| This study investigated the job satisfaction of elementary school counselors in the Pacific Northwest, defined as Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The purpose of the study was to (a) describe current elementary counselor characteristics, duties and functions; (b) determine the overall level of job satisfaction of elementary school counselors; (c) investigate factors relating to job satisfaction of elementary school counselors; (d) assess the level of job satisfaction with the professional role of counselors; and (e) assess the level of satisfaction with graduate preparation.;This study posed three questions: (1) What are the levels of overall job satisfaction in elementary school counselors in the Pacific Northwest? (2) How satisfied are Pacific Northwest elementary school counselors with specific aspects of their jobs? (3) For elementary school counselors in the Pacific Northwest what is the relationship between overall job satisfaction and selected demographic variables, graduate preparation variables, and work setting characteristics?;Participants for this study were selected from a list of all (n = 1,164) elementary school counselors issued by the state departments of education in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. A random sample of 400 was selected and mailed a packet containing the short-form Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Elementary School Counselor Questionnaire, which was devised by the researcher to generate data appropriate to the questions raised. Three hundred twenty-one (321) of the 400 counselors surveyed responded, producing 298 useable surveys for a response return rate of 74.5%.;Procedures used to analyze the data were the Pearson product moment correlation, factor analysis, and stepwise multiple regression.;The findings of the study indicate that job satisfaction of elementary school counselors as measured by the Elementary School Counselor Questionnaire and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire was significantly related to satisfaction with professional role and work load. Scores on the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, professional role and work load were the best predictors of job satisfaction and explained 50% of the total variance in job satisfaction. |
