School Counselor Pay

Romeoville vs Springfield: School Counselor Salary (2026)

Compare school counselor salaries between Romeoville, IL and Springfield, IL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Romeoville, IL
$55,253
$26.56/hr
Springfield, IL
$57,215
$27.50/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRomeoville, ILSpringfield, IL
Median Salary$55,253$57,215
Hourly Rate$26.56$27.50
Entry Level (P10)$41,143$37,833
25th Percentile$45,238$47,734
75th Percentile$70,350$74,777
Top Earner (P90)$85,642$96,749
Total Employed7190
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Romeoville ($55,253) and Springfield ($57,215) school counselor salaries.RomeovilleSpringfieldMedian Salary$55,253$57,215Entry Level (P10)$41,143$37,833Top Earner (P90)$85,642$96,749US Median $64,335

Verdict

Springfield, IL offers better overall compensation for school counselors, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Romeoville.

The salary gap between Romeoville and Springfield is $1,962 (3.55%). Springfield's median is -11.07% compared to the US national median of $64,335.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Romeoville spans $44,499,Springfield spans $58,916. Springfield has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced school counselors.

Romeoville
P10 (Entry)$41,143
P25$45,238
Median$55,253
P75$70,350
P90 (Top)$85,642
Springfield
P10 (Entry)$37,833
P25$47,734
Median$57,215
P75$74,777
P90 (Top)$96,749

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Springfield ($61,691 effective) pays 8.41% more than Romeoville ($56,903 effective).

Romeoville
Nominal: $55,253
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $56,903
Springfield
Nominal: $57,215
CoL Index: 92.745
Adjusted: $61,691

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Romeoville if…

  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Springfield if…

  • Higher median salary ($57,215/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($96,749)
  • Larger job market (190 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $61,691)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, school counselor salaries in Romeoville grew -14.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 11.8% growth in Springfield over the same period.

Romeoville, IL

+-14.3%

$63,199 (2024) → $54,143 (2025)

Springfield, IL

+11.8%

$50,160 (2019) → $56,066 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays school counselors more: Romeoville or Springfield?

Springfield has a higher median school counselor salary at $57,215/year, compared to Romeoville at $55,253/year — a difference of $1,962 (3.55%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Romeoville and Springfield?

Romeoville school counselors earn $26.56/hr while Springfield hygienists earn $27.50/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Romeoville to Springfield as a school counselor?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Romeoville and Springfield. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Romeoville = $56,903, Springfield = $61,691), job availability (7 vs 190 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level school counselors earn in Romeoville vs Springfield?

Entry-level (10th percentile) school counselors earn $41,143 in Romeoville and $37,833 in Springfield. The Romeoville 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