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Admissions Counselor Salary in the United States

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

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Admissions Counselor in the United States is $49,569 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,570
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,655 to $56,374
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,360
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View as table View as graph 25% $42,655 10% $36,360 90% $62,570 75% $56,374 $49,569 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Admissions Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $56,374 $4,698 $1,084 $27
Average $49,569 $4,131 $953 $24
25th Percentile $42,655 $3,555 $820 $21
Check out Admissions Counselor Job Openings in the United States
Senior Admissions Counselor Arts

Cleveland State University - Cleveland, OH

Admissions Counselor

Nurtur Aveda Institutes - Loveland, OH

Admissions Counselor

Nurtur Aveda Institutes - Loveland, OH

Admissions Counselor

Malone University - Canton, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Admissions Counselor Salaries

An Admissions 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Admissions Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Admissions 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:

  • Admissions Counselor (0-2 years): $49,579
  • Admissions Screener (2-4 years): $54,911
  • Admissions Manager - Higher Ed. (4-5 years): $65,824
  • Admissions Senior Manager - Higher Ed. (5+ years): $76,078
  • College Admissions Director (5+ years): $105,571
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Admissions Counselor0-2 years$49,579
Admissions Screener2-4 years$54,911
Admissions Manager - Higher Ed.4-5 years$65,824
Admissions Senior Manager - Higher Ed.5+ years$76,078
College Admissions Director5+ years$105,571
$49,579 Admission...
$54,911 Admission...
$65,824 Admission...
$76,078 Admission...
$105,571 College A...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Admissions 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: $62,524
  • San Francisco: $61,840
  • Oakland: $60,536

What Skills Can Increase an Admissions Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 14.16% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.17% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Word Processing (Mentioned in 1.07% Job Postings): word processing, operation in which a text-editing software program called a word processor is used to create a document on a computer. A word-processing system can produce a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 14.16%
Data Entry 2.17%
Word Processing 1.07%
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 Admissions Counselor's salary.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Psychiatric
$54,030
9%
Acute Care
$54,030
9%
Relationship Management
$52,047
5%
Coordination
$52,047
5%
Collaboration
$52,047
5%
Leadership
$51,552
4%
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Admissions Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Admissions 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 May 01, 2026

Admissions Counselor Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Admissions Counselor, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Admissions Screener role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $55,000 - a projected growth of 11% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Admissions Counselor

Salaries for an Admissions Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $58,684 in 2023 to around $58,635 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Admissions Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Admissions Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$58,684
2024
$58,852
2025
$58,635
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $58,684
2024 $58,852
2025 $58,635
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Admissions Counselor

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Admissions Counselor

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

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

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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.)

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