SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement. Excludes “Occupational Therapists” (29-1122).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 21-1015.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $35,060 | $2,922 | $674 | $16.85 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $38,770 | $3,231 | $746 | $18.64 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $46,850 | $3,904 | $901 | $22.52 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $59,260 | $4,938 | $1,140 | $28.49 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $77,170 | $6,431 | $1,484 | $37.10 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Rehabilitation Counselors is $46,850, which is 8% lower. Among the 17 occupations of the field Community and Social Service, it ranks number 15 by median pay. With 94,740 jobs, it makes up about 6.1 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($51,820) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Rehabilitation Counselors pay by state
The highest median pay was in Wyoming ($67,640), North Dakota ($63,050) and Alaska ($61,590). The lowest was in Arkansas ($35,210), South Carolina ($35,990) and Oklahoma ($38,260). The most jobs were in California (13,690), Massachusetts (5,760) and Washington (5,440). The occupation is most concentrated in Massachusetts, where its share of all jobs is 2.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 70 | $67,640 | $60,080 | $32.52 |
| North Dakota | 210 | $63,050 | $65,880 | $30.31 |
| Alaska | 130 | $61,590 | $70,080 | $29.61 |
| Kentucky | 790 | $58,540 | $56,550 | $28.15 |
| Washington | 5,440 | $58,050 | $62,270 | $27.91 |
| Connecticut | 2,410 | $56,340 | $62,980 | $27.09 |
| Georgia | 740 | $55,000 | $57,030 | $26.44 |
| Oregon | 1,630 | $54,970 | $58,570 | $26.43 |
| Idaho | 820 | $54,550 | $55,120 | $26.23 |
| Alabama | 540 | $54,040 | $57,150 | $25.98 |
| Puerto Rico | 290 | $53,180 | $46,630 | $25.57 |
| Maine | 330 | $51,150 | $53,320 | $24.59 |
| Vermont | 310 | $50,030 | $55,900 | $24.06 |
| Texas | 1,840 | $49,990 | $51,980 | $24.04 |
| New Jersey | 1,630 | $49,730 | $59,410 | $23.91 |
| District of Columbia | not published | $49,680 | $63,780 | $23.89 |
| Illinois | 4,140 | $49,350 | $54,300 | $23.73 |
| South Dakota | 370 | $49,350 | $54,400 | $23.73 |
| Delaware | 340 | $48,840 | $50,860 | $23.48 |
| Hawaii | 150 | $48,720 | $53,830 | $23.42 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,130 | $48,650 | $52,840 | $23.39 |
| Arizona | 1,750 | $48,330 | $50,180 | $23.23 |
| New Mexico | 210 | $48,240 | $55,670 | $23.19 |
| West Virginia | 470 | $48,050 | $47,640 | $23.10 |
| Minnesota | 3,020 | $48,010 | $55,350 | $23.08 |
| Louisiana | 280 | $47,990 | $61,950 | $23.07 |
| New York | 3,810 | $47,960 | $52,370 | $23.06 |
| Colorado | 980 | $47,840 | $56,410 | $23.00 |
| Virginia | 2,890 | $47,530 | $56,260 | $22.85 |
| Massachusetts | 5,760 | $47,320 | $59,030 | $22.75 |
| Nebraska | 480 | $47,050 | $51,060 | $22.62 |
| Rhode Island | 420 | $47,020 | $59,310 | $22.61 |
| Wisconsin | 2,390 | $46,530 | $49,540 | $22.37 |
| Tennessee | 1,590 | $46,060 | $46,320 | $22.14 |
| Florida | 3,110 | $45,990 | $49,620 | $22.11 |
| North Carolina | 3,820 | $45,890 | $45,010 | $22.06 |
| Montana | 330 | $45,240 | $49,040 | $21.75 |
| Missouri | 2,020 | $45,180 | $49,190 | $21.72 |
| Michigan | 3,340 | $44,580 | $48,060 | $21.43 |
| California | 13,690 | $44,480 | $48,570 | $21.38 |
| Indiana | 2,030 | $44,390 | $45,570 | $21.34 |
| Utah | 650 | $43,900 | $53,910 | $21.11 |
| Ohio | 3,690 | $42,620 | $49,300 | $20.49 |
| New Hampshire | 430 | $42,600 | $44,860 | $20.48 |
| Kansas | 1,370 | $41,980 | $43,090 | $20.18 |
| Mississippi | 470 | $41,500 | $45,800 | $19.95 |
| Maryland | 3,300 | $40,860 | $46,830 | $19.65 |
| Nevada | 570 | $40,120 | $43,980 | $19.29 |
| Iowa | 2,170 | $39,630 | $43,400 | $19.05 |
| Oklahoma | 1,570 | $38,260 | $40,340 | $18.40 |
| South Carolina | 980 | $35,990 | $40,730 | $17.31 |
| Arkansas | 600 | $35,210 | $41,230 | $16.93 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education$52,100 a year
- Community Health Workers$51,850 a year
- Counselors, All Other$50,860 a year
- Social and Human Service Assistants$45,930 a year
- Religious Workers, All Other$45,280 a year
Common questions
How much do Rehabilitation Counselors earn in the United States?
The median pay was $46,850 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,060 and the highest-paid 10% more than $77,170.
How many people work as Rehabilitation Counselors?
About 94,740 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.