Rehabilitation Counselors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,940
- 25th Percentile — Junior$37,560
- 50th Percentile — Median$44,480
- 75th Percentile — Senior$51,420
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$69,260
Half of Rehabilitation Counselors in California earn more than $44,480. The top 10% make $69,260 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,940.
Rehabilitation Counselors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 37th of 51 states for Rehabilitation Counselors pay, at $48,570 per year (6.3% below the U.S. average of $51,820).
- 13,690 people work as Rehabilitation Counselors in California — 14.5% of all U.S. Rehabilitation Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.23: Rehabilitation Counselors jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,940; the top 10% earn over $69,260.
- Hourly equivalent: $23.35 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $70,080.
- Among social services jobs in California, Healthcare Social Workers pays the most ($93,840).
Rehabilitation Counselors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Rehabilitation Counselors here earn $48,570 on average, placing the state 37th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $48,570 is roughly equivalent to $34,204 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wisconsin ($49,540), Ohio ($49,300), Missouri ($49,190) are the closest alternatives for Rehabilitation Counselors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Social Services Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Healthcare Social Workers $93,840/yr California +93.2% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $93,610/yr California +92.7% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $91,050/yr California +87.5% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $79,440/yr California +63.6% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $74,720/yr California +53.8% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $71,940/yr California +48.1% vs this role
- Mental Health Counselors $69,080/yr California +42.2% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $63,740/yr California +31.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Rehabilitation Counselors salary in California?
The average Rehabilitation Counselors salary in California is $48,570 per year (median $44,480), which is 6.3% below the national average of $51,820.
How does California rank for Rehabilitation Counselors pay?
California ranks 37th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($70,080/yr).
How much do entry-level Rehabilitation Counselors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Rehabilitation Counselors in California earn about $35,940 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,560.
How much do Rehabilitation Counselors make per hour in California?
About $23.35 per hour, based on the $48,570 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Rehabilitation Counselors work in California?
BLS counts 13,690 Rehabilitation Counselors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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