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How to hire a habilitation specialist

Habilitation specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring habilitation specialists in the United States:

  • There are a total of 3,635 habilitation specialists in the US, and there are currently 82,124 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a habilitation specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per habilitation specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for habilitation specialists, with 21 job openings.

How to hire a habilitation specialist, step by step

To hire a habilitation specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a habilitation specialist:

Here's a step-by-step habilitation specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a habilitation specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new habilitation specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a habilitation specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a habilitation specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a habilitation specialist that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of habilitation specialists.

    Type of Habilitation SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Habilitation SpecialistSocial and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.$12-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • CPR
    • Behavioral Issues
    • Intellectual Disabilities
    • Community Integration
    • OPWDD
    • Habilitation Services
    • Money Management
    • Direct Support
    • Community Resources
    • Independent Living
    • Data Collection
    • Medication Administration
    • ADL
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Provide client with care, assist with performing ADL's, hygiene, medication, meal preparation, cleaning, transport.
    • Assist patients with medication management, monitor blood sugars and accompany client to medical appointments.
    • Provide direct supervision, observation, security and rehabilitation of delinquent adolescent females from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
    • Complete training in first aid and CPR.
    • Assist the ISP team in creating new outcomes for consumer training/ISP.
    • Construct and maintain budget following NYS guidelines including purchase orders, funds distribution, and financial records.
    More habilitation specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your habilitation specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A habilitation specialist salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, habilitation specialists' average salary in alabama is 47% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level habilitation specialists earn 37% less than senior-level habilitation specialists.
    • Certifications. A habilitation specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a habilitation specialist's salary.

    Average habilitation specialist salary

    $16.63hourly

    $34,597 yearly

    Entry-level habilitation specialist salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average habilitation specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$36,613$18
    2Oklahoma$36,539$18
    3New York$36,129$17
    4Illinois$35,582$17
    5Texas$34,159$16
    6Ohio$33,859$16
    7Iowa$28,972$14

    Average habilitation specialist salary by company

  4. Writing a habilitation specialist job description

    A habilitation specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a habilitation specialist job description:

    Habilitation specialist job description example

    • Ability to read, write and speak English
    • Computer literacy at a level that will accommodate training in and utilization of Electronic Medical Record software
    • Ability to implement a prompting hierarchy and write observant and detailed notes for each session performed by employee.
    • Flexible schedule to meet participants needs.
    • Willing to travel to participants’ homes or meet them in the community.
    • Successful completion of required in-service training.
    • Must participate and meet established requirements in a date base check through the Division of Criminal Justice Services as defined by the State of New York, Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, and Chapter 575 of the Laws of 2004.
    • Must participate in successful database checks through the State Central Registry of Child

    Abuse and Maltreatment, HHS Office of Inspector General, Excluded Parties List System, New York Office of Medicaid Inspector General and Specially Designated Nationals.

    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
    • High school diploma required.
    • Some college and experience working with people with disabilities preferred.
    LANGUAGE SKILLS

    Ability to read, write, speak and understand English. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret reports and documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries, concerns or complaints from employees and customers. Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.

    MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

    Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Basic understanding of statistics.

    REASONING ABILITY

    Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to resolve conflicts and mediate stressful situations.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Able to move, bend and lift at an active level. Willing to accommodate individuals utilizing wheelchairs in all forms of public transportation.

    WORK ENVIRONMENT

    The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office setting with little or no discomfort due to noise or temperature. Some walking, bending and standing required in order to photocopy, access files and so forth; work may be performed under pressure and may be, at times, mentally fatiguing; ability to sit for long periods of time necessary. Staff will be working in the homes of their participants. Each situation will differ. All efforts will be made to match staff with an environment that best suits them and is mutually beneficial to the participant.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find habilitation specialists for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your habilitation specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit habilitation specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit habilitation specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new habilitation specialist

    Once you've selected the best habilitation specialist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new habilitation specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a habilitation specialist?

There are different types of costs for hiring habilitation specialists. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new habilitation specialist employee.

Habilitation specialists earn a median yearly salary is $34,597 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find habilitation specialists for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $20.

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