As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Residential Counselor in the US is $75,372, equivalent to $36 per hour, $1,449 weekly, or $6,281 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Residential Counselor in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Residential Counselor in the US vary widely, spanning from $57,038 to $80,858. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($65,775) and 75th percentile ($78,244), while top earners (90th percentile) make $80,858 per year. This $12,469 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Planning or Medication Administration, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Residential Counselor often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 63 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Residential Counselor Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $57,038 US July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $65,775 US July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $75,372 US July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $78,244 US July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $80,858 US July 01, 2026
25% $65,775 10% $57,038 90% $80,858 75% $78,244 $75,372 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria
Check out Residential Counselor jobs in Columbus, Ohio

Residential Youth Counselor

Genacross - Liberty Center, OH

Search More Residential Counselor Jobs in Columbus, Ohio

What is a Residential Counselor ?

A mental health counselor (MHC), or counselor, is a person who works with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. They may help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. This title excludes "Social Workers", "Psychiatrists", and "Psychologists"....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Residential Counselor.

Job Openings for Residential Counselor

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Residential Counselor

    5 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Assisted Living Senior Manager


    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Residential Counselor, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
65775
78244
75372

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
76121
95286
85437
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Residential Counselor in the United States. The base salary for Residential Counselor ranges from $65,775 to $78,244 with the average base salary of $75,372. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $76,121 to $95,286 with the average total cash compensation of $85,437.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

65775
78244

 

Skills associated with Residential Counselor: Planning, Community, Resident

Jobs with a similar salary range to Residential Counselor : Resident Monitor, Life Enrichment Director