Rehabilitation counselors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,060 | $16.85 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Mean (average) | $51,820 | $24.91 |
| 90th percentile | $77,170 | $37.10 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Rehabilitation counselors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,040 | $35,230 | $80,110 | 540 | 0.42 |
| Alaska | $61,590 | $44,030 | $103,400 | 130 | 0.64 |
| Arizona | $48,330 | $37,130 | $60,670 | 1,750 | 0.89 |
| Arkansas | $35,210 | $24,580 | $70,670 | 600 | 0.75 |
| California | $44,480 | $35,940 | $69,260 | 13,690 | 1.23 |
| Colorado | $47,840 | $36,460 | $89,510 | 980 | 0.56 |
| Connecticut | $56,340 | $39,510 | $97,140 | 2,410 | 2.33 |
| Delaware | $48,840 | $39,200 | $73,560 | 340 | 1.16 |
| District of Columbia | $49,680 | $49,670 | $95,530 | ||
| Florida | $45,990 | $34,410 | $67,980 | 3,110 | 0.51 |
| Georgia | $55,000 | $34,900 | $85,510 | 740 | 0.25 |
| Hawaii | $48,720 | $38,820 | $71,000 | 150 | 0.4 |
| Idaho | $54,550 | $29,450 | $75,710 | 820 | 1.57 |
| Illinois | $49,350 | $37,280 | $75,020 | 4,140 | 1.11 |
| Indiana | $44,390 | $30,450 | $62,520 | 2,030 | 1.04 |
| Iowa | $39,630 | $34,370 | $58,220 | 2,170 | 2.28 |
| Kansas | $41,980 | $30,930 | $57,430 | 1,370 | 1.56 |
| Kentucky | $58,540 | $33,000 | $77,790 | 790 | 0.65 |
| Louisiana | $47,990 | $34,130 | $128,130 | 280 | 0.24 |
| Maine | $51,150 | $38,550 | $74,410 | 330 | 0.83 |
| Maryland | $40,860 | $36,590 | $67,630 | 3,300 | 1.96 |
| Massachusetts | $47,320 | $38,770 | $101,760 | 5,760 | 2.6 |
| Michigan | $44,580 | $31,040 | $72,400 | 3,340 | 1.24 |
| Minnesota | $48,010 | $37,660 | $81,840 | 3,020 | 1.68 |
| Mississippi | $41,500 | $29,270 | $71,960 | 470 | 0.67 |
| Missouri | $45,180 | $37,260 | $62,600 | 2,020 | 1.13 |
| Montana | $45,240 | $37,410 | $59,900 | 330 | 1.06 |
| Nebraska | $47,050 | $37,040 | $68,040 | 480 | 0.77 |
| Nevada | $40,120 | $34,400 | $62,550 | 570 | 0.61 |
| New Hampshire | $42,600 | $34,630 | $57,300 | 430 | 1.04 |
| New Jersey | $49,730 | $39,700 | $92,670 | 1,630 | 0.63 |
| New Mexico | $48,240 | $37,300 | $77,010 | 210 | 0.39 |
| New York | $47,960 | $37,130 | $76,600 | 3,810 | 0.65 |
| North Carolina | $45,890 | $30,440 | $59,600 | 3,820 | 1.27 |
| North Dakota | $63,050 | $58,190 | $76,120 | 210 | 0.82 |
| Ohio | $42,620 | $31,650 | $78,210 | 3,690 | 1.09 |
| Oklahoma | $38,260 | $27,200 | $57,320 | 1,570 | 1.51 |
| Oregon | $54,970 | $42,650 | $83,510 | 1,630 | 1.36 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,650 | $36,230 | $77,220 | 4,130 | 1.12 |
| Puerto Rico | $53,180 | $28,800 | $58,500 | 290 | 0.5 |
| Rhode Island | $47,020 | $46,670 | $85,800 | 420 | 1.36 |
| South Carolina | $35,990 | $30,900 | $55,310 | 980 | 0.7 |
| South Dakota | $49,350 | $41,190 | $76,680 | 370 | 1.32 |
| Tennessee | $46,060 | $35,320 | $59,800 | 1,590 | 0.8 |
| Texas | $49,990 | $30,070 | $72,800 | 1,840 | 0.21 |
| Utah | $43,900 | $35,400 | $85,050 | 650 | 0.62 |
| Vermont | $50,030 | $40,750 | $82,180 | 310 | 1.69 |
| Virginia | $47,530 | $28,850 | $97,240 | 2,890 | 1.16 |
| Washington | $58,050 | $46,050 | $84,500 | 5,440 | 2.51 |
| West Virginia | $48,050 | $28,810 | $64,240 | 470 | 1.1 |
| Wisconsin | $46,530 | $32,930 | $69,990 | 2,390 | 1.34 |
| Wyoming | $67,640 | $36,620 | $76,870 | 70 | 0.39 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for rehabilitation counselors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 8,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for rehabilitation counselors
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor CIP 51.2310
- Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering CIP 51.2312
- Rehabilitation Science CIP 51.2314
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
- Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
- Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.
- Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Budgeting software
- Chart Links
- Client information database software
- Data input software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Email software
- Encryption software
- Fanatic Software Informant
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft ActiveSync
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Classification Counselor, CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor), Employment Advisor, Job Coach, Rehabilitation Specialist, Vocational Counselor, Vocational Placement Specialist, Vocational Services Specialist, VRC (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor), Work Counselor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rehabilitation counselors make?
The national median annual wage for rehabilitation counselors was $46,850 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,060 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $77,170. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do rehabilitation counselors need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is rehabilitation counselors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of rehabilitation counselors to change +2.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 8,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay rehabilitation counselors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Wyoming ($67,640), North Dakota ($63,050), Alaska ($61,590). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.