School Counselor Hourly Pay in Rockford, IL: $30.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Rockford, IL runs $30.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $62,616 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Rockford's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.2, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.67 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,571 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Rockford, Illinois, the school counselor hourly pay is projected to be $30.10 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $30.93 per hour. This pay scale reflects a salary range for school counselors from entry-level positions earning around $16.74 per hour up to experienced professionals who can make as much as $45.30 per hour. For those seeking part-time roles, such as working three days a week, or opportunities for per-diem positions in settings like classrooms and counseling offices, this hourly rate offers a pathway to meaningful work. Official BLS data indicates that Rockford’s hourly figures align with this structure, affirming the viability of a rewarding career in school counseling within local educational environments that address the mental health challenges exacerbated by recent years.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.74 | $133.89 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.51 | $180.10 |
| Median (P50) | $30.10 | $240.84 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.41 | $315.29 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $45.30 | $362.40 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Rockford
Based on $30.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.10/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Rockford, IL can expect to earn approximately $62,618 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,126. With a cost-of-living index of 92.15 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Rockford.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Rockford
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,204.19 | $5,218 | $62,618 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $722.51 | $3,131 | $37,571 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $481.68 | $2,087 | $25,047 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Rockford) | $30.10 |
| 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 Rockford, IL earn a median of $62,616 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.67% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 8.50% above the Illinois state average of $57,710.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.10/hr = $37,571/year (purchasing power: $40,770).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $62,618/year (purchasing power: $67,949).
CoL index: 92.154 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.24/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.50/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+21.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Rockford (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.24/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.57/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.96/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.11/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.69/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.81/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.50/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30.72/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Rockford grew 16.9% from $25.24/hr (2019) to $29.50/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $30.72/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 Rockford 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 Rockford
For a part-time school counselor working 24 hours a week, the annual earnings would translate to approximately $37,000, a sizable difference compared to full-time salaries. The reality for per-diem school counselors in Rockford can be considerably varied, with rates varying across K-12 public districts, charter schools, and private entities. Many counselors find that taking on independent consulting roles allows them to charge significantly more per hour, especially in higher cost-of-living markets, where private college counselors can command between $150-$400/hour. The flexibility of per-diem work can be enticing for those willing to forego traditional benefits packages offered in full-time positions. School counselors must balance this hourly compensation with the potential advantages of job security and health insurance, often finding themselves negotiating terms that suit their financial and personal needs.
More salary data for Rockford, IL:
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 Rockford. 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