Salary AI Book a Demo

Financial Counselor Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Financial Counselor in the United States is $38,892 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,867
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,500 to $43,066
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,322
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Financial Counselor Salaries

A Financial 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 Financial Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Financial 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): $37,833
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $37,901
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $38,892
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $40,611
  • Expert (over 8 years): $40,733
Levels Salary
Entry Level Financial Counselor$37,833
Intermediate Level Financial Counselor$37,901
Senior Level Financial Counselor$38,892
Specialist Level Financial Counselor$40,611
Expert Level Financial Counselor$40,733
View as Graph

How Do Financial 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 Financial Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $43,061.
  • California: $42,898.
  • Massachusetts: $42,326.

Top Paying Cities for Financial 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: $49,054
  • San Francisco: $48,517
  • Oakland: $47,495

What Skills Can Increase a Financial Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.81% 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.
  • Financial Counseling (Mentioned in 3.81% Job Postings): Financial counseling represents the provision of regular, one-on-one client sessions to guide clients toward making financial performance improvements that meet the individualized goals set mutually between client and counselor.
  • Psychiatric (Mentioned in 2.19% Job Postings): Periodically and systematically assessing the client's dietary intake and nutritional status to ensure the effectiveness of nutrition intervention.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.81%
Financial Counseling 3.81%
Psychiatric 2.19%
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 a Financial Counselor's salary.

  • Group Counseling: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Treatment Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Group Counseling $50,559
30%
Treatment Planning $45,892
18%
Analysis $45,892
18%
Get Latest Data

Financial Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Financial Counselor roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Financial Counselor positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Financial Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Financial Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$46,670$22.020%

How Education impacts a Financial Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Financial Counselors enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Financial Counselor with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $41,751 and $44,463).

Financial Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Financial Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 29.4%
Associates 22.7%
Bachelors 34.8%
Masters 11.7%
Doctorate 1.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Financial 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
$36,500
Average $38,892/year
$43,066
$3,042
Average $3,241/month
$3,589
$702
Average $748/week
$828
$18
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $43,066 $3,589 $828 $21
Average $38,892 $3,241 $748 $19
25th Percentile $36,500 $3,042 $702 $18

Most common benefits for Financial Counselor

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

Common company salaries for Financial Counselor

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

Find Your Next Financial Counselor Job

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

For Employees

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

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

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

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Financial Counselor

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Financial Counselor roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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