Rehabilitation Counselors
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.
Also called: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist, Classification Counselor, CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor), Direct Care Counselor, Disability Counselor, Employment Advisor
Median pay
$46,850
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,060 – $77,170
People employed
94,740
Holland code
SEI
Social · Enterprising · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 2.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Rehabilitation Counselors pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What rehabilitation counselors do
- 01Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- 02Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- 03Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
- 04Locate 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.
- 05Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- 06Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from rehabilitation counselors
- Recreational Therapists84% · +32%
- Occupational Therapists83% · +114%
- Social and Community Service Managers83% · +72%
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary81% · +66%
- Instructional Coordinators78% · +65%
Change into rehabilitation counselors
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists82% · $100,330
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education81% · $52,100
- Art Therapists78% · $77,930
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses76% · $97,550
- Clinical Nurse Specialists76% · $97,550
Majors that lead here
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
- Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering
- Rehabilitation Science
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.