Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$53,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$4,500
8.8% of base
Total target cash
$58,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,50050th$4,50075th$7,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Rehabilitation Counselor is a professional role within the function in the Community and Social Service job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:SpeakingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationActive ListeningMonitoringReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Rehabilitation Counselor pay by experience level
Entry level$36,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$40,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$48,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$61,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$80,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
10,000
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Rehabilitation Counselor salary by industry
Social Assistance
50,180 workers
$48,500
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
33,400 workers
$48,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
18,280 workers
$69,500
Individual and Family Services
15,650 workers
$49,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
14,610 workers
$71,500
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
13,080 workers
$46,500
Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities
11,090 workers
$45,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
4,930 workers
$53,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,670 workers
$61,500
Hospitals
2,840 workers
$65,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Rehabilitation Counselor pays 20% below the average across 17 roles in the Community and Social Service job family (family average $66,500).
Similar-paying roles in Community and Social Service
Need Rehabilitation Counselor pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
