Rehabilitation Counselors
Rehabilitation Counselors (SOC 21-1015) earn a median $46,850 a year ($22.52 an hour) in the United States, with 94,740 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Wyoming.
What rehabilitation counselors do
Rehabilitation counselors help people coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties live as independently as possible and prepare for or return to work. Their clients may have conditions that result from birth, illness, injury, aging, or the stress of daily life. Typical tasks include meeting with clients to talk through options and goals so that rehabilitation programs fit their needs, developing rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and interests, locating barriers to employment such as inaccessible work sites or inflexible schedules, and preparing and maintaining case records. Counselors may also design programs that include training, job placement, and counseling, and some coordinate activities for residents of care facilities. The category excludes occupational therapists, who treat physical function through activity, and it differs from mental health counselors, who focus on emotional and behavioral disorders, and from social workers. Job development and placement work, including contacting prospective employers, and monitoring and recording clients' progress toward their goals round out the role.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Client Navigator, Blind Rehabilitation Specialist, Care Navigator, Career Navigator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.85 | $18.64 | $22.52 | $28.49 | $37.10 | $24.91 | 94,740 |
| Annual | $35,060 | $38,770 | $46,850 | $59,260 | $77,170 | $51,820 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where rehabilitation counselors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $17.61 | $21.67 | $32.52 | $32.52 | $36.96 | $28.89 | 70 | 0.24 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $36,620 | $45,080 | $67,640 | $67,640 | $76,870 | $60,080 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $27.98 | $29.15 | $30.31 | $33.99 | $36.60 | $31.67 | 210 | 0.50 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $58,190 | $60,640 | $63,050 | $70,690 | $76,120 | $65,880 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $21.17 | $22.99 | $29.61 | $43.39 | $49.71 | $33.69 | 130 | 0.39 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $44,030 | $47,820 | $61,590 | $90,240 | $103,400 | $70,080 | ||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $15.86 | $19.26 | $28.15 | $33.84 | $37.40 | $27.19 | 790 | 0.40 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $33,000 | $40,050 | $58,540 | $70,380 | $77,790 | $56,550 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $22.14 | $23.52 | $27.91 | $32.00 | $40.63 | $29.94 | 5,440 | 1.53 | 2.51 |
| Annual | $46,050 | $48,910 | $58,050 | $66,560 | $84,500 | $62,270 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.28 | $18.06 | $21.38 | $24.72 | $33.30 | $23.35 | 13,690 | 0.75 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $35,940 | $37,560 | $44,480 | $51,420 | $69,260 | $48,570 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $18.64 | $20.83 | $22.75 | $35.19 | $48.92 | $28.38 | 5,760 | 1.59 | 2.60 |
| Annual | $38,770 | $43,330 | $47,320 | $73,190 | $101,760 | $59,030 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $22.14 | $23.52 | $27.91 | $32.00 | $40.63 | $29.94 | 5,440 | 1.53 | 2.51 |
| Annual | $46,050 | $48,910 | $58,050 | $66,560 | $84,500 | $62,270 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.93 | $21.45 | $23.73 | $28.76 | $36.07 | $26.11 | 4,140 | 0.68 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $37,280 | $44,620 | $49,350 | $59,820 | $75,020 | $54,300 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.42 | $19.02 | $23.39 | $28.87 | $37.13 | $25.41 | 4,130 | 0.68 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $39,560 | $48,650 | $60,050 | $77,220 | $52,840 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $20.67 | $22.68 | $38.16 | $38.16 | $45.27 | $34.05 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $43,000 | $47,160 | $79,380 | $79,380 | $94,170 | $70,830 | ||||
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | Hourly | $25.66 | $30.42 | $35.08 | $37.55 | $41.82 | $33.82 | 40 | 0.76 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $53,370 | $63,280 | $72,960 | $78,110 | $86,980 | $70,350 | ||||
| Johnstown, PA | Hourly | $18.03 | $22.90 | $33.87 | $39.53 | $45.11 | $32.41 | 110 | 2.38 | 3.91 |
| Annual | $37,500 | $47,640 | $70,450 | $82,220 | $93,830 | $67,410 | ||||
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | Hourly | $22.56 | $23.08 | $33.53 | $44.22 | $48.89 | $33.96 | 140 | 0.56 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $46,930 | $48,000 | $69,740 | $91,970 | $101,680 | $70,630 | ||||
| Killeen-Temple, TX | Hourly | $24.60 | $29.33 | $33.26 | $40.55 | $47.18 | $36.35 | 40 | 0.27 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $51,170 | $61,000 | $69,180 | $84,330 | $98,130 | $75,610 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.38 | $18.06 | $20.91 | $22.31 | $28.91 | $22.14 | 4,980 | 0.79 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $36,160 | $37,560 | $43,480 | $46,400 | $60,140 | $46,060 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $18.64 | $21.53 | $22.81 | $35.27 | $49.33 | $28.62 | 3,430 | 1.27 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $38,770 | $44,780 | $47,440 | $73,350 | $102,610 | $59,530 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $17.59 | $17.59 | $23.22 | $28.54 | $40.63 | $25.49 | 2,940 | 0.94 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $36,590 | $36,590 | $48,290 | $59,370 | $84,520 | $53,020 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $22.95 | $24.02 | $28.16 | $33.36 | $41.15 | $30.69 | 2,820 | 1.35 | 2.22 |
| Annual | $47,730 | $49,960 | $58,580 | $69,380 | $85,600 | $63,840 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $19.25 | $21.90 | $24.04 | $29.26 | $38.64 | $27.04 | 2,800 | 0.30 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $40,040 | $45,550 | $50,000 | $60,860 | $80,360 | $56,240 | ||||
Top industries employing rehabilitation counselors
Vocational Rehabilitation Services employ 35.3% of rehabilitation counselors nationally (33,400 jobs) at a median $44,920 a year ($21.60 an hour), followed by Individual and Family Services (16.5%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (15.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services NAICS 624300 | 33,400 | 35.3% | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 15,650 | 16.5% | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 14,610 | 15.4% | $66,510 | $31.98 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities NAICS 623200 | 11,090 | 11.7% | $41,930 | $20.16 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 3,670 | 3.9% | $58,280 | $28.02 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (94,740). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,560 for rehabilitation counselors in May 2021 and $46,850 in May 2025, with employment of 90,310 and 94,740.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,560 | $18.54 | 90,310 |
| May 2022 | $39,990 | $19.23 | 82,420 |
| May 2023 | $44,040 | $21.17 | 84,750 |
| May 2024 | $46,110 | $22.17 | 88,930 |
| May 2025 | $46,850 | $22.52 | 94,740 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming profile | $32.52 | $67,640 | $36,620 | $76,870 | 70 | 0.24 | 0.39 |
| 2 | North Dakota profile | $30.31 | $63,050 | $58,190 | $76,120 | 210 | 0.50 | 0.82 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $29.61 | $61,590 | $44,030 | $103,400 | 130 | 0.39 | 0.64 |
| 4 | Kentucky profile | $28.15 | $58,540 | $33,000 | $77,790 | 790 | 0.40 | 0.65 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $27.91 | $58,050 | $46,050 | $84,500 | 5,440 | 1.53 | 2.51 |
| 6 | Connecticut profile | $27.09 | $56,340 | $39,510 | $97,140 | 2,410 | 1.42 | 2.33 |
| 7 | Georgia profile | $26.44 | $55,000 | $34,900 | $85,510 | 740 | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $26.43 | $54,970 | $42,650 | $83,510 | 1,630 | 0.83 | 1.36 |
| 9 | Idaho profile | $26.23 | $54,550 | $29,450 | $75,710 | 820 | 0.96 | 1.57 |
| 10 | Alabama profile | $25.98 | $54,040 | $35,230 | $80,110 | 540 | 0.25 | 0.42 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $24.59 | $51,150 | $38,550 | $74,410 | 330 | 0.51 | 0.83 |
| 12 | Vermont profile | $24.06 | $50,030 | $40,750 | $82,180 | 310 | 1.03 | 1.69 |
| 13 | Texas profile | $24.04 | $49,990 | $30,070 | $72,800 | 1,840 | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $23.91 | $49,730 | $39,700 | $92,670 | 1,630 | 0.38 | 0.63 |
| 15 | District of Columbia profile | $23.89 | $49,680 | $49,670 | $95,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 16 | Illinois profile | $23.73 | $49,350 | $37,280 | $75,020 | 4,140 | 0.68 | 1.11 |
| 17 | South Dakota profile | $23.73 | $49,350 | $41,190 | $76,680 | 370 | 0.80 | 1.32 |
| 18 | Delaware profile | $23.48 | $48,840 | $39,200 | $73,560 | 340 | 0.71 | 1.16 |
| 19 | Hawaii profile | $23.42 | $48,720 | $38,820 | $71,000 | 150 | 0.24 | 0.40 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.39 | $48,650 | $36,230 | $77,220 | 4,130 | 0.68 | 1.12 |
| 21 | Arizona profile | $23.23 | $48,330 | $37,130 | $60,670 | 1,750 | 0.54 | 0.89 |
| 22 | New Mexico profile | $23.19 | $48,240 | $37,300 | $77,010 | 210 | 0.24 | 0.39 |
| 23 | West Virginia profile | $23.10 | $48,050 | $28,810 | $64,240 | 470 | 0.67 | 1.10 |
| 24 | Minnesota profile | $23.08 | $48,010 | $37,660 | $81,840 | 3,020 | 1.02 | 1.68 |
| 25 | Louisiana profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $34,130 | $128,130 | 280 | 0.15 | 0.24 |
| 26 | New York profile | $23.06 | $47,960 | $37,130 | $76,600 | 3,810 | 0.39 | 0.65 |
| 27 | Colorado profile | $23.00 | $47,840 | $36,460 | $89,510 | 980 | 0.34 | 0.56 |
| 28 | Virginia profile | $22.85 | $47,530 | $28,850 | $97,240 | 2,890 | 0.70 | 1.16 |
| 29 | Massachusetts profile | $22.75 | $47,320 | $38,770 | $101,760 | 5,760 | 1.59 | 2.60 |
| 30 | Nebraska profile | $22.62 | $47,050 | $37,040 | $68,040 | 480 | 0.47 | 0.77 |
| 31 | Rhode Island profile | $22.61 | $47,020 | $46,670 | $85,800 | 420 | 0.83 | 1.36 |
| 32 | Wisconsin profile | $22.37 | $46,530 | $32,930 | $69,990 | 2,390 | 0.81 | 1.34 |
| 33 | Tennessee profile | $22.14 | $46,060 | $35,320 | $59,800 | 1,590 | 0.49 | 0.80 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $22.11 | $45,990 | $34,410 | $67,980 | 3,110 | 0.31 | 0.51 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $22.06 | $45,890 | $30,440 | $59,600 | 3,820 | 0.77 | 1.27 |
| 36 | Montana profile | $21.75 | $45,240 | $37,410 | $59,900 | 330 | 0.65 | 1.06 |
| 37 | Missouri profile | $21.72 | $45,180 | $37,260 | $62,600 | 2,020 | 0.69 | 1.13 |
| 38 | Michigan profile | $21.43 | $44,580 | $31,040 | $72,400 | 3,340 | 0.76 | 1.24 |
| 39 | California profile | $21.38 | $44,480 | $35,940 | $69,260 | 13,690 | 0.75 | 1.23 |
| 40 | Indiana profile | $21.34 | $44,390 | $30,450 | $62,520 | 2,030 | 0.63 | 1.04 |
| 41 | Utah profile | $21.11 | $43,900 | $35,400 | $85,050 | 650 | 0.38 | 0.62 |
| 42 | Ohio profile | $20.49 | $42,620 | $31,650 | $78,210 | 3,690 | 0.66 | 1.09 |
| 43 | New Hampshire profile | $20.48 | $42,600 | $34,630 | $57,300 | 430 | 0.63 | 1.04 |
| 44 | Kansas profile | $20.18 | $41,980 | $30,930 | $57,430 | 1,370 | 0.95 | 1.56 |
| 45 | Mississippi profile | $19.95 | $41,500 | $29,270 | $71,960 | 470 | 0.41 | 0.67 |
| 46 | Maryland profile | $19.65 | $40,860 | $36,590 | $67,630 | 3,300 | 1.20 | 1.96 |
| 47 | Nevada profile | $19.29 | $40,120 | $34,400 | $62,550 | 570 | 0.37 | 0.61 |
| 48 | Iowa profile | $19.05 | $39,630 | $34,370 | $58,220 | 2,170 | 1.39 | 2.28 |
| 49 | Oklahoma profile | $18.40 | $38,260 | $27,200 | $57,320 | 1,570 | 0.92 | 1.51 |
| 50 | South Carolina profile | $17.31 | $35,990 | $30,900 | $55,310 | 980 | 0.42 | 0.70 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $16.93 | $35,210 | $24,580 | $70,670 | 600 | 0.46 | 0.75 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (21-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Community and Social Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 21-1015 Rehabilitation Counselors.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 21-1015, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 21-1015.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.