School Counselor Salary in Fargo, ND: $52,965 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Fargo, ND earns a median $52,965/year (≈ $25.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Fargo's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $58,286 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.7% below the North Dakota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, school counselors in Fargo, North Dakota, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $52,965, reflecting the increasing importance placed on mental health services in schools following the COVID-19 pandemic. The salary range for these positions spans from $47,844 at the lower end (10th percentile) to as high as $87,328 for those at the top of the pay scale (90th percentile). This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys projected to 2026, highlights the expanding opportunities for school counselors in the area, as districts focus on enhancing student support systems. Given the local emphasis on addressing mental health crises, service demand is driving hiring, making it a favorable market for school counseling professionals in Fargo.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $47,844 | $23.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,754 | $23.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $52,965 | $25.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,246 | $32.81 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $87,328 | $41.98 |
Median Salary Position
17.67% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fargo
In Fargo, ND, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $39,484 (2026 est.). At $52,965, the local median is 17.67% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fargo: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Fargo School Counselor Pay Compares
Fargo median: $52,965/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fargo Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Average | $58,012 | -8.70% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -17.67% less |
School Counselors in Fargo, ND earn a median of $52,965 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.67% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 8.70% below the North Dakota state average of $58,012.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fargo has a cost of living 9.13% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fargo, ND has a cost-of-living index of 90.871 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $52,965 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $58,286 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.05% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,150
2025 BLS Actual
$51,901
2026 Current Est.
$52,965
2019–2027 Growth
+-5.4%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Fargo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,150 | Actual |
| 2020 | $55,470 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,180 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,040 | Actual |
| 2023 | $57,780 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,940 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,901 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52,965 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54,051 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fargo metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew -9.2% from $57,150 (2019) to $51,901 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $54,051 by 2027 — a total increase of $-3,099 (-5.42%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fargo 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) | $47,844 – $49,754 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,754 – $52,965 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $52,965 – $68,246 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,246 – $87,328 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Fargo
With approximately 220 school counselors currently employed in Fargo, the local job market remains robust, despite the competitive pay structure driven by the step-and-lane salary system commonly used in K-12 education. The cost of living index in Fargo stands at 90.871, indicating that living expenses are below the national average, which can enhance the take-home purchasing power of local school counselor pay. Counselors often find the highest salaries within larger public school districts and charter networks, where well-established pay scales reward advanced qualifications such as master's plus additional credits or doctoral degrees. The disparity in salaries is influenced by factors such as experience, district funding initiatives, and specialized roles. To maximize earnings, prospective school counselors should consider gaining additional certifications, pursuing leadership roles, and exploring opportunities for summer programs or administrative stipends, which can significantly bridge the gap between entry-level salaries and the upper ranges of compensation in Fargo, ND.
More salary data for Fargo, ND:
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 $51,901 for school counselorsin the Fargo 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