Salaries › School Counselor › Iowa
School Counselor Salary in Iowa (2026)
$27.18 per hour · take-home ≈ $45,461/year ($3,788/month) for a single filer
School Counselor pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $43,470 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $48,310 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $56,540 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $65,820 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $77,110 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,690 School Counselor jobs in Iowa (occupation code 21-1012, “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median School Counselor salary of $56,540 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Iowa state income tax, a single filer keeps about $45,461 — an effective tax rate of 19.6%.
| Gross (median) | $56,540 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,605 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,325 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$2,149 |
| Take-home (annual) | $45,461 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,788 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a School Counselor make in Iowa?
- The median School Counselor salary in Iowa is $56,540 per year ($27.18 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $48,310 and $65,820.
- What is the take-home pay for a School Counselor in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $56,540, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $45,461 per year ($3,788 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.6%.
- How many School Counselor jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 3,690 School Counselor jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for School Counselors
Other salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa 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 Iowa.