School Counselor Pay

Knoxville vs Mount Juliet: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Knoxville, TN and Mount Juliet, TN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Knoxville, TN
$58,645
$28.20/hr
Mount Juliet, TN
$56,947
$27.38/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKnoxville, TNMount Juliet, TN
Median Salary$58,645$56,947
Hourly Rate$28.20$27.38
Entry Level (P10)$44,644$42,337
25th Percentile$50,634$46,630
75th Percentile$66,386$72,892
Top Earner (P90)$79,378$88,268
Total Employed7909
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Knoxville ($58,645) and Mount Juliet ($56,947) school counselor salaries.KnoxvilleMount JulietMedian Salary$58,645$56,947Entry Level (P10)$44,644$42,337Top Earner (P90)$79,378$88,268US Median $64,335

Verdict

Knoxville, TN offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Mount Juliet.

The salary gap between Knoxville and Mount Juliet is $1,698 (2.98%). Knoxville's median is -8.84% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Knoxville spans $34,734,Mount Juliet spans $45,931. Mount Juliet has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced school counselors.

Knoxville
P10 (Entry)$44,644
P25$50,634
Median$58,645
P75$66,386
P90 (Top)$79,378
Mount Juliet
P10 (Entry)$42,337
P25$46,630
Median$56,947
P75$72,892
P90 (Top)$88,268

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Knoxville ($63,353 effective) pays 2.13% more than Mount Juliet ($62,034 effective).

Knoxville
Nominal: $58,645
CoL Index: 92.569
Adjusted: $63,353
Mount Juliet
Nominal: $56,947
CoL Index: 91.8
Adjusted: $62,034

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Knoxville if…

  • Higher median salary ($58,645/year)
  • Larger job market (790 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $63,353)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Choose Mount Juliet if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($88,268)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Knoxville grew 16.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 9.5% growth in Mount Juliet over the same period.

Knoxville, TN

+16.9%

$49,180 (2019) → $57,467 (2025)

Mount Juliet, TN

+9.5%

$50,959 (2024) → $55,803 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Knoxville or Mount Juliet?

Knoxville has a higher median school counselor salary at $58,645/year, compared to Mount Juliet at $56,947/year — a difference of $1,698 (2.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Knoxville and Mount Juliet?

Knoxville school counselors earn $28.20/hr while Mount Juliet hygienists earn $27.38/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Knoxville to Mount Juliet as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Knoxville and Mount Juliet. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Knoxville = $63,353, Mount Juliet = $62,034), job availability (790 vs 9 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Knoxville vs Mount Juliet?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $44,644 in Knoxville and $42,337 in Mount Juliet. The Knoxville area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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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