School Counselor Pay

Horizon City vs Houston: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Horizon City, TX and Houston, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Horizon City, TX
$62,317
$29.96/hr
Houston, TX
$75,936
$36.50/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHorizon City, TXHouston, TX
Median Salary$62,317$75,936
Hourly Rate$29.96$36.50
Entry Level (P10)$48,174$46,775
25th Percentile$52,087$57,355
75th Percentile$78,398$85,668
Top Earner (P90)$95,661$106,520
Total Employed66,480
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Horizon City ($62,317) and Houston ($75,936) school counselor salaries.Horizon CityHoustonMedian Salary$62,317$75,936Entry Level (P10)$48,174$46,775Top Earner (P90)$95,661$106,520US Median $64,335

Verdict

Houston, TX offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Horizon City.

The salary gap between Horizon City and Houston is $13,619 (21.85%). Houston's median is +18.03% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Horizon City spans $47,487,Houston spans $59,745. Houston has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced school counselors.

Horizon City
P10 (Entry)$48,174
P25$52,087
Median$62,317
P75$78,398
P90 (Top)$95,661
Houston
P10 (Entry)$46,775
P25$57,355
Median$75,936
P75$85,668
P90 (Top)$106,520

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Houston ($76,992 effective) pays 18.61% more than Horizon City ($64,914 effective).

Horizon City
Nominal: $62,317
CoL Index: 96
Adjusted: $64,914
Houston
Nominal: $75,936
CoL Index: 98.629
Adjusted: $76,992

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Horizon City if…

  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose Houston if…

  • Higher median salary ($75,936/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($106,520)
  • Larger job market (6,480 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $76,992)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Horizon City grew 3.6% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 11.6% growth in Houston over the same period.

Horizon City, TX

+3.6%

$58,970 (2024) → $61,065 (2025)

Houston, TX

+11.6%

$66,660 (2019) → $74,411 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Horizon City or Houston?

Houston has a higher median school counselor salary at $75,936/year, compared to Horizon City at $62,317/year — a difference of $13,619 (21.85%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Horizon City and Houston?

Horizon City school counselors earn $29.96/hr while Houston hygienists earn $36.50/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Horizon City to Houston as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Horizon City and Houston. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Horizon City = $64,914, Houston = $76,992), job availability (6 vs 6,480 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Horizon City vs Houston?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $48,174 in Horizon City and $46,775 in Houston. The Horizon City area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed.

Content Lead

Maria has over 10 years of experience in school counseling. She specializes in academic and emotional support for high school students. She works at a public high school in California.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, M.A.Data verified by Linda Chen, LPC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.05% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed., a licensed school counselor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov