21 Series · SOC 21-1015

Rehabilitation Counselors Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$46,850
Median / year
+1.6%
2024→2025
$77,170
Top 10% earn
+1.4%
Growth '24–'34
94,740
Estimated US jobs

Rehabilitation Counselors earn a median of $46,850 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,850, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,060 (10th percentile) to $77,170 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 94,740 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Wyoming ($67,640).

21 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Rehabilitation Counselors earn a median of $46,850, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 24% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Community and Social Service, it ranks #15 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.4% by 2034.

$46,850
Median annual wage
Top 76%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#15 of 17
in Community and Social Service
2.2×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Wyoming at $67,640. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Rehabilitation Counselors moved from $35,950 in May 2019 to $46,850 in May 2025 (+30.3%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Rehabilitation Counselors sits +5.9 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Rehabilitation Counselors (SOC 21-1015) has a national median of $46,850 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $35,060 to $77,170, and the published mean is $51,820. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 94,740 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 384 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $46,110 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $46,850 in May 2025, a rise of $740 (+1.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 10,000 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Master's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Community and Social Service Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Wyoming pays the highest state median at $67,640, which is +44% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is New Haven, CT at $79,380. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 94,740 jobs Median $46,850/yr

Median Salary

$46,850

per year

Median Hourly

$22.52/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$51,820

average

Employment

94,740

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Rehabilitation Counselors pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$46,850 Bottom 24% higher than 24% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$46,850 · 24th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 21-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Rehabilitation Counselors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 17 21-series occupations with growth data, Rehabilitation Counselors sits on the slower-growing side at +1.4% growth and $46,850 median pay. Scatter plot of 17 data points. $40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 0%5%10%15%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Substance Abuse, Beh… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 16.8% · Median annual wage: $59350Social and Human Ser… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $45930Child, Family, and S… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.4% · Median annual wage: $59550Educational, Guidanc… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.5% · Median annual wage: $64330Healthcare Social Wo… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.7% · Median annual wage: $67880Mental Health and Su… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.7% · Median annual wage: $60280Community and Social… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $56730Rehabilitation Couns… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.4% · Median annual wage: $46850Probation Officers a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.6% · Median annual wage: $66270Marriage and Family … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.6% · Median annual wage: $66940Health Education Spe… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $64070Social Workers, All … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.9% · Median annual wage: $71900Community Health Wor… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 11.3% · Median annual wage: $51850Clergy - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $60810Counselors, All Other - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.6% · Median annual wage: $50860Directors, Religious… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.1% · Median annual wage: $52100Religious Workers, A… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.6% · Median annual wage: $45280
Among 17 21-series occupations with growth data, Rehabilitation Counselors sits on the slower-growing side at +1.4% growth and $46,850 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Substance Abuse, Beh…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 16.8%, Median annual wage $59350
  • Social and Human Ser…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45930
  • Child, Family, and S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $59550
  • Educational, Guidanc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $64330
  • Healthcare Social Wo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.7%, Median annual wage $67880
  • Mental Health and Su…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.7%, Median annual wage $60280
  • Community and Social…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $56730
  • Rehabilitation Couns…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.4%, Median annual wage $46850
  • Probation Officers a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $66270
  • Marriage and Family …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.6%, Median annual wage $66940
  • Health Education Spe…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64070
  • Social Workers, All …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $71900
  • Community Health Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.3%, Median annual wage $51850
  • Clergy: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $60810
  • Counselors, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.6%, Median annual wage $50860
  • Directors, Religious…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $52100
  • Religious Workers, A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $45280

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+1.4%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

10,000

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+1,300

91,900 (2024) → 93,200 (2034)

Typical Education

Master's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Community and Social Service Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.3/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

2.2/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Rehabilitation Counselors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Service Orientation 4.0
Monitoring 3.9
Reading Comprehension 3.8
Writing 3.6
Critical Thinking 3.6
Coordination 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.4

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.1
Therapy and Counseling 4.1
Psychology 4.0
Education and Training 3.9
English Language 3.9
Administrative 3.9
Computers and Electronics 3.6
Sociology and Anthropology 3.3
Personnel and Human Resources 3.3
Administration and Management 3.3

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • 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.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$35,060
25th$38,770
Median$46,850
75th$59,260
90th$77,170

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$16.85
25th$18.64
Median$22.52
75th$28.49
90th$37.10

Rehabilitation Counselors pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $34,390National median - 2016: $34,670National median - 2017: $34,860National median - 2018: $35,630National median - 2019: $35,950National median - 2020: $37,530National median - 2021: $38,560National median - 2022: $39,990National median - 2023: $44,040National median - 2024: $46,110National median - 2025: $46,850$46,850
National median annual wage for Rehabilitation Counselors, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $34,390
2016 $34,670
2017 $34,860
2018 $35,630
2019 $35,950
2020 $37,530
2021 $38,560
2022 $39,990
2023 $44,040
2024 $46,110
2025 $46,850

2015 median

$34,390

2025 median

$46,850

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,900 (+30.3%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.5%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Rehabilitation Counselors by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $34,390 First banked release 101,630
May 2016 $34,670 +0.8% 103,030
May 2017 $34,860 +0.5% 103,840
May 2018 $35,630 +2.2% 106,860
May 2019 $35,950 Classification break 109,040
May 2020 $37,530 +4.4% 100,260
May 2021 $38,560 +2.7% 90,310
May 2022 $39,990 +3.7% 82,420
May 2023 $44,040 +10.1% 84,750
May 2024 $46,110 +4.7% 88,930
May 2025 $46,850 +1.6% 94,740

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $34,390 in May 2015 to $46,850 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.5% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 109,040 in May 2019 to 94,740 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 52 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Wyoming $67,640 +44% above national
2 North Dakota $63,050 +35% above national
3 Alaska $61,590 +31% above national
4 Kentucky $58,540 +25% above national
5 Washington $58,050 +24% above national
6 Connecticut $56,340 +20% above national
7 Georgia $55,000 +17% above national
8 Oregon $54,970 +17% above national
9 Idaho $54,550 +16% above national
10 Alabama $54,040 +15% above national
11 Puerto Rico $53,180 +14% above national
12 Maine $51,150 +9% above national
13 Vermont $50,030 +7% above national
14 Texas $49,990 +7% above national
15 New Jersey $49,730 +6% above national
16 District of Columbia $49,680 +6% above national
17 Illinois $49,350 +5% above national
18 South Dakota $49,350 +5% above national
19 Delaware $48,840 +4% above national
20 Hawaii $48,720 +4% above national
21 Pennsylvania $48,650 +4% above national
22 Arizona $48,330 +3% above national
23 New Mexico $48,240 +3% above national
24 West Virginia $48,050 +3% above national
25 Minnesota $48,010 +2% above national
26 Louisiana $47,990 +2% above national
27 New York $47,960 +2% above national
28 Colorado $47,840 +2% above national
29 Virginia $47,530 +1% above national
30 Massachusetts $47,320 +1% above national
31 Nebraska $47,050 same as national
32 Rhode Island $47,020 same as national
33 Wisconsin $46,530 1% below national
34 Tennessee $46,060 2% below national
35 Florida $45,990 2% below national
36 North Carolina $45,890 2% below national
37 Montana $45,240 3% below national
38 Missouri $45,180 4% below national
39 Michigan $44,580 5% below national
40 California $44,480 5% below national
41 Indiana $44,390 5% below national
42 Utah $43,900 6% below national
43 Ohio $42,620 9% below national
44 New Hampshire $42,600 9% below national
45 Kansas $41,980 10% below national
46 Mississippi $41,500 11% below national
47 Maryland $40,860 13% below national
48 Nevada $40,120 14% below national
49 Iowa $39,630 15% below national
50 Oklahoma $38,260 18% below national
51 South Carolina $35,990 23% below national
52 Arkansas $35,210 25% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 281 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 New Haven, CT $79,380 +69% above national
2 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $72,960 +56% above national
3 Johnstown, PA $70,450 +50% above national
4 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $69,740 +49% above national
5 Killeen-Temple, TX $69,180 +48% above national
6 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $66,950 +43% above national
7 Bismarck, ND $66,700 +42% above national
8 St. Cloud, MN $66,680 +42% above national
9 Portland-South Portland, ME $66,480 +42% above national
10 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $64,420 +38% above national
11 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $63,620 +36% above national
12 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $63,570 +36% above national
13 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $63,480 +35% above national
14 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $63,240 +35% above national
15 Erie, PA $61,710 +32% above national
16 Fargo, ND-MN $61,420 +31% above national
17 Grand Forks, ND-MN $61,420 +31% above national
18 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $61,290 +31% above national
19 Coeur d'Alene, ID $61,240 +31% above national
20 Anchorage, AK $60,700 +30% above national
21 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $60,450 +29% above national
22 Bend, OR $60,170 +28% above national
23 Charlottesville, VA $59,260 +26% above national
24 Boulder, CO $58,770 +25% above national
25 Longview-Kelso, WA $58,760 +25% above national
26 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $58,580 +25% above national
27 Lexington-Fayette, KY $58,570 +25% above national
28 Boise City, ID $58,240 +24% above national
29 Birmingham, AL $58,210 +24% above national
30 Missoula, MT $58,000 +24% above national
31 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $57,870 +24% above national
32 Kennewick-Richland, WA $57,480 +23% above national
33 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $57,410 +23% above national
34 Twin Falls, ID $57,080 +22% above national
35 Mansfield, OH $56,970 +22% above national
36 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $56,940 +22% above national
37 Eugene-Springfield, OR $56,930 +22% above national
38 Mobile, AL $56,290 +20% above national
39 Williamsport, PA $56,200 +20% above national
40 Salem, OR $56,170 +20% above national
41 Yakima, WA $55,990 +20% above national
42 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $55,600 +19% above national
43 Bellingham, WA $55,570 +19% above national
44 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $55,570 +19% above national
45 Colorado Springs, CO $55,370 +18% above national
46 Clarksville, TN-KY $55,270 +18% above national
47 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $55,100 +18% above national
48 Montgomery, AL $55,050 +18% above national
49 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $55,000 +17% above national
50 Savannah, GA $55,000 +17% above national
51 Madison, WI $54,680 +17% above national
52 Worcester, MA $54,270 +16% above national
53 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $54,090 +15% above national
54 Charleston, WV $53,960 +15% above national
55 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $53,940 +15% above national
56 Springfield, IL $53,640 +14% above national
57 Beckley, WV $53,620 +14% above national
58 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $53,180 +14% above national
59 Medford, OR $53,150 +13% above national
60 Kankakee, IL $53,060 +13% above national
61 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $52,790 +13% above national
62 Kingston, NY $52,440 +12% above national
63 Dover, DE $52,110 +11% above national
64 Roanoke, VA $51,840 +11% above national
65 Terre Haute, IN $51,670 +10% above national
66 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $51,460 +10% above national
67 Rockford, IL $51,240 +9% above national
68 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $51,170 +9% above national
69 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $50,990 +9% above national
70 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $50,650 +8% above national
71 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $50,600 +8% above national
72 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,510 +8% above national
73 Battle Creek, MI $50,490 +8% above national
74 Champaign-Urbana, IL $50,390 +8% above national
75 Pocatello, ID $50,290 +7% above national
76 Lancaster, PA $50,140 +7% above national
77 Columbia, MO $50,050 +7% above national
78 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $50,000 +7% above national
79 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,890 +6% above national
80 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $49,810 +6% above national
81 Jefferson City, MO $49,640 +6% above national
82 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $49,610 +6% above national
83 Chattanooga, TN-GA $49,450 +6% above national
84 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $49,450 +6% above national
85 Pittsburgh, PA $49,440 +6% above national
86 St. Joseph, MO-KS $49,420 +5% above national
87 Peoria, IL $49,360 +5% above national
88 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $49,350 +5% above national
89 Springfield, MO $49,320 +5% above national
90 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $49,280 +5% above national
91 Lewiston, ID-WA $49,230 +5% above national
92 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $49,150 +5% above national
93 Baton Rouge, LA $49,120 +5% above national
94 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $49,010 +5% above national
95 Richmond, VA $48,890 +4% above national
96 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,820 +4% above national
97 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,750 +4% above national
98 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $48,660 +4% above national
99 Flagstaff, AZ $48,640 +4% above national
100 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $48,430 +3% above national
101 Barnstable Town, MA $48,420 +3% above national
102 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $48,360 +3% above national
103 Fond du Lac, WI $48,300 +3% above national
104 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $48,290 +3% above national
105 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $48,290 +3% above national
106 El Paso, TX $48,120 +3% above national
107 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $48,070 +3% above national
108 Greenville, NC $48,040 +3% above national
109 Urban Honolulu, HI $47,990 +2% above national
110 Glens Falls, NY $47,890 +2% above national
111 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $47,840 +2% above national
112 Eau Claire, WI $47,840 +2% above national
113 Idaho Falls, ID $47,840 +2% above national
114 Wausau, WI $47,680 +2% above national
115 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $47,660 +2% above national
116 Appleton, WI $47,620 +2% above national
117 Toledo, OH $47,580 +2% above national
118 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $47,440 +1% above national
119 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $47,390 +1% above national
120 Jacksonville, NC $47,370 +1% above national
121 Pueblo, CO $47,340 +1% above national
122 Ann Arbor, MI $47,310 +1% above national
123 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $47,310 +1% above national
124 Winchester, VA-WV $47,220 +1% above national
125 Niles, MI $47,080 same as national
126 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $47,060 same as national
127 Johnson City, TN $47,020 same as national
128 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $47,010 same as national
129 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $47,000 same as national
130 Vallejo, CA $46,900 same as national
131 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $46,890 same as national
132 Billings, MT $46,880 same as national
133 Kansas City, MO-KS $46,800 same as national
134 Yuma, AZ $46,790 same as national
135 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $46,670 same as national
136 Altoona, PA $46,610 1% below national
137 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $46,590 1% below national
138 Topeka, KS $46,590 1% below national
139 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $46,490 1% below national
140 Green Bay, WI $46,450 1% below national
141 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $46,440 1% below national
142 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $46,430 1% below national
143 Decatur, IL $46,260 1% below national
144 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $46,200 1% below national
145 Ocala, FL $46,190 1% below national
146 Flint, MI $46,160 1% below national
147 Bozeman, MT $46,140 2% below national
148 Evansville, IN $46,140 2% below national
149 Reno, NV $46,080 2% below national
150 Dubuque, IA $46,050 2% below national
151 Rochester, NY $45,990 2% below national
152 Raleigh-Cary, NC $45,890 2% below national
153 Corvallis, OR $45,870 2% below national
154 Syracuse, NY $45,870 2% below national
155 Salisbury, MD $45,780 2% below national
156 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $45,700 2% below national
157 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $45,680 2% below national
158 Wilmington, NC $45,660 3% below national
159 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $45,650 3% below national
160 Port St. Lucie, FL $45,540 3% below national
161 Springfield, MA $45,520 3% below national
162 Columbus, OH $45,500 3% below national
163 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $45,300 3% below national
164 Saginaw, MI $45,260 3% below national
165 Kenosha, WI $45,190 4% below national
166 Lynchburg, VA $45,120 4% below national
167 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $45,040 4% below national
168 Lincoln, NE $45,030 4% below national
169 Goldsboro, NC $44,970 4% below national
170 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $44,970 4% below national
171 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $44,930 4% below national
172 Rochester, MN $44,660 5% below national
173 St. Louis, MO-IL $44,620 5% below national
174 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $44,470 5% below national
175 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $44,350 5% below national
176 Cedar Rapids, IA $44,320 5% below national
177 Modesto, CA $44,270 6% below national
178 Reading, PA $44,260 6% below national
179 Knoxville, TN $44,060 6% below national
180 Greensboro-High Point, NC $44,050 6% below national
181 El Centro, CA $43,960 6% below national
182 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $43,930 6% below national
183 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $43,880 6% below national
184 Duluth, MN-WI $43,770 7% below national
185 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $43,750 7% below national
186 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $43,660 7% below national
187 Lubbock, TX $43,610 7% below national
188 Albuquerque, NM $43,600 7% below national
189 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $43,600 7% below national
190 Binghamton, NY $43,570 7% below national
191 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $43,480 7% below national
192 Corpus Christi, TX $43,430 7% below national
193 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $43,410 7% below national
194 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $43,310 8% below national
195 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $43,310 8% below national
196 Winston-Salem, NC $43,280 8% below national
197 Tallahassee, FL $43,160 8% below national
198 Yuba City, CA $43,150 8% below national
199 Rocky Mount, NC $43,130 8% below national
200 Jackson, MS $43,120 8% below national
201 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $43,110 8% below national
202 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $42,990 8% below national
203 Bloomington, IL $42,950 8% below national
204 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $42,880 8% below national
205 Janesville-Beloit, WI $42,850 9% below national
206 Tucson, AZ $42,730 9% below national
207 Stockton-Lodi, CA $42,620 9% below national
208 Napa, CA $42,560 9% below national
209 Fayetteville, NC $42,500 9% below national
210 Greeley, CO $42,350 10% below national
211 Pittsfield, MA $42,350 10% below national
212 Lawrence, KS $41,980 10% below national
213 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $41,930 11% below national
214 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $41,490 11% below national
215 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $41,340 12% below national
216 Bloomington, IN $41,270 12% below national
217 Jackson, MI $41,140 12% below national
218 Canton-Massillon, OH $40,990 13% below national
219 Tyler, TX $40,850 13% below national
220 Akron, OH $40,800 13% below national
221 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $40,730 13% below national
222 Youngstown-Warren, OH $40,670 13% below national
223 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $40,430 14% below national
224 Sheboygan, WI $40,260 14% below national
225 Jackson, TN $40,190 14% below national
226 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $40,140 14% below national
227 Cleveland, OH $40,130 14% below national
228 Wichita, KS $40,130 14% below national
229 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $40,120 14% below national
230 Chico, CA $39,950 15% below national
231 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $39,860 15% below national
232 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $39,820 15% below national
233 Asheville, NC $39,670 15% below national
234 Cleveland, TN $39,640 15% below national
235 Merced, CA $39,640 15% below national
236 Bay City, MI $39,520 16% below national
237 Manchester-Nashua, NH $39,310 16% below national
238 Helena, MT $39,280 16% below national
239 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $39,100 17% below national
240 Jacksonville, FL $38,930 17% below national
241 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $38,910 17% below national
242 Fresno, CA $38,690 17% below national
243 Las Cruces, NM $38,670 17% below national
244 Iowa City, IA $38,640 18% below national
245 Bangor, ME $38,550 18% below national
246 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $38,250 18% below national
247 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $38,210 18% below national
248 Gainesville, FL $37,920 19% below national
249 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $37,870 19% below national
250 Omaha, NE-IA $37,850 19% below national
251 Ogden, UT $37,730 19% below national
252 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $37,710 20% below national
253 Oklahoma City, OK $37,570 20% below national
254 Gadsden, AL $37,550 20% below national
255 Sandusky, OH $37,540 20% below national
256 Elmira, NY $37,140 21% below national
257 Fort Wayne, IN $36,890 21% below national
258 Tulsa, OK $36,850 21% below national
259 Visalia, CA $36,600 22% below national
260 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $36,570 22% below national
261 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $36,420 22% below national
262 Chambersburg, PA $36,340 22% below national
263 Salinas, CA $36,310 22% below national
264 Utica-Rome, NY $36,130 23% below national
265 Lexington Park, MD $36,060 23% below national
266 Manhattan, KS $36,050 23% below national
267 Spartanburg, SC $35,910 23% below national
268 Columbia, SC $35,880 23% below national
269 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $35,870 23% below national
270 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $35,580 24% below national
271 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $35,480 24% below national
272 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $35,440 24% below national
273 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $35,060 25% below national
274 Redding, CA $34,320 27% below national
275 Florence, SC $33,500 28% below national
276 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $33,080 29% below national
277 Burlington, NC $31,520 33% below national
278 Sumter, SC $31,020 34% below national
279 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $29,900 36% below national
280 Fort Smith, AR-OK $29,150 38% below national
281 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $28,670 39% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 21 (Community and Social Service Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 16 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Community and Social Service Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($46,850 here) and reported employment (94,740 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Rehabilitation Counselors make?
The median annual salary for Rehabilitation Counselors is $46,850 ($22.52/hour). The salary range spans from $35,060 at the 10th percentile to $77,170 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Rehabilitation Counselors pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $46,850, Rehabilitation Counselors pay is higher than 24% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Rehabilitation Counselors the most?
Wyoming pays the highest median salary for Rehabilitation Counselors at $67,640/year, which is +44% above the national median.
What education do Rehabilitation Counselors need?
BLS assigns Rehabilitation Counselors to Master's degree for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Rehabilitation Counselors?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Rehabilitation Counselors in this release. WageDex shows the Community and Social Service Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Rehabilitation Counselors a good career?
Employment for Rehabilitation Counselors is projected to grow 1.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 10,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Rehabilitation Counselors pay vary by state?
Rehabilitation Counselors salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Wyoming at $67,640/year, while Arkansas pays the least at $35,210/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Rehabilitation Counselors?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is New Haven, CT at $79,380/year. BLS reports a median for 281 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Rehabilitation Counselors pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $59,260/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Wyoming leads at $67,640/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.