School Counselor Jobs in California
School Counselor jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with steady demand across K-12 public school districts, community colleges, and university systems at every level from entry-level associate counselor through senior and lead positions. Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area are the largest hiring metros, home to major employers such as Los Angeles Unified School District, San Diego Unified School District, and the California State University system. The most sought-after specialties include college and career readiness counseling, mental health and crisis intervention, and multilingual learner support. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find School Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 23+ School Counselor jobs
Job Posting: COTTAGE COUNSELOR
CDE - School for the Deaf, Riverside
COUNSELOR, SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
$4,091.00 - $6,168.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
Final Filing Date: 9/29/2026
Job Description and Duties
Under the direction of the Supervising Counselor in the Student Life Department, the incumbent will supervise residential students and staff who provide care and support to students. This role involves planning, coordinating, and conducting recreational, academic support, and social activities to meet identified individual student and programmatic needs. The incumbent will oversee the preparation of schedules and activity plans; provide guidance and expertise to staff; communicate with parents to address challenging student behavior issues; and coordinate the provision of social, medical, and other non-school services for students and their families. Additionally, the incumbent will collaborate with academic and professional school staff to develop individual student development plans and ensure the smooth operation of Student Life activities by providing support in programming and behavior management when necessary.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions
Position Details
- Plus $200 monthly Bilingual Pay differential
- Plus monthly Recruitment and Retention differential of 10% of the base salary, only for the ten months of the regular school year.
- Plus $200 monthly Bilingual Pay differential
- Plus monthly Recruitment and Retention differential of 10% of the base salary, only for the ten months of the regular school year.
- Plus $200 monthly Bilingual Pay differential
- Plus monthly Recruitment and Retention differential of 10% of the base salary, only for the ten months of the regular school year.
Department Information
Special Requirements
- The position(s) require(s) fluency in the American Sign Language language. If the State of California does not have a current record documenting your fluency in this language, you will be required to successfully pass an approved language fluency test prior to being hired.
- The position(s) require(s) completion of educational courses as specified in the Class Specification (link available in the Minimum Requirements section).
Examination
Individuals who do not have lateral transfer eligiblity, must have taken and passed an examination to obtain list eligibility for the classification in order to apply. List eligibility may be obtained by meeting the minimum qualifications as outlined in the examination bulletin, and obtaining a passing score on the Qualifications Assessment Questionnaire.
The examination bulletin may be viewed on the California Department of Human Resources Web page at:
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=3648
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 9/29/2026Who May Apply
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience working with youth in residential or educational settings, particularly those with diverse needs
- Demonstrated ability to manage group dynamics and foster a safe, positive living environment
- Knowledge of behavior management strategies and conflict resolution techniques
Benefits
Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website, https://www.calhr.ca.gov/, and the CalPERS website, www.calpers.ca.gov/.
Contact Information
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Cecilia Williams
(951) 248-7700 ext: 1116
cwilliams@csdr-cde.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:Office of Equal Opportunity Director/Civ
(916) 445-9174
oeoinfo@cde.ca.gov
ADDITIONAL SALARY INFORMATION
Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee shall receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the 3 percent reduction in pay.
ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified will be interviewed. This advertisement will be used for this and other vacancies that may occur during this posting and future Permanent and/or Limited Term vacancies that may occur. For information on how to obtain list eligibility, please visit the CalHR website at http://www.jobs.ca.gov/.
DEPARTMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO CONTACT ALL CANDIDATES WITH LIST ELIGIBILITY; THEREFORE, CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEARCH FOR VACANCIES THEY MAY BE ELGIBILE FOR AND APPLY.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
See All 23 School Counselor Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find School Counselor JobsSchool Counselor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
School Counselor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in school counselor jobs across California.
- Holds a valid California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in school counseling
- Completed a master's degree in counseling, school psychology, or a closely related field
- Experience providing academic, social-emotional, or college and career counseling to students
- Familiarity with California's Multi-Tiered System of Supports and MTSS frameworks
- Ability to serve diverse student populations, including English learners and students with IEPs
- Strong communication and case management skills for collaborating with families and staff
School Counselor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a school counselor in California?
You become a school counselor in California by earning a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This requires completing a master's degree from a Commission-approved counselor education program, fulfilling supervised fieldwork hours in a school setting, and passing the required background check. Most candidates complete their credential alongside or immediately after their graduate program before applying to district positions.
Which companies hire school counselors in California?
Employers hiring school counselors in California right now include Leidos, YMCA of Silicon Valley, and Vallejo City Unified School District, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's large unified school districts, community college districts, and the California State University system account for a significant share of ongoing openings across the state.
Which California cities have the most school counselor jobs?
Vallejo, Los Angeles, and Irvine have the most school counselor openings in California. Los Angeles dominates due to the size of LAUSD and the density of higher education institutions, while San Diego and the Bay Area reflect large unified districts and a high concentration of community colleges and universities that maintain consistent counseling staff.
Are there remote school counselor jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. School counseling is fundamentally an in-person role built around direct student contact, crisis response, and on-site collaboration with teachers and administrators. About 10% of school counselor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in virtual school programs or district-level coordination roles rather than traditional campus assignments.
How can I get hired as a school counselor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a Commission-approved counselor education program that includes a supervised fieldwork placement, which many California candidates convert into their first hire. Large unified districts such as Los Angeles Unified and San Francisco Unified periodically post intern or provisionally credentialed counselor roles designed for candidates still completing their PPS credential. Coming from a related role such as a school psychologist intern, student services aide, or academic advisor strengthens your candidacy, and a completed or in-progress PPS credential is the single qualification that opens the most doors.
Where can I find and apply to school counselor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to school counselor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from districts, community colleges, universities, and other employers across the state. Find the roles that fit your credentials and experience, then apply directly to each one.
See All 23 School Counselor Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find School Counselor Jobs