All About Rehabilitation Counselors
Example of Rehabilitation Counselor Job 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, 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.
What Do Rehabilitation Counselors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Locate 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.
- Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
- Arrange for physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and developing rehabilitation plans.
- Collaborate with community agencies to establish facilities and programs for persons with disabilities.
- Confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals to develop and implement client rehabilitation programs.
Featured schools near , edit
Rehabilitation Counselor Skills
Rehabilitation Counselors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Types of Rehabilitation Counselor
- Job Coaching
- Employment Specialist
- Rehabilitation Services Specialist
- Vocational Case Manager
- Case Manager
Is There Job Demand for Rehabilitation Counselors?
There were about 119,300 jobs for Rehabilitation Counselor in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,100 new jobs for Rehabilitation Counselor by 2026. The BLS estimates 14,500 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Rehabilitation Counselor are Arizona, Virginia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Minnesota, Wyoming, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Rehabilitation Counselors Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Rehabilitation Counselors ranges between about $22,990 and $63,820 a year.

Rehabilitation Counselors who work in New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Rehabilitation Counselors in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $43,080 |
Alaska | $60,900 |
Arizona | $33,870 |
Arkansas | $35,460 |
California | $37,250 |
Colorado | $52,620 |
Connecticut | $44,540 |
Delaware | $34,820 |
District of Columbia | $49,400 |
Florida | $37,790 |
Georgia | $40,560 |
Hawaii | $43,340 |
Idaho | $41,310 |
Illinois | $40,260 |
Indiana | $40,930 |
Iowa | $36,310 |
Kansas | $32,280 |
Kentucky | $37,200 |
Louisiana | $44,650 |
Maine | $50,860 |
Maryland | $42,060 |
Massachusetts | $45,230 |
Michigan | $40,810 |
Minnesota | $41,100 |
Mississippi | $37,910 |
Missouri | $37,190 |
Montana | $36,880 |
Nebraska | $38,290 |
Nevada | $41,230 |
New Hampshire | $45,870 |
New Jersey | $65,350 |
New Mexico | $38,460 |
New York | $36,040 |
North Carolina | $39,500 |
North Dakota | $47,930 |
Ohio | $39,890 |
Oklahoma | $26,150 |
Oregon | $44,100 |
Pennsylvania | $39,980 |
Rhode Island | $57,430 |
South Carolina | $32,720 |
South Dakota | $41,550 |
Tennessee | $26,080 |
Texas | $44,910 |
Utah | $44,900 |
Vermont | $44,070 |
Virginia | $43,840 |
Washington | $49,940 |
West Virginia | $33,150 |
Wisconsin | $31,510 |
Wyoming | $36,870 |
What Tools & Technology do Rehabilitation Counselors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Rehabilitation Counselors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Encryption software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Reader
- Netscape Navigator
- Budgeting software
- Voice recognition software
- Test interpretation software
- Chart Links
How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor
What education or degrees do I need to become a Rehabilitation Counselor?

What work experience do I need to become a Rehabilitation Counselor?

Rehabilitation Counselors Sector

Rehabilitation Counselors work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Rehabilitation Counselor may also be interested in:
- Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Are you already one of the many Rehabilitation Counselor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Barbara E. Carver via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |