School Counselor Hourly Pay in Redding, CA: $28.31 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Redding, CA runs $28.31 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,895 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Redding's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.7, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $28.12 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,329 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Redding, California, the school counselor hourly pay is projected to be $28.31 in 2026, slightly below the national median hourly rate of $30.93. This pay structure offers various opportunities for part-time or per-diem work in settings such as elementary classroom guidance lessons, middle school small group counseling, and high school individual counseling offices. For workers in these roles, the hourly wage can significantly impact their financial well-being, especially for those balancing duties over three days per week, where they can expect earnings depending on the salary range from $21.85 at the entry-level to $63.57 for top earners within the community. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, ensuring that potential and current counselors have accurate insights into their earning potential in the region.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.85 | $174.79 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.31 | $178.47 |
| Median (P50) | $28.31 | $226.47 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $49.45 | $395.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $63.57 | $508.54 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Redding
Based on $28.31/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.31/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Redding, CA can expect to earn approximately $58,882 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,970. With a cost-of-living index of 100.68 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Redding.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Redding
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,132.35 | $4,907 | $58,882 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $679.41 | $2,944 | $35,329 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $452.94 | $1,963 | $23,553 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Redding) | $28.31 |
| Mental Health Counselor (National Avg) | $28.69 |
| Social Worker (National Avg) | $29.33 |
| Elementary School Teacher (National Avg) | $32.79 |
| Instructional Coordinator (National Avg) | $36.21 |
School Counselors in Redding, CA earn a median of $58,895 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.46% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 39.10% below the California state average of $96,708.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.31/hr = $35,329/year (purchasing power: $35,089).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,882/year (purchasing power: $58,482).
CoL index: 100.684 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$24.56/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.74/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.31/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Redding (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.56/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.46/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.50/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $37.72/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $35.40/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.08/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.74/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.31/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.89/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Redding grew 12.9% from $24.56/hr (2019) to $27.74/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.89/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem school counselors can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Redding metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.05% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly School Counselor in Redding
For part-time school counselors working three days per week, the annual take-home pay can be considerably less than their full-time counterparts, who typically earn higher rates due to their additional hours. In ideal circumstances, those in per-diem positions can see rates much higher than average, especially private college counselors who can charge anywhere from $150 to $400 per hour in high-cost-of-living markets, emphasizing the lucrative potential in specialized consulting roles. School counselor hourly pay in Redding varies based on employer types, whether they are in K-12 public districts, charter schools, or private institutions. Often, a trade-off occurs, where some accept lower hourly pay for benefits such as health insurance compared to positions that offer higher hourly wages but no benefits. Moreover, when negotiating their hourly rate, Redding counselors might consider leveraging their ASCA and CACREP credentials, along with market demand influenced by the recent mental health funding expansion following the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance their position in discussions.
More salary data for Redding, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for school counselors in Redding. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.05%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for school counselors (SOC 21-1012).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, M.Ed., a licensed school counselor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov