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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

School Counselor Salary in Illinois

Median Annual in Illinois
$62,420/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$30.01/hr
▼ 3% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Illinois

groups Employed in IL
13,580
public U.S. Median
$64,330
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$62,446 #39 of 51

School Counselor pay in Illinois, explained

School counselors in Illinois earn a median of $62,420 per year ($30.01 per hour), which is 3% below the national median of $64,330. Entry-level workers earn around $44,890, while the most experienced school counselors reach about $110,580. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Illinois.

Is $62,420 good pay in Illinois?

Adjusted for Illinois's cost of living (which runs 100% of the U.S. average), that $62,420 is worth about $62,446 in national buying power — ranking Illinois #39 for real pay (vs #26 on the sticker number).

See the full School Counselor Real Pay Index arrow_forward

School Counselor pay by experience in Illinois

Entry level (10th pct)
$44,890
$21.58/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$62,420
$30.01/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$110,580
$53.16/hr

School Counselor pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IL
Illinois (here) $62,420 $62,446 —
Kentucky $64,350 $71,374 −$1,930
Wisconsin $62,690 $66,624 −$270
Indiana $59,260 $63,496 +$3,160
Missouri $58,040 $63,909 +$4,380
Iowa $56,540 $64,424 +$5,880

School Counselor in Illinois: FAQ

How much do school counselors make in Illinois?

School counselors in Illinois earn a median of $62,420 per year ($30.01 per hour), compared with $64,330 nationally.

Does Illinois pay school counselors well?

At $62,420, Illinois pays 3% below the national median for school counselors. An estimated 13,580 work in the state.

School Counselor salary in other states

California · $86,500 Alaska · $82,900 Washington · $82,670 District of Columbia · $80,470 Massachusetts · $79,930 New Jersey · $77,910 New Mexico · $77,880 Maryland · $75,820 Rhode Island · $75,000 Delaware · $74,070 Connecticut · $73,910 New York · $71,610

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Illinois

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