Salaries › School Counselor › California
School Counselor Salary in California (2026)
$41.59 per hour · take-home ≈ $65,715/year ($5,476/month) for a single filer
School Counselor pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $51,890 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $63,910 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $86,500 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $119,790 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $136,660 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 45,140 School Counselor jobs in California (occupation code 21-1012, “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median School Counselor salary of $86,500 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $65,715 — an effective tax rate of 24.0%.
| Gross (median) | $86,500 |
| Federal income tax | −$10,200 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,617 |
| California state income tax | −$3,968 |
| Take-home (annual) | $65,715 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,476 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a School Counselor make in California?
- The median School Counselor salary in California is $86,500 per year ($41.59 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $63,910 and $119,790.
- What is the take-home pay for a School Counselor in California?
- On the median salary of $86,500, a single filer in California takes home about $65,715 per year ($5,476 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 24.0%.
- How many School Counselor jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 45,140 School Counselor jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for School Counselors
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.