School Counselor Hourly Pay in Commerce City, CO: $29.22 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Commerce City, CO runs $29.22 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,771 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Commerce City's regional price level (BEA RPP 105.0, 5% above national), each hour of work buys what $27.83 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,463 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
For school counselors in Commerce City, Colorado, the projected median hourly rate in 2026 is $29.22, which positions them slightly below the national median hourly rate of $30.93. This figure reveals valuable insights for both part-time and per-diem professionals. A school counselor working three days a week might find the hourly pay accessible for managing the demands of elementary classroom guidance lessons and high school individual counseling. The variation in hourly compensation ranges from $20.76 at the entry-level to $45.29 for top earners, highlighting the potential for significant earnings as experience and expertise grow. While these hourly rates derive from annual salary estimates, they illustrate the current competitive market for school counselors in various educational settings across Commerce City.
About the Commerce City Market
Salary estimated from Colorado average ($70,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.76 | $166.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.32 | $186.55 |
| Median (P50) | $29.22 | $233.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.40 | $299.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $45.29 | $362.32 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Commerce City
Based on $29.22/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.22/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Commerce City, CO can expect to earn approximately $60,771 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $35,060. With a cost-of-living index of 105.00 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Commerce City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Commerce City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,168.68 | $5,064 | $60,771 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $701.21 | $3,039 | $36,463 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $467.47 | $2,026 | $24,308 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Commerce City) | $29.22 |
| 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 Commerce City, CO earn a median of $60,771 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.54% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 3.00% below the Colorado state average of $62,650.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.22/hr = $36,463/year (purchasing power: $34,726).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,771/year (purchasing power: $57,877).
CoL index: 105 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$25.39/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.63/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.22/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Commerce City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.39/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.87/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.93/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.77/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.46/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $34.28/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.63/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.22/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.82/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Commerce City grew 12.8% from $25.39/hr (2019) to $28.63/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.82/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 Commerce City 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 Commerce City
Exploring the part-time earnings potential further, a school counselor working 24 hours each week can anticipate an annual take-home amount significantly less than a full-time colleague, who typically enjoys more comprehensive benefits. Given the rarity of substitute school counselor coverage, many professionals opt for per diem roles, particularly as private college counselors can command between $150 and $400 per hour in higher-cost-of-living areas for direct admissions advice. Additionally, many counselors can increase their income through summer counseling roles, which can add between $5,000 and $15,000 to their base salary. In this environment, hourly rates can fluctuate depending on the educational institution type, with K-12 public schools generally adhering to a step-and-lane pay structure similar to teachers, contrasting with private and charter schools that may offer more flexibility but at potentially lower benefits. Navigating the specifics of hourly work in Commerce City, school counselors should weigh the trade-offs between higher hourly wages and valuable health insurance benefits that often accompany salaried positions.
More salary data for Commerce City, CO:
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 Commerce City. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Commerce City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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