School Counselor Salary in Lander, WY: $57,883 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Lander, WY earns a median $57,883/year (≈ $27.83/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Lander's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.8), that paycheck buys what $60,421 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Wyoming state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, school counselors in Lander, Wyoming, can expect a median annual salary of $57,883, slightly below the national median of $64,335. The salary range varies significantly, from $42,523 at the lower end (P10) to as high as $88,732 (P90) for top earners. These figures reflect local estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost considerations. Throughout the district, counselors typically move along a step-and-lane pay scale, which rewards educators based on their years of experience and education level, including placements for master's and master's+30 degrees. With this structured salary approach, Lander's school counselor pay remains competitive within the context of Wyoming's educational landscape.
About the Lander Market
Salary estimated from Wyoming average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,523 | $20.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,902 | $22.55 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,883 | $27.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72,615 | $34.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $88,732 | $42.66 |
Median Salary Position
10.03% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lander
In Lander, WY, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $46,209 (2026 est.). At $57,883, the local median is 10.03% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lander: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lander School Counselor Pay Compares
Lander median: $57,883/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lander Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Average | $60,420 | -4.20% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -10.03% less |
School Counselors in Lander, WY earn a median of $57,883 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.03% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 4.20% below the Wyoming state average of $60,420.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lander has a cost of living 4.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lander, WY has a cost-of-living index of 95.8 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $57,883 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $60,421 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.38% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$50,292
2025 BLS Actual
$56,720
2026 Current Est.
$57,883
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Lander (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,292 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,245 | Actual |
| 2021 | $53,352 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,026 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,410 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $56,720 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,883 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,069 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lander metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew 12.8% from $50,292 (2019) to $56,720 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,069 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,777 (17.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lander 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) | $42,523 – $46,902 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,902 – $57,883 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,883 – $72,615 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $72,615 – $88,732 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Lander
Lander's local job market employs only four school counselors, indicating a tightly-knit professional community. The cost of living index in Lander sits at 95.8, which suggests that the purchasing power of a school counselor's salary may be somewhat constrained compared to higher-cost areas. Within Lander, K-12 public school districts present the most robust employment opportunities for counselors, often leading to better compensation compared to private institutions and charter schools. Factors driving the salary range include experience under the K-12 step-and-lane structure, additional educational qualifications, and potential stipends for extra roles, such as club advising or mentoring. To maximize pay potential in Lander, counselors can consider advancing their degrees and seeking positions that allow for extended contracted duties or specialized programs, aligning their careers with the post-COVID expansion of mental health services in education.
More salary data for Lander, WY:
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 $56,720 for school counselorsin the Lander 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 Lander 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