Credit Counselor salary in the U.S.
Credit Counselors in the U.S. earn a median of $52,230 a year ($25.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,440 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $57,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for credit counselors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| 25th percentile | $45,720 | $21.98 |
| Median | $52,230 | $25.11 |
| 75th percentile | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,440 | $38.67 |
| Average (mean) | $57,210 | $27.51 |
Half of credit counselors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,352.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,176.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,008.85 |
| Weekly | $1,004.42 |
| Hourly | $25.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Credit Counselor salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $67,120 | 2,160 |
| Georgia | $64,080 | 460 |
| District of Columbia | $63,580 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $63,240 | 770 |
| New York | $63,030 | 2,020 |
| Nebraska | $62,510 | 260 |
| Washington | $62,360 | 560 |
| Minnesota | $62,160 | 580 |
| Maryland | $60,450 | 350 |
| Oregon | $59,150 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $58,830 | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $58,480 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,330 | 1,110 |
| New Jersey | $57,180 | 530 |
| Colorado | $57,130 | 360 |
| Maine | $55,490 | 170 |
| Nevada | $55,480 | 170 |
| Connecticut | $54,710 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $53,190 | 250 |
| Delaware | $52,840 | 40 |
| North Dakota | $52,220 | 30 |
| Michigan | $52,160 | 1,260 |
| Wisconsin | $52,140 | 770 |
| Illinois | $51,930 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $51,550 | 760 |
| Arizona | $51,480 | 980 |
| Utah | $51,330 | 190 |
| Ohio | $51,160 | 890 |
| Idaho | $51,130 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $50,390 | 200 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,010 | n/a |
| South Dakota | $48,890 | n/a |
| Texas | $48,220 | 3,950 |
| Indiana | $48,180 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $48,150 | 220 |
| Iowa | $48,130 | 440 |
| Alabama | $48,120 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $47,250 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $46,950 | 230 |
| Florida | $46,300 | 2,410 |
| North Carolina | $46,180 | 320 |
| Mississippi | $45,990 | 210 |
| West Virginia | $45,860 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $45,060 | 50 |
| Wyoming | $42,580 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $38,730 | 950 |
| Missouri | $30,580 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for credit counselors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,570 | 210 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $80,680 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,930 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $67,120 | 200 |
| Fresno, CA | $66,660 | 60 |
| Boulder, CO | $65,540 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,210 | 830 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,750 | 190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64,380 | 350 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,080 | 380 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $64,080 | 620 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,170 | 1,610 |
| Ithaca, NY | $62,750 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,520 | 190 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $62,500 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most credit counselors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,610 | $63,170 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,080 | $51,820 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 900 | $48,100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 830 | $65,210 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 800 | $57,210 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 720 | $54,110 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 620 | $64,080 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 580 | $47,180 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 500 | $47,980 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 480 | $53,140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 480 | $57,990 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 440 | $61,930 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 430 | $48,180 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 430 | $48,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 380 | $64,080 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $102,740 | $49.40 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 | $36.87 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $105,070 | $50.51 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 | $39.12 |
| Tax Preparer | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Financial Examiner | $94,160 | $45.27 |
| Credit Analyst | $83,510 | $40.15 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $117,330 | $56.41 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $67,960 | $32.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $62,370 | $29.98 |
| Budget Analyst | $91,640 | $44.06 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a credit counselor make in the U.S.?
The median salary for credit counselors in the U.S. is $52,230 a year, or $25.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid credit counselors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of credit counselors in the U.S. earn at least $80,440 a year. The top 25% earn $64,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for credit counselors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,350 a year, and a quarter of credit counselors earn $45,720 or less.
How many credit counselors work in the U.S.?
About 27,770 credit counselors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.