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Eligibility Counselor Salary in the United States

How much does an Eligibility Counselor make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Eligibility Counselor in the United States is $47,191 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, an Eligibility Counselor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,310
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,598 to $51,964
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,417
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Eligibility Counselor Salaries

An Eligibility Counselor's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Eligibility Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Eligibility Counselor's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $47,829
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $48,303
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $49,472
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,705
  • Expert (over 8 years): $49,861
Levels Salary
Entry Level Eligibility Counselor$47,829
Intermediate Level Eligibility Counselor$48,303
Senior Level Eligibility Counselor$49,472
Specialist Level Eligibility Counselor$49,705
Expert Level Eligibility Counselor$49,861
View as Graph

How Do Eligibility Counselor Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Eligibility Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $52,250.
  • California: $52,051.
  • Massachusetts: $51,358.

Top Paying Cities for Eligibility Counselors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $59,522
  • San Francisco: $58,870
  • Oakland: $57,629

What Skills Can Increase an Eligibility Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.22% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Child Development (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
  • Psychiatric (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Periodically and systematically assessing the client's dietary intake and nutritional status to ensure the effectiveness of nutrition intervention.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.22%
Child Development 2.43%
Psychiatric 2.03%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Eligibility Counselor's salary.

  • Group Therapy: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Treatment Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Group Therapy $53,326
13%
Treatment Planning $51,910
10%
Psychiatric $50,966
8%
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Eligibility Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Eligibility Counselor roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Eligibility Counselor positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Eligibility Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Eligibility Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$51,910$25.010%

How Education impacts an Eligibility Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Eligibility Counselors enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Eligibility Counselor with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $43,270 and $46,583).

Eligibility Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Eligibility Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.8%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 5.4%
Masters 87.3%
Doctorate 5.4%
View as Graph

Eligibility Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Eligibility Counselor's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$42,598
Average $47,191/year
$51,964
$3,550
Average $3,933/month
$4,330
$819
Average $908/week
$999
$20
Average $23/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $51,964 $4,330 $999 $25
Average $47,191 $3,933 $908 $23
25th Percentile $42,598 $3,550 $819 $20

Most common benefits for Eligibility Counselor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Eligibility Counselor

Here are companies hiring for Eligibility Counselor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Eligibility Counselor

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Eligibility Counselor?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Eligibility Counselor roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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