Eye-Opening

 

In West Virginia, a certified school counselor and a speech teacher are generally paid on the same State Minimum Salary Schedule, as both are considered "professional personnel." However, there is a distinct difference in their "experience bumps" that often makes the starting salary for a speech teacher higher.

Here is how a school counselor's salary in Pocahontas County compares to the speech teacher figures we discussed:

1. Base Salary (Master's Degree)

Like speech teachers, most school counselors hold a Master’s degree. Their base pay in Pocahontas County is identical to the state minimum (as there is no significant county supplement).

• Step 0 (M.A.): $43,983

• Step 10 (M.A.): $49,657

2. The "Experience Bump" (The Main Difference)

This is where the financial paths often diverge:

• Speech Teachers: Under W. Va. Code §18A-4-2, speech teachers working in Special Education are typically granted three additional years of experience for salary purposes.

• School Counselors: Generally, school counselors do not receive this automatic 3-year "jump" unless they are also certified in and serving as a full-time Special Education teacher. Consequently, a first-year counselor starts at Step 0, while a first-year speech teacher often starts at Step 3.

3. National Certification Bonus

Both roles have access to an identical $2,500 annual supplement for national certification (W. Va. Code §18A-4-2b).

• Speech: Requires ASHA certification (CCC-SLP).

• Counselor: Requires National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) or West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling (WVBEC) certification.

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Comparison Table: Year 1 (Pocahontas County)

Assumes both have a Master's degree and their respective National Certifications.

Feature	Certified Speech Teacher	Certified School Counselor
Base Step	Step 3 ($45,685 est.)	Step 0 ($43,983)
National Bonus	+ $2,500	+ $2,500
Total Annual Floor	~$48,185	~$46,483
Difference	+ $1,702

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4. Roles and Mandates (80/20 Rule)

While the pay is similar, the legal mandates for their daily work differ significantly:

• The 80/20 Rule (§18-5-18B): School counselors are legally mandated to spend 80% of their time in direct counseling with students and only 20% on administrative tasks.

• Caseloads: While speech teachers have strict caseload limits (typically capped at 45–50 students in WV), school counselors in West Virginia often face much larger student-to-counselor ratios, though recent legislation (HB 3209) has pushed for a ratio of 1 counselor per 250–450 students.

In summary: A speech teacher in Pocahontas County will likely make roughly $1,700 more per year than a school counselor with the same level of education and experience because of the state-mandated 3-year experience credit for special education service.