📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Rehabilitation Counselors Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$48,680
per year
Median
$45,280
per year
Hourly
$23.4
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$32,500
25th Percentile — Junior$41,380
50th Percentile — Median$45,280
75th Percentile — Senior$61,360
90th Percentile — Top Earners$68,706
💡 The top 10% of Rehabilitation Counselorss earn $68,706 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $32,500, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$40.0k
2021
$41.6k
2022
$43.3k
2023
$45.0k
2024
$46.8k
2025
$48.7k
2026
📈 Rehabilitation Counselors salaries have grown 4.0% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $8,669.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $75,454 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $73,994 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $69,126 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $67,178 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $64,258 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $63,284 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $62,310 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $60,850 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $59,390 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $55,982 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $55,982 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $55,495 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $54,522 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $53,548 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $53,548 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $52,574 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $51,114 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $51,114 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $49,654 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $49,654 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $48,680 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $48,680 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $48,193 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $48,193 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $47,706 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $46,246 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $46,246 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $45,272 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $45,272 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $45,272 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $44,786 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $44,786 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $44,299 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $43,812 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $42,838 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $42,838 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $42,838 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $42,838 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $42,838 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $42,838 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $42,352 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $42,352 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $42,352 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $41,865 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $41,378 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $41,378 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $40,891 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $40,404 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $40,404 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $38,944 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $37,970 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Rehabilitation Counselors Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Rehabilitation Counselors's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Rehabilitation Counselorss typically earn $32,500–$41,380 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $61,360–$68,706 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Rehabilitation Counselors role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 4.0% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Social Services sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Nurse Practitioners
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Rehabilitation Counselors?The average salary for a Rehabilitation Counselors in the United States is $48,680 per year, with a median of $45,280.
-
What is the starting salary for a Rehabilitation Counselors?Entry-level Rehabilitation Counselorss typically earn between $32,500 and $41,380 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Rehabilitation Counselorss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Rehabilitation Counselorss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Rehabilitation Counselors make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $48,680, a Rehabilitation Counselors earns approximately $23.4 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Rehabilitation Counselors a good career in 2026?Yes — the Rehabilitation Counselors role has medium demand with 4.0% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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