Colorado School Counselor
School counselors in Colorado earn a median salary of $63,900 per year and work with students from pre-K through 12th grade. The state projects around 750 job openings annually through 2032. You’ll need a master’s degree in school counseling, supervised fieldwork, and Colorado certification to practice.
Colorado Links
Colorado’s school counselors work across one of the most geographically and economically diverse states in the country — from well-resourced suburban districts along the Front Range to rural communities in the mountains and eastern plains where a single counselor may serve students across multiple schools. If you’re exploring this career path, earning a master’s degree in school counseling is the starting point.
What School Counselors Do in Colorado
Take a student like Carlos, a junior at a Denver high school who’s been showing up late, falling behind in two classes, and pulling away from his friend group. His counselor doesn’t just flag the attendance issue — she schedules a one-on-one, realizes his family moved and his commute doubled, coordinates with his teachers to give him some breathing room while he adjusts, and connects him with a community resource for after-school support. Three months later, Carlos is back on track for graduation.
That’s the work. Colorado school counselors operate across three broad domains: academic support, social-emotional development, and college and career readiness. In a given week, a counselor might run a small-group session on stress management, meet individually with a student navigating a family crisis, help a class of seniors work through financial aid applications, and consult with a teacher about a student whose behavior has shifted.
Many Colorado school counselors organize their work within the framework of the ASCA National Model, which structures counseling programs around proactive outreach and measurable outcomes rather than purely reactive services. Adoption varies by district, but the framework is widely referenced across the state.
The emotional demands are real. Counselors in under-resourced schools often carry caseloads well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ratio, and the work brings them into contact with students dealing with poverty, trauma, and mental health challenges that extend beyond what any single counselor can fully address. That’s part of the picture too.
Job Outlook in Colorado
Colorado projects approximately 750 average annual job openings for school counselors through 2032, with employment expected to grow around 18.3% over that period — well above average compared to most occupations nationally. The state employed approximately 6,220 school counselors as of May 2024.
Districts across the Front Range have been adding counseling positions in recent years, driven by rising student need and increased attention to mental health support in schools. Rural districts, which have historically had a harder time attracting and retaining counselors, have also been investing in hiring. Job opportunities exist across the state, though availability and compensation vary considerably by region.
For a full look at what the path into this career requires, see how to become a Colorado school counselor.
School Counselor Salary in Colorado
Colorado’s median school counselor salary of $63,900 per year is close to — but slightly below — the national median of $65,140 (BLS, May 2024). Where you work in the state shapes your pay considerably. Denver-area counselors typically earn more than colleagues in rural districts, and Boulder stands out as one of the higher-paying metros. For a broader look at how Colorado compares nationally, see the school counselor salary overview.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,440 |
| 25th | $55,430 |
| Median (50th) | $63,900 |
| 75th | $77,350 |
| 90th | $96,610 |
| Metro Area | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $74,610 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $65,390 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $64,080 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $60,830 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetro area | $60,670 |
| Pueblo, CO | $55,810 |
- Strong job growth — Colorado projects around 750 annual openings through 2032, with roughly 18.3% sector growth over the decade.
- Broad scope of work — Counselors support students academically, socially, and emotionally, and may serve multiple schools in rural areas.
- Geography shapes pay — Salaries range from around $55,810 in Pueblo to $74,610 in Boulder. The state median is $63,900.
- High demand, real challenges — Caseloads above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation are common, especially outside major metros.
Ready to explore your path to becoming a Colorado school counselor?
