School Counselor Salary in Johnson City, TN: $45,254 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time school counselor in Johnson City, TN earns a median $45,254/year (≈ $21.76/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 21-1012). Once you factor in Johnson City's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.9), that paycheck buys what $51,467 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 23.9% below the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, school counselors in Johnson City, TN, can expect a median annual salary of $45,254, which reflects the step-and-lane scale typical in K-12 educational settings. The salary range for this role varies significantly from the 10th percentile earning $45,254, to the 90th percentile making $78,097. These figures are drawn from comprehensive 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected into 2026. Given the national median salary for this occupation is $64,335, the compensation for school counselors in Johnson City falls below the national average, shedding light on local economic conditions and job market dynamics.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,254 | $21.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45,254 | $21.76 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $45,254 | $21.76 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $62,476 | $30.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $78,097 | $37.54 |
Median Salary Position
29.66% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Johnson City
In Johnson City, TN, the school counselor salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $32,843 (2026 est.). At $45,254, the local median is 29.66% below the national median of $64,335.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Johnson City: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Johnson City School Counselor Pay Compares
Johnson City median: $45,254/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Johnson City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $59,467 | -23.90% less |
| National Average | $64,335 | -29.66% less |
School Counselors in Johnson City, TN earn a median of $45,254 per year (2026 est.), which is 29.66% lower than the national median of $64,335 and 23.90% below the Tennessee state average of $59,467.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Johnson City has a cost of living 12.07% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Johnson City, TN has a cost-of-living index of 87.928 (below the national average of 100). A school counselor earning $45,254 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $51,467 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.73% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$45,760
2025 BLS Actual
$44,345
2026 Current Est.
$45,254
2019–2027 Growth
+0.9%
Salary Trajectory for School Counselors in Johnson City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.05% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $46,610 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,520 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,440 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,700 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,390 | Actual |
| 2025 | $44,345 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $45,254 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $46,182 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Johnson City metropolitan area, the median school counselor salary grew -3.1% from $45,760 (2019) to $44,345 (2025). At a 2.05% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $46,182 by 2027 — a total increase of $422 (0.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Johnson 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $45,254 – $45,254 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $45,254 – $45,254 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $45,254 – $62,476 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $62,476 – $78,097 |
SC, LSC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual school counselor compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
School Counselor Job Market in Johnson City
The job market in Johnson City features approximately 180 school counselors, suggesting a stable demand for these professionals amidst a cost-of-living index of 87.928, indicating a more affordable living standard compared to national averages. This lower cost of living can enhance the purchasing power for school counselor pay in Johnson City TN. Across the district, K-12 public schools tend to offer the highest compensation, particularly for positions adhering to the established step-and-lane scale based on education and experience. Factors contributing to salary disparities include additional stipends for leadership roles, summer programming opportunities, and the tiered salary structure influenced by educational attainment. Counselors looking to maximize their earnings may benefit from acquiring a master's+30 degree or actively participating in extended contracts, to boost their placement within the district's pay scale while helping to address the critical 1:250 counselor-to-student ratio recommended by ASCA.
More salary data for Johnson City, TN:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $44,345 for school counselorsin the Johnson City metropolitan area. A 2.05% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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