Youth Detention Counselor Salary in the United States

How much does a Youth Detention Counselor make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Youth Detention Counselor in the United States is $44,566 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $55,707
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,233 to $50,398
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,287
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View as table View as graph 25% $40,233 10% $36,287 90% $55,707 75% $50,398 $44,566 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Youth Detention Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $50,398 $4,200 $969 $24
Average $44,566 $3,714 $857 $21
25th Percentile $40,233 $3,353 $774 $19
Check out Youth Detention Counselor Job Openings in the United States
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Eckerd Connects - MANSON, NC

Awake Overnight Youth Counselor

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Key Factors That Influence Youth Detention Counselor Salaries

A Youth Detention 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 Youth Detention Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Youth Detention 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): $42,857
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,137
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,396
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $47,396
  • Expert (over 8 years): $47,653
Levels Salary
Entry Level Youth Detention Counselor$42,857
Intermediate Level Youth Detention Counselor$44,137
Senior Level Youth Detention Counselor$47,396
Specialist Level Youth Detention Counselor$47,396
Expert Level Youth Detention Counselor$47,653
$42,857 0 yr
$44,137 < 2 yrs
$47,396 2-4 yrs
$47,396 5-8 yrs
$47,653 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Youth Detention 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 Youth Detention Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $49,343.
  • California: $49,156.
  • Massachusetts: $48,501.

Top Paying Cities for Youth Detention 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: $56,211
  • San Francisco: $55,658
  • Oakland: $54,424

What Skills Can Increase a Youth Detention Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 31.68% 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.
  • Cash Handling (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Process of receiving and giving money in a business. In retail, cash handling ranges from the point of sale to the behind-the-scenes money management during the day.
  • Customer Satisfaction (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Customer satisfaction (often abbreviated as CSAT, more correctly CSat) is a term frequently used in marketing. It is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as "the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals." The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) endorses the definitions, purposes, and constructs of classes of measures that appear in Marketing Metrics as part of its ongoing Common Language in Marketing Project. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 71 percent responded that they found a customer satisfaction metric very useful in managing and monitoring their businesses. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is often part of a Balanced Scorecard. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 31.68%
Cash Handling 1.93%
Customer Satisfaction 1.37%
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 Youth Detention Counselor's salary.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Installation: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Flexibility
$53,034
19%
Installation
$49,914
12%
Time Management
$48,577
9%
Team Management
$47,686
7%
Products and Services
$47,686
7%
Visual Presentation
$47,240
6%
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How Education impacts a Youth Detention Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Youth Detention 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 Youth Detention Counselor with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $44,054 and $47,102).

Youth Detention Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Youth Detention Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 15.8%
Associates 9.1%
Bachelors 69.2%
Masters 5.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Youth Detention Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Youth Detention 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Youth Detention Counselor

Salaries for a Youth Detention Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $45,140 in 2023 to around $44,381 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Youth Detention Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Youth Detention Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$45,140
2024
$44,764
2025
$44,381
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $45,140
2024 $44,764
2025 $44,381
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Youth Detention Counselor

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

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

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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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