School Counselor.
Billings.
$53,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$41,000 to $69,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
School Counselor pay in Billings ranges from $41,000 to $69,000 in 2026. The median is $53,000, 12% below the national average. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $48,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$34,000
to $42,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$45,000
to $56,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$58,000
to $69,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$66,000
to $82,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $16,000 to the total package.
Base
$53,000
Equity
$9,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $69,000
How Billings compares
Billings, MT
$53,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$60,000
Billings is $7,000 below
School Counselor salary by city
Salary by role in Billings
What you should know
If you are interviewing for School Counselor roles in Billings, here is what you are walking into. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. The city serves as a regional center for the Northern Plains. Remote work has brought a wave of tech professionals seeking Montana's quality of life, gradually diversifying the local job market. State licensure requirements, school level assignment, and district funding levels drive pay variance. Counselors in well-funded suburban districts or states with mandated counselor-to-student ratios earn significantly more. Advanced certifications in college counseling or trauma-informed care add salary value.
Entry-level School Counselors earn $46,000 to $52,000. Experienced counselors with five to ten years reach $58,000 to $70,000. Lead Counselors and Department Heads earn $72,000 to $85,000, while Directors of School Counseling and Student Services command $88,000 to $110,000. In Billings, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 11% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. School counselors typically work 10 to 11 months, with optional summer employment adding $3,000 to $6,000. Pension benefits and comprehensive health insurance add $15,000 to $25,000 in effective value. Some districts offer tuition reimbursement for doctoral studies. And on the tax side: montana has a top income tax rate of 5.9% but no state sales tax. Billings has no city income tax. The no sales tax benefit helps offset the state income tax. When someone quotes you $53,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work arrangements. Billings employers are increasingly open to remote and hybrid setups to attract talent from larger metros. The range for School Counselors in Billings runs from $41,000 to $69,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Sales Development Representative in Billings earns $54,000 (2% more)
- The highest-paying role in Billings is Chief AI Officer at $287,000
Common questions.
School Counselor salary in other cities
Other salaries in Billings
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.