Youth Counselor Salary in the United States

How much does a Youth Counselor make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Youth Counselor in the United States is $58,663 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,829
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,952 to $66,602
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,932
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $50,952 10% $43,932 90% $73,829 75% $66,602 $58,663 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Youth Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $66,602 $5,550 $1,281 $32
Average $58,663 $4,889 $1,128 $28
25th Percentile $50,952 $4,246 $980 $24
Check out Youth Counselor Job Openings in the United States
Physician Other Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Instacart

Instacart - Columbus, OH

Physician Psychiatry

Continuum Medical Staffing - Columbus, OH

Search More Youth Counselor Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Youth Counselor Salaries

A Youth 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.

Top Paying Cities for Youth 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: $73,991
  • San Francisco: $73,181
  • Oakland: $71,639

What Skills Can Increase a Youth Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.84% 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.
  • Group Therapy (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Group psychotherapy or group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group. The term can legitimately refer to any form of psychotherapy when delivered in a group format, including cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy, but it is usually applied to psychodynamic group therapy where the group context and group process is explicitly utilised as a mechanism of change by developing, exploring and examining interpersonal relationships within the group. The broader concept of group therapy can be taken to include any helping process that takes place in a group, including support groups, skills training groups (such as anger management, mindfulness, relaxation training or social skills training), and psychoeducation groups. The differences between psychodynamic groups, activity groups, support groups, problem-solving and psycoeducational groups have been discussed by psychiatrist Charles Montgomery. Other, more specialised forms of group therapy would include non-verbal expressive therapies such as art therapy, dance therapy, or music therapy.
  • Psychiatric (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Periodically and systematically assessing the client's dietary intake and nutritional status to ensure the effectiveness of nutrition intervention.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.84%
Group Therapy 2.71%
Psychiatric 2.08%
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 a Youth Counselor's salary.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Patient Care
$62,183
6%
Psychiatric
$62,183
6%
Integrity
$62,183
6%
Clinical Supervision
$61,596
5%
Interviewing
$61,009
4%
Clinical Services
$61,009
4%
Get Latest Data

Youth Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Youth Counselor roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 12% above the average. Conversely, Youth Counselor positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Youth Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Youth Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$65,996$32.012%
Education$61,596$30.05%

How Education impacts a Youth Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Youth 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 a Youth Counselor with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $61,499 and $66,526).

Youth Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Youth Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.0%
Associates 0.3%
Bachelors 11.9%
Masters 82.5%
Doctorate 3.8%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Youth 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Youth Counselor

Salaries for a Youth Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $61,188 in 2023 to around $61,102 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Youth Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Youth Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$61,188
2024
$61,501
2025
$61,102
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $61,188
2024 $61,501
2025 $61,102
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Youth Counselor

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Youth Counselor

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

Find Your Next Youth Counselor Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Youth Counselor job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

    17 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    18 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    20 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Youth Counselor

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

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Youth Counselor roles, with salaries approximately 12% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst