Credit Counselor Salary
Credit Counselors earn a median $52,230 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$52,230
$25.11 per hour
Range
$38,350 – $80,440
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
27,770
across the U.S.
Credit Counselor take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$44,147
per year · effective tax rate 15.5%
$3,679Monthly
$1,839Twice a month
$1,698Every 2 weeks
$21.22Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,088
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,238
- Medicare (1.45%)$757
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$44,147
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,350 | $18.44 | $32,994 |
| 25th percentile | $45,720 | $21.98 | $38,916 |
| Median (50th) | $52,230 | $25.11 | $44,147 |
| 75th percentile | $64,080 | $30.81 | $53,668 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,440 | $38.67 | $65,420 |
Best cities for credit counselors (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $64,080 | $50,684 | $46,815 | 620 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,990 | $46,995 | $45,824 | 480 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $65,210 | $51,724 | $45,545 | 830 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $61,930 | $49,362 | $45,334 | 440 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $63,170 | $50,123 | $44,529 | 1,610 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $57,210 | $45,461 | $43,884 | 800 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $54,110 | $44,513 | $43,085 | 720 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $53,140 | $42,870 | $42,743 | 480 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $51,820 | $43,817 | $42,504 | 1,080 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $48,100 | $40,828 | $41,396 | 900 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $47,180 | $40,089 | $39,529 | 580 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $47,980 | $40,732 | $35,681 | 500 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $65,210
- Boston, MA — $64,080
- New York, NY — $63,170
- Washington, DC — $61,930
- Philadelphia, PA — $57,990
- Chicago, IL — $57,210
- Phoenix, AZ — $54,110
- Detroit, MI — $53,140
- Dallas, TX — $51,820
- Houston, TX — $48,100
- Miami, FL — $47,980
- Orlando, FL — $47,180
Credit Counselor salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $67,120 | $53,019 | $47,260 – $98,520 | 2,160 |
| Georgia | $64,080 | $50,965 | $44,660 – $64,080 | 460 |
| District of Columbia | $63,580 | $50,580 | $52,080 – $100,370 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $63,240 | $50,051 | $44,730 – $94,110 | 770 |
| New York | $63,030 | $50,018 | $48,720 – $100,720 | 2,020 |
| Nebraska | $62,510 | $50,442 | $44,550 – $95,270 | 260 |
| Washington | $62,360 | $52,286 | $47,920 – $82,950 | 560 |
| Minnesota | $62,160 | $49,422 | $47,110 – $74,140 | 580 |
| Maryland | $60,450 | $48,244 | $45,960 – $81,720 | 350 |
| Oregon | $59,150 | $45,361 | $46,300 – $81,990 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $58,830 | $49,450 | $41,100 – $76,370 | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $58,480 | $47,593 | $48,890 – $79,770 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,330 | $47,257 | $41,100 – $82,190 | 1,110 |
| New Jersey | $57,180 | $46,513 | $40,440 – $75,740 | 530 |
| Colorado | $57,130 | $46,279 | $45,460 – $80,320 | 360 |
| Maine | $55,490 | $44,202 | $43,980 – $76,700 | 170 |
| Nevada | $55,480 | $46,758 | $44,440 – $75,850 | 170 |
| Connecticut | $54,710 | $44,603 | $43,660 – $82,740 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $53,190 | $42,884 | $38,960 – $64,550 | 250 |
| Delaware | $52,840 | $42,381 | $47,150 – $86,670 | 40 |
| North Dakota | $52,220 | $44,139 | $51,360 – $62,120 | 30 |
| Michigan | $52,160 | $42,125 | $39,440 – $77,970 | 1,260 |
| Wisconsin | $52,140 | $42,561 | $44,950 – $77,310 | 770 |
| Illinois | $51,930 | $41,480 | $39,620 – $78,990 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $51,550 | $41,450 | $40,930 – $70,200 | 760 |
| Arizona | $51,480 | $42,466 | $43,580 – $66,480 | 980 |
| Utah | $51,330 | $42,080 | $40,850 – $133,970 | 190 |
| Ohio | $51,160 | $42,663 | $43,520 – $86,160 | 890 |
| Idaho | $51,130 | $41,661 | $41,270 – $76,430 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $50,390 | $41,466 | $41,850 – $81,480 | 200 |
| South Dakota | $48,890 | $41,463 | $45,400 – $51,980 | — |
| Texas | $48,220 | $40,925 | $36,120 – $66,750 | 3,950 |
| Indiana | $48,180 | $39,501 | $37,840 – $60,510 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $48,150 | $39,301 | $37,360 – $74,210 | 220 |
| Iowa | $48,130 | $39,675 | $38,630 – $60,070 | 440 |
| Alabama | $48,120 | $38,703 | $39,260 – $73,170 | — |
| Louisiana | $47,250 | $39,114 | $38,570 – $60,810 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $46,950 | $38,337 | $38,120 – $67,750 | 230 |
| Florida | $46,300 | $39,382 | $38,140 – $67,120 | 2,410 |
| North Carolina | $46,180 | $37,952 | $31,210 – $76,940 | 320 |
| Mississippi | $45,990 | $38,025 | $32,020 – $57,700 | 210 |
| West Virginia | $45,860 | $37,692 | $37,390 – $49,400 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $45,060 | $36,841 | $35,000 – $62,770 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $42,580 | $36,393 | $33,420 – $66,080 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $38,730 | $33,300 | $31,200 – $105,140 | 950 |
| Missouri | $30,580 | $26,251 | $29,100 – $64,210 | — |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a credit counselor make?
The national median salary for credit counselors is $52,230 a year ($25.11 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,350 and the top 10% earn over $80,440. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays credit counselors the most?
California has the highest median pay at $67,120. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many credit counselors are there in the U.S.?
About 27,770 people work as credit counselors nationwide.