Median Salary
$46,850
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.52
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$77,170
entry level starts ~$35,060
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 95,000 employed
How much does a Rehabilitation Counselor make?
Rehabilitation Counselors in the United States bring home a median salary of $46,850 a year, or around $22.52 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $35,060, while the top 10% earn $77,170.
That is $14,540 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Rehabilitation Counselor salary range by percentile
Half of all Rehabilitation Counselors earn between $38,770 and $59,260 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,060 | $16.86 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,770 | $18.64 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,850 | $22.52 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $59,260 | $28.49 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,170 | $37.10 |
|
Highest-paying states for Rehabilitation Counselor
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Wyoming leads the country for Rehabilitation Counselor pay at $67,640 a year, followed by North Dakota ($63,050) and Alaska ($61,590). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $35,210 — a gap of $32,430 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Rehabilitation Counselor salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Wyoming $67,640North Dakota $63,050Alaska $61,590Kentucky $58,540Washington $58,050Connecticut $56,340Georgia $55,000Oregon $54,970Idaho $54,550Alabama $54,040Maine $51,150Vermont $50,030Texas $49,990New Jersey $49,730District of Columbia $49,680Illinois $49,350South Dakota $49,350Delaware $48,840Hawaii $48,720Pennsylvania $48,650Arizona $48,330New Mexico $48,240West Virginia $48,050Minnesota $48,010Louisiana $47,990New York $47,960Colorado $47,840Virginia $47,530Massachusetts $47,320Nebraska $47,050Rhode Island $47,020Wisconsin $46,530Tennessee $46,060Florida $45,990North Carolina $45,890Montana $45,240Missouri $45,180Michigan $44,580California $44,480Indiana $44,390Utah $43,900Ohio $42,620New Hampshire $42,600Kansas $41,980Mississippi $41,500Maryland $40,860Nevada $40,120Iowa $39,630Oklahoma $38,260South Carolina $35,990Arkansas $35,210
Workforce and education
About 95,000 people work as Rehabilitation Counselors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $51,820 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Rehabilitation Counselor make in the United States?
The median Rehabilitation Counselor salary in the United States is $46,850 per year, or about $22.52 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,060, while the top 10% of earners make $77,170 or more.
How does Rehabilitation Counselor pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Rehabilitation Counselor median of $46,850 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Rehabilitation Counselors the most?
Wyoming is the highest-paying state for Rehabilitation Counselors, with a median salary of $67,640 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Rehabilitation Counselor?
Becoming a Rehabilitation Counselor typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Rehabilitation Counselors work in the United States?
About 95,000 people were employed as Rehabilitation Counselors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.