Rehabilitation Counselors
SOC code 21-1015 · O*NET-SOC 21-1015.00 · Extensive preparation needed
Rehabilitation Counselors pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$46,850
a year
Hourly
$22.52
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$51,820
$24.91 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,770 – $59,260
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$35,060 – $77,170
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
94,740
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $35,060
- $16.85/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,770
- $18.64/hr
- Median percentile
- $46,850
- $22.52/hr
- 75th percentile
- $59,260
- $28.49/hr
- 90th percentile
- $77,170
- $37.10/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+1%
Growing about as fast as average
91,900
jobs in 2024
93,200
projected for 2034
About 1,300 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a rehabilitation counselor do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a rehabilitation counselor
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a rehabilitation counselor earn?
The national median is $46,850 a year. The full range runs from $35,060 at the 10th percentile to $77,170 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a rehabilitation counselor without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is 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). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is rehabilitation counselor in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 1% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Monitoring4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Writing3.5/5
Knowledge areas
- Therapy and Counseling4.8/5
- Psychology4.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Administrative3.6/5
- Education and Training3.6/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.