School Counselor Salary in Houston, TX: $75,936 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Houston, TX earns a median $75,936/year (≈ $36.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $76,992 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.4% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For 2026, school counselor salaries in Houston, Texas, reflect a favorable compensation landscape within the educational field. The median annual salary stands at $75,936, outpacing the national median by approximately 18.03%. The salary range reveals significant variability among professionals, with entry-level positions beginning at around $46,775 and top-tier counselors earning as much as $106,520. These figures, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data, illustrate the financial benefits for those engaged in the important work of supporting student development in K-12 settings. Coupled with the structured step-and-lane pay scale often employed in Houston school districts, master's-level and advanced degree counselors can find their positions well-compensated, especially with the increased focus on mental health services in schools post-COVID.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,775 | $22.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,355 | $27.57 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $75,936 | $36.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $85,668 | $41.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $106,520 | $51.22 |
Median Salary Position
18.03% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,745 (2026 est.). At $75,936, the local median is 18.03% above the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston School Counselor Pay Compares
Houston median: $75,936/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $66,963 | +13.40% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | +18.03% more |
School Counselors in Houston, TX earn a median of $75,936 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.03% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 13.40% above the Texas state average of $66,963.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $75,936 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $76,992 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$66,660
2025 BLS Actual
$74,411
2026 Current Est.
$75,936
2019–2027 Growth
+16.3%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66,660 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,880 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,490 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,570 | Actual |
| 2023 | $70,240 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,160 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,411 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $75,936 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $77,493 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 11.6% from $66,660 (2019) to $74,411 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $77,493 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,833 (16.25%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $46,775 – $57,355 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,355 – $75,936 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $75,936 – $85,668 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $85,668 – $106,520 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Houston
In Houston, the job market for school counselors remains robust, with about 6,480 professionals employed locally. However, the cost of living index, currently at 98.629, indicates that while salaries are competitive, the economic landscape is slightly below the national average. This reality underscores the importance of considering the purchasing power of salaries in this region. Among the highest-paying employers in Houston are K-12 public school districts, followed closely by charter and private schools. The income variation stems from factors such as the step-and-lane pay scale based on education and experience, along with specialized roles that may include extended contracts and stipends. To maximize pay, counselors should target positions that offer summer programs or leadership responsibilities, allowing them to take full advantage of the existing pay structure in the Houston market.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 $74,411 for school counselorsin the Houston 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