Counselor Salary Guide 2026

What Christian counselor roles are paying in the United States, based on 313 of 501 total counselor listings with complete salary ranges as of September 14, 2026.

313 listingsMethodology ↗
Key takeaways
  • The median counselor salary is $69,750/yr, with most offers between $51,165 and $92,500
  • Full-time roles post a median of $70,628 across 214 listings
  • Georgia posts the highest published median at $80,500

How much do counselors make?

Counselors in Christian settings earn a median of $69,750 per year, from 313 listings with complete salary ranges. Half of all offers land between $51,165 and $92,500.

Median base salary, United States
$69,750/yr
313 listings
$40k$110k
$51,165
p25
$69,750
median
$92,500
p75
Full-time median
$70,628
214 listings
Top-paying org type
Nonprofit $71,750
277 listings
Listings posting comp
66%
of 501 total counselor listings

The listings span licensed clinical counselors at Christian counseling centers and health systems, school counselors, and biblical counselors at churches and ministries. Licensure is the biggest pay lever, and listings requiring a clinical license post well above ministry-based counseling roles.

Counselor salaries by state

Geography moves counselor pay meaningfully, and cost of living explains most of the spread. Georgia leads at a median of $80,500, while Pennsylvania comes in at $25,000.

Median counselor salary by state

313 listings
StateMedianListings
Georgia$80,50016
Florida$77,000167
Texas$71,7509
Kansas$70,75021
California$69,55010
North Carolina$66,7506
Illinois$62,50013
Colorado$51,67535
Arizona$50,0007
Minnesota$45,0005
Pennsylvania$25,0005
New Mexico<5
Remote<5

12 additional state entries have fewer than 5 listings, so their medians are withheld.

By organization and employment type

By organization type

312 listings
Org typeMedianListings
Nonprofit$71,750277
Christian school$49,97534
Church<5

By employment type

268 listings
TypeMedianListings
Part-time$70,75045
Full-time$70,628214
Temporary$26,0006
Contractor<5

By organization size

28 listings
EmployeesMedianListings
11-50<5
201-1000<5
1000+$50,00025

Organization size is the employer's W-2 headcount from its latest IRS Form 990 filing. Employers that don't file (churches, for-profits) aren't counted in that table.

Frequently asked questions

Do biblical counselors earn less than licensed counselors?
Generally, yes. Church and ministry counseling roles without a state licensure requirement tend to post toward the bottom of the range, while licensed clinical positions at counseling centers and hospitals set the top of it.
Where do these numbers come from?
Every figure is computed from compensation posted on live and recent job listings on our boards. No surveys, no self-reports, and no stat published below 5 listings. Read the full methodology

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17 added this week
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