Credit Counselor Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Credit Counselors — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$52,230
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$25.11
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$80,440
entry level starts ~$38,350
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 28,000 employed

How much does a Credit Counselor make?

The median pay for a Credit Counselor in the United States is $52,230 per year — about $25.11 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $38,350, while the most experienced Credit Counselors in the top 10% earn $80,440.

That is $9,160 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Credit Counselor salary range by percentile

Half of all Credit Counselors earn between $45,720 and $64,080 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,350$18.44
25th percentile (early career)$45,720$21.98
50th percentile (median)$52,230$25.11
75th percentile (experienced)$64,080$30.81
90th percentile (top earners)$80,440$38.67

Highest-paying states for Credit Counselor

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Credit Counselor pay at $67,120 a year, followed by Georgia ($64,080) and District of Columbia ($63,580). At the other end, Missouri posts the lowest median at $30,580 — a gap of $36,540 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$67,120$32.27+29%
2Georgia$64,080$30.81+23%
3District of Columbia$63,580$30.57+22%
4Massachusetts$63,240$30.40+21%
5New York$63,030$30.30+21%

Workforce and education

About 28,000 people work as Credit Counselors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $57,210 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Credit Counselor make in the United States?
The median Credit Counselor salary in the United States is $52,230 per year, or about $25.11 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,350, while the top 10% of earners make $80,440 or more.
How does Credit Counselor pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Credit Counselor median of $52,230 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Credit Counselors the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Credit Counselors, with a median salary of $67,120 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Credit Counselor?
Becoming a Credit Counselor typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Credit Counselors work in the United States?
About 28,000 people were employed as Credit Counselors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.