School Counselor Salary in Greenville, SC: $58,595 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Greenville, SC earns a median $58,595/year (≈ $28.18/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Greenville's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.3), that paycheck buys what $62,830 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.0% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Greenville, South Carolina, the projected school counselor salary for 2026 stands at $58,595 annually, reflecting a competitive position when compared to the national median of $64,335. The salary range in this area spans from $39,724 at the 10th percentile to $86,998 at the 90th percentile, indicating a considerable variation in pay that aligns with factors like experience and education level. This data, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, is critical in analyzing local compensation trends, especially as Greenville continues to grapple with an ongoing high school counselor-to-student ratio, which exceeds the ASCA's recommended benchmark of 1:250. As the local education system expands its mental health funding initiatives, understanding the compensation landscape is essential for job seekers in the area.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,724 | $19.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,965 | $23.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $58,595 | $28.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,686 | $36.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $86,998 | $41.82 |
Median Salary Position
8.92% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Greenville
In Greenville, SC, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,274 (2026 est.). At $58,595, the local median is 8.92% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Greenville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Greenville School Counselor Pay Compares
Greenville median: $58,595/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Greenville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $61,037 | -4.00% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -8.92% less |
School Counselors in Greenville, SC earn a median of $58,595 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.92% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 4.00% below the South Carolina state average of $61,037.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Greenville has a cost of living 6.74% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Greenville, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.26 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $58,595 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $62,830 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.23% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$55,690
2025 BLS Actual
$57,418
2026 Current Est.
$58,595
2019–2027 Growth
+7.4%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Greenville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,690 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,190 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,170 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,390 | Actual |
| 2023 | $51,110 | Actual |
| 2024 | $52,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,418 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $58,595 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,796 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Greenville metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 3.1% from $55,690 (2019) to $57,418 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,796 by 2027 — a total increase of $4,106 (7.37%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Greenville 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) | $39,724 – $47,965 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,965 – $58,595 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $58,595 – $75,686 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,686 – $86,998 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Greenville
Employment opportunities for school counselors in Greenville are bolstered by 1,240 professionals actively serving in the field, a number that suggests a robust local job market. The cost-of-living index for Greenville, pegged at 93.26, indicates that the area is less expensive than the national average, making the actual buying power of the school counselor pay in Greenville SC more favorable. Among local employers, K-12 public school districts typically provide the highest salaries, driven by established step-and-lane pay structures that reward experience and advanced education levels. Factors contributing to the significant salary spread include varying district capabilities, the availability of bonus stipends for specialized roles, and positions requiring additional responsibilities. For those looking to maximize pay, pursuing further educational qualifications, engaging in summer programs, and taking on departmental leadership roles can enhance long-term earning potential in this regional market.
More salary data for Greenville, SC:
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 $57,418 for school counselorsin the Greenville 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