School Counselor Hourly Pay in Kennewick, WA: $42.75 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a school counselor working in Kennewick, WA runs $42.75 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $88,908 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Weighted against Kennewick's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.1, 0% above national), each hour of work buys what $42.72 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $53,350 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Kennewick, WA, school counselors can expect a competitive hourly pay of $42.75, significantly surpassing the national hourly median of $30.93. This positions the hourly rate well for both full-time professionals and part-time counselors who may work within a 3-day workweek, allowing them to derive a substantial income while holding other commitments. For example, the hourly range spans from $29.38 for entry-level positions to $58.70 for top earners. School counselors within this city typically work in various educational settings, providing guidance in elementary classrooms, middle school small group sessions, high school individual counseling offices, and college counseling resource rooms. They also play vital roles in crisis response teams, making this compensation reflective of both the responsibilities and the demand for mental health support in today’s educational landscape. This data is derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
School Counselor Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29.38 | $235.04 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $34.76 | $278.07 |
| Median (P50) | $42.75 | $341.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $55.64 | $445.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $58.70 | $469.59 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kennewick
Based on $42.75/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $42.75/hr, a school counselor working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kennewick, WA can expect to earn approximately $88,917 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $51,298. With a cost-of-living index of 100.08 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Kennewick.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kennewick
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,709.95 | $7,410 | $88,917 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,025.97 | $4,446 | $53,350 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $683.98 | $2,964 | $35,567 |
Compare SC, LSC Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| School Counselor (Kennewick) | $42.75 |
| 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 Kennewick, WA earn a median of $88,908 per year (2026 est.), which is 38.20% higher than the national median of $64,335 and 7.00% above the Washington state average of $83,092.
School Counselor Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $42.75/hr = $53,350/year (purchasing power: $53,308).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $88,917/year (purchasing power: $88,847).
CoL index: 100.079 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$33.54/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$41.89/hr
2026 Current Est.
$42.75/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+30.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for School Counselors in Kennewick (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $33.54/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $37.09/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $37.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.12/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $41.08/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $43.76/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $41.89/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42.75/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $43.63/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for school counselors in Kennewick grew 24.9% from $33.54/hr (2019) to $41.89/hr (2025). At a 2.05% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $43.63/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 Kennewick 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 Kennewick
Part-time school counselors working in Kennewick can realistically expect to earn around $55,804 annually by working 24 hours a week, translating their hourly work into a manageable income given full-time commitments in their personal lives. Meanwhile, per-diem school counselors in Kennewick often charge significantly higher rates, sometimes ranging from $150 to $400 per hour in specialty settings like private colleges or when acting as consultants for college admissions, showing a stark contrast to the traditional pay structure in K-12 schools. Some decide to accept positions in lower-paying public school districts for the benefits, such as health insurance, which can be a crucial consideration, especially when facing escalating healthcare costs. Variability in school counselor hourly rates can also vary by employer type, with K-12 public schools generally following a structured step-and-lane pay system akin to teachers, while private institutions may offer more flexible rates. When negotiating, counselors should consider not just the hourly pay but the complete compensation package, including benefits, to make informed choices about their careers in the competitive landscape of school counseling in Kennewick.
More salary data for Kennewick, WA:
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 Kennewick. 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