Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| North Carolina | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $57,630 | $67,290 | -14% |
| Median hourly wage | $27.71 | $32.35 | -14% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $61,113.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a School Counselor in North Carolina is $57,630, or about $27.71 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for School Counselors is $67,290. North Carolina is -14% below the national median.
Entry-level school counselors in North Carolina typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 9,430 school counselor jobs on record and a median salary of $57,630, North Carolina offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, school counselors rank 354 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 52% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Social Workers, All Other at $63,490, Healthcare Social Workers at $63,280, Directors, Religious Activities and Education at $63,280 — all figures are median annual wages for North Carolina.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, school counselors rank 354 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 52% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in North Carolina | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Social Workers, All Other | $63,490 | $1,670 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $63,280 | $5,120 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $63,280 | $260 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $62,220 | $3,310 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $59,610 | $13,010 |
| Clergy | $59,600 | $1,430 |
North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 745 occupations in North Carolina.