Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated August 12, 2026.
| California | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $86,500 | $67,290 | +29% |
| Median hourly wage | $41.59 | $32.35 | +29% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $78,139.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a School Counselor in California is $86,500, or about $41.59 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for School Counselors is $67,290. California is +29% above the national median.
Entry-level school counselors in California typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 45,140 school counselor jobs on record and a median salary of $86,500, California offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.