As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Residential Counselor in California is $83,136, equivalent to $40 per hour, $1,599 weekly, or $6,928 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 California vary widely, spanning from $62,913 to $89,186. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($72,550) and 75th percentile ($86,303), while top earners (90th percentile) make $89,186 per year. This $13,753 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, California Residential Counselor often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 63 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for Residential Counselor job salary. 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 $62,913 CA July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $72,550 CA July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $83,136 CA July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $86,303 CA July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Residential Counselor Salary $89,186 CA July 01, 2026
25% $72,550 10% $62,913 90% $89,186 75% $86,303 $83,136 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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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

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Coachella, CA Avg. Salary $85,986 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Acampo, CA Avg. Salary $91,413 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Acton, CA Avg. Salary $91,653 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adelanto, CA Avg. Salary $88,760 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adin, CA Avg. Salary $86,721 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Agoura Hills, CA Avg. Salary $91,421 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Aguanga, CA Avg. Salary $88,034 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Ahwahnee, CA Avg. Salary $86,205 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alameda, CA Avg. Salary $104,118 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alamo, CA Avg. Salary $101,250 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Job Openings for Residential Counselor in California

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

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