216 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $62,216 – $73,686 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Burlington
The local job market for school counselors in Burlington comprises around 190 employed professionals, presenting opportunities against a backdrop of a cost-of-living index of 93.196, which is below the national average. This lower cost of living increases purchasing power, making the attributions of school counselor pay in Burlington, NC, particularly compelling. Key employers such as K-12 public school districts and charter networks often adhere to a step-and-lane pay scale based on years of experience and educational credentials, which can lead to variations in salary. Counselors entering this field should consider additional avenues for enhancing their pay, including pursuing master's plus certification or taking on leadership roles within schools. This approach could leverage the higher compensation opportunities that arise from extended contracts or special stipend positions, enabling counselors to maximize their salary potential while supporting the important services they provide to students.
More salary data for Burlington, NC:
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 $58,006 for school counselorsin the Burlington 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