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

School Counselor Salary in Iowa

Median Annual in Iowa
$56,540/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$27.18/hr
▼ 12% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Iowa

groups Employed in IA
3,690
public U.S. Median
$64,330
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$64,424 #32 of 51

School Counselor pay in Iowa, explained

School counselors in Iowa earn a median of $56,540 per year ($27.18 per hour), which is 12% below the national median of $64,330. Entry-level workers earn around $43,470, while the most experienced school counselors reach about $77,110. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Iowa.

Is $56,540 good pay in Iowa?

Adjusted for Iowa's cost of living (which runs 88% of the U.S. average), that $56,540 is worth about $64,424 in national buying power — ranking Iowa #32 for real pay (vs #47 on the sticker number).

See the full School Counselor Real Pay Index arrow_forward

School Counselor pay by experience in Iowa

Entry level (10th pct)
$43,470
$20.90/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$56,540
$27.18/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$77,110
$37.07/hr

School Counselor pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IA
Iowa (here) $56,540 $64,424 —
Minnesota $64,600 $65,503 −$8,060
Wisconsin $62,690 $66,624 −$6,150
Nebraska $62,500 $69,365 −$5,960
Illinois $62,420 $62,446 −$5,880
Missouri $58,040 $63,909 −$1,500
South Dakota $51,830 $58,508 +$4,710

School Counselor in Iowa: FAQ

How much do school counselors make in Iowa?

School counselors in Iowa earn a median of $56,540 per year ($27.18 per hour), compared with $64,330 nationally.

Does Iowa pay school counselors well?

At $56,540, Iowa pays 12% below the national median for school counselors. An estimated 3,690 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 Iowa

Social Worker $52,250/yr median Psychologist $91,690/yr median Elementary School Teacher $60,580/yr median