Rehabilitation Counselors: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Rehabilitation Counselors Perform?
Typical responsibilities of rehabilitation counselors include:
- 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.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- 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.
- Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
- Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
- Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Collaborate with clients' families to implement rehabilitation plans, such as behavioral, residential, social, or employment goals.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful rehabilitation counselors draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Blind Rehabilitation Specialist
- Care Navigator
- Career Navigator
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
- Classification Counselor
- Client Navigator
- Client Trainer
- Counseling Psychologist
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 30,240 rehabilitation counselors working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Rehabilitation Counselors
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $40,604 |
| Hourly median | $19.52 |
| 10th percentile | $23,995 |
| 25th percentile | $32,299 |
| 75th percentile | $48,909 |
| 90th percentile | $57,213 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Rehabilitation Counselors Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $82,400 |
| District of Columbia | $74,410 |
| North Dakota | $60,730 |
| Washington | $58,620 |
| Wyoming | $56,520 |
| Kentucky | $56,150 |
| Alabama | $54,320 |
| Rhode Island | $54,080 |
| Oregon | $52,630 |
| New Mexico | $51,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,350 |
| Colorado | $50,290 |
| Vermont | $49,620 |
| Nebraska | $49,250 |
| South Dakota | $48,950 |
| New York | $48,710 |
| Illinois | $48,580 |
| Florida | $48,520 |
| Texas | $48,410 |
| New Jersey | $48,190 |
| Idaho | $47,140 |
| Georgia | $47,060 |
| Minnesota | $46,950 |
| Missouri | $46,750 |
| Utah | $46,700 |
| North Carolina | $46,670 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 |
| Virginia | $46,540 |
| Hawaii | $46,450 |
| Arizona | $45,970 |
| Mississippi | $45,950 |
| Maine | $45,920 |
| Indiana | $45,730 |
| Massachusetts | $45,730 |
| Connecticut | $45,460 |
| Tennessee | $45,370 |
| New Hampshire | $44,830 |
| Montana | $44,660 |
| Nevada | $44,320 |
| California | $44,280 |
| Delaware | $44,260 |
| West Virginia | $44,220 |
| Michigan | $43,830 |
| Ohio | $43,830 |
| Maryland | $42,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,360 |
| Wisconsin | $41,970 |
| Kansas | $41,210 |
| South Carolina | $38,420 |
| Iowa | $38,130 |
| Oklahoma | $30,070 |
| Arkansas | $29,330 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for rehabilitation counselors differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $48,510 | 23.3% | 1.52 |
| Rocky Mountains | $48,022 | 3.3% | 1.08 |
| Middle Atlantic | $47,994 | 13.9% | 1.30 |
| Southeast | $46,448 | 15.8% | 0.79 |
| New England | $46,115 | 10.3% | 2.34 |
| Great Lakes | $44,996 | 18.5% | 1.33 |
| Plains States | $44,511 | 8.4% | 1.49 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $42,360 | 0.3% | 0.52 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Rehabilitation Counselors
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | NV | $73,510 | 120 |
| Johnstown, PA | PA | $69,080 | 110 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | TX | $68,610 | 40 |
| Albany, OR | OR | $67,590 | 70 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $66,670 | 50 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | VA | $65,210 | 40 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | MA | $63,290 | 120 |
| Charleston, WV | WV | $61,250 | 140 |
Top Industries Employing Rehabilitation Counselors
Most rehabilitation counselors are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 65,460 | $43,910 |
| Educational Services | 1,970 | $48,020 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,140 | $48,690 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,060 | $44,070 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 490 | $96,720 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 460 | $41,550 |
| Finance and Insurance | 260 | $81,970 |
| Retail Trade | 210 | $45,120 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Rehabilitation Counselors Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for rehabilitation counselors reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level rehabilitation counselors positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Long)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Primary-Long)
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Supplemental)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Primary-Short)
- Healthcare Social Workers (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future rehabilitation counselors typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 21-1015.00 (Rehabilitation Counselors).
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