Credit Counselors Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Credit Counselors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $75,280 a year, or about $36.19 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $68,176 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 70.9% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $75K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
About credit counselors
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level credit counselors (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K.Top earners bring in $96K or more - a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Credit Counselors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $66K | +30% | 2,160 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +25% | 460 |
| New York | $62K | +23% | 1,760 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +23% | 930 |
| District of Columbia | $62K | +22% | 130 |
| Washington | $61K | +21% | 250 |
| Oregon | $59K | +16% | 200 |
| Minnesota | $59K | +16% | 590 |
| Maryland | $58K | +15% | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $58K | +15% | 120 |
| Georgia | $57K | +14% | N/A |
| Idaho | $56K | +10% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $54K | +7% | 210 |
| Ohio | $52K | +4% | 870 |
| Delaware | $52K | +4% | 50 |
Track credit counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
How much do credit counselors make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $75,280 a year - that works out to about $36.19 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,410, and experienced credit counselors can clear $96,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,851/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 71.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a credit counselors salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median credit counselors salary is worth about $68,176 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do credit counselors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.