Jobs Similar to Rehabilitation Counselors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to rehabilitation counselors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Healthcare Social Workers, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.
Rehabilitation Counselors: $46,850 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Rehabilitation Counselors) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthcare Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $67,880+45% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsSame group | 85% | $64,330+37% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $60,280+29% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Child, Family, and School Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $59,550+27% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Social and Human Service AssistantsSame group | 83% | $45,930−2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 83% | $100,580+115% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | School Psychologists | 83% | $95,990+105% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Marriage and Family TherapistsSame group | 82% | $66,940+43% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Patient Representatives | 82% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 10 | Community Health WorkersSame group | 81% | $51,850+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 81% | $77,570+66% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 80% | $74,260+59% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Health Education SpecialistsSame group | 80% | $64,070+37% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Recreational Therapists | 80% | $61,960+32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 79% | $52,100+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Training and Development Specialists | 79% | $69,280+48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Social and Community Service Managers | 79% | $80,390+72% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Instructional Coordinators | 78% | $77,440+65% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 78% | $64,830+38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $80,340+71% | Graduate degree |
- 1Healthcare Social Workers
85% similar · $67,880 (+45%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
85% similar · $64,330 (+37%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
85% similar · $60,280 (+29%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Child, Family, and School Social Workers
85% similar · $59,550 (+27%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Social and Human Service Assistants
83% similar · $45,930 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
83% similar · $100,580 (+115%) · Graduate degree
- 7School Psychologists
83% similar · $95,990 (+105%) · Graduate degree
- 8Marriage and Family Therapists
82% similar · $66,940 (+43%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Patient Representatives
82% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 10Community Health Workers
81% similar · $51,850 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $77,570 (+66%) · Graduate degree
- 12Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
80% similar · $74,260 (+59%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Health Education Specialists
80% similar · $64,070 (+37%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Recreational Therapists
80% similar · $61,960 (+32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Directors, Religious Activities and Education
79% similar · $52,100 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Training and Development Specialists
79% similar · $69,280 (+48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Social and Community Service Managers
79% similar · $80,390 (+72%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Instructional Coordinators
78% similar · $77,440 (+65%) · Graduate degree
- 19Special Education Teachers, Preschool
78% similar · $64,830 (+38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $80,340 (+71%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than rehabilitation counselors.
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists83% similar · $100,580 (+115%)
- School Psychologists83% similar · $95,990 (+105%)
- Social and Community Service Managers79% similar · $80,390 (+72%)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary78% similar · $80,340 (+71%)
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary81% similar · $77,570 (+66%)
- Instructional Coordinators78% similar · $77,440 (+65%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers85% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Social and Human Service Assistants83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Patient Representatives82% similar · Training or associate
- Community Health Workers81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Health Education Specialists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for rehabilitation counselors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where rehabilitation counselors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (82)
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education (81)
- Art Therapists (78)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (76)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (76)
- Recreation Workers (75)
- Hospitalists (74)
- Midwives (73)
- Recreational Therapists (73)
- Clergy (72)
Questions about jobs like rehabilitation counselors
What jobs are most similar to rehabilitation counselors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Healthcare Social Workers (85% similar), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (85% similar), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (85% similar), Child, Family, and School Social Workers (85% similar) and Social and Human Service Assistants (83% similar).
Which jobs like rehabilitation counselors pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($100,580, +115%; usually a graduate degree), School Psychologists ($95,990, +105%; usually a graduate degree) and Social and Community Service Managers ($80,390, +72%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with rehabilitation counselors ($46,850). Without more preparation than rehabilitation counselors usually need: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, School Psychologists and Social and Community Service Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.