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Intake Counselor Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Intake Counselor in the United States is $60,654 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,487
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,704 to $68,942
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,376
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Intake Counselor Salaries

An Intake 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 Intake Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Intake 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): $61,137
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $68,744
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $88,403
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $102,409
  • Expert (over 8 years): $135,929
Levels Salary
Intake Co... Level Intake Counselor$61,137
Behavior ... Level Intake Counselor$68,744
Behaviora... Level Intake Counselor$88,403
Behaviora... Level Intake Counselor$102,409
Behaviora... Level Intake Counselor$135,929
View as Graph

How Do Intake 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 Intake Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $67,156.
  • California: $66,902.
  • Massachusetts: $66,010.

Top Paying Cities for Intake 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: $76,503
  • San Francisco: $75,666
  • Oakland: $74,071

What Skills Can Increase an Intake Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.71% 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 3.35% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.71%
Data Entry 3.35%
Patient Care 2.26%
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 Intake Counselor's salary.

  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Development $63,687
5%
Analysis $63,080
4%
Presentation $63,080
4%
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Intake Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Intake 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, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Intake Counselor positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Intake Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Intake Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$66,720$32.010%
Insurance$66,720$32.010%

How Education impacts an Intake Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Intake 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 Intake Counselor with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $60,510 and $65,462).

Intake Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Intake Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 33.9%
High School 33.9%
Associates 10.2%
Bachelors 33.9%
Masters 20.3%
Doctorate 1.7%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Intake 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
$53,704
Average $60,654/year
$68,942
$4,475
Average $5,055/month
$5,745
$1,033
Average $1,166/week
$1,326
$26
Average $29/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $68,942 $5,745 $1,326 $33
Average $60,654 $5,055 $1,166 $29
25th Percentile $53,704 $4,475 $1,033 $26

Most common benefits for Intake Counselor

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

Common company salaries for Intake Counselor

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

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FAQ about Intake Counselor

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Intake 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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