School Counselor Salary in Pasadena, TX: $74,943 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Pasadena, TX earns a median $74,943/year (≈ $36.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Pasadena's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $78,066 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.9% above the Texas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Pasadena, Texas, school counselors can expect a median annual salary of $74,943 in 2026, which reflects a 16.49% increase over the national median of $64,335. The salary range for these professionals varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting around $53,089 (10th percentile) and experienced counselors potentially earning up to $116,162 (90th percentile). These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and take into account regional price adjustments. Given that the recommended counselor-to-student ratio from ASCA is 1:250, Pasadena's market dynamics signal a strong demand for skilled professionals as districts work towards addressing the higher national average of 1:385.
About the Pasadena Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($66,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $53,089 | $25.52 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $74,943 | $36.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,928 | $46.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $116,162 | $55.85 |
Median Salary Position
16.49% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pasadena
In Pasadena, TX, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,073 (2026 est.). At $74,943, the local median is 16.49% above the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pasadena: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Pasadena School Counselor Pay Compares
Pasadena median: $74,943/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pasadena Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $66,974 | +11.90% more |
| National Average | $64,335 | +16.49% more |
School Counselors in Pasadena, TX earn a median of $74,943 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.49% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 11.90% above the Texas state average of $66,974.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pasadena has a cost of living 4.00% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pasadena, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $74,943 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $78,066 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$65,116
2025 BLS Actual
$73,438
2026 Current Est.
$74,943
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Pasadena (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $65,116 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,349 | Actual |
| 2021 | $69,077 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,655 | Actual |
| 2023 | $70,447 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,157 | Actual |
| 2025 | $73,438 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,943 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,480 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pasadena metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 12.8% from $65,116 (2019) to $73,438 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,480 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,364 (17.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pasadena 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) | $53,089 – $59,850 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,850 – $74,943 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $74,943 – $95,928 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,928 – $116,162 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Pasadena
With 32 school counselors employed in Pasadena, the local job market shows a healthy demand for these positions, especially given the area's cost of living index of 96. This index suggests that the purchasing power for salaries tends to stretch further than in higher-cost regions, benefiting local counselors in terms of take-home value. Among K-12 public school districts, those that pay the highest tend to fall into the step-and-lane pay scale system, where compensation is influenced by years of experience and educational achievements. Variations in salary can be attributed to several factors including extended contracts, stipends for additional responsibilities, and the level of educational attainment (master's vs. doctorate). For prospective counselors, maximizing pay may involve seeking higher educational qualifications, gaining experience in high-demand areas, or pursuing roles within school systems that prioritize mental health services, particularly in the wake of expanded funding for mental health initiatives post-COVID.
More salary data for Pasadena, 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 $73,438 for school counselorsin the Pasadena 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
Salary data for Pasadena is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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