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Vocational rehabilitation counselor salary
Average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary
$45,871
Understanding the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is around $45,871 annually. This position plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with disabilities, helping them navigate the challenges of employment and rehabilitation. Salaries can differ significantly based on several factors, including geographic location and years of experience.
Salary Breakdown by Experience Level
Entry-level counselors may start at lower salaries, while those with more experience can expect higher compensation. In addition, counselors working in specific industries or states may earn more due to demand and cost of living.
Highest Paying States
States such as California and New York often offer the highest salaries for vocational rehabilitation counselors. This is attributed to higher living costs and a greater demand for rehabilitation services in urban areas.
Exploring Career Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, understanding salary expectations is essential. This information can guide potential job seekers in making informed decisions about their career paths and salary negotiations.
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Where can a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor earn more?
Vocational rehabilitation counselor salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level vocational rehabilitation counselor | $33,300 | $16.00 |
| Mid-level vocational rehabilitation counselor | $36,300 | $17.47 |
| Senior-level vocational rehabilitation counselor | $47,400 | $22.79 |
Vocational rehabilitation counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary by state
The highest-paying states for vocational rehabilitation counselors are New Jersey, West Virginia, and Alaska. The lowest average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary states are Louisiana, Virginia, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vocational rehabilitation counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $66,746 | $32.09 |
| 2 | Alaska | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| 3 | Maine | $54,759 | $26.33 |
| 4 | Colorado | $57,827 | $27.80 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $56,960 | $27.38 |
| 6 | Washington | $54,516 | $26.21 |
| 7 | Michigan | $53,399 | $25.67 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $50,745 | $24.40 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $55,015 | $26.45 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $63,183 | $30.38 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $60,363 | $29.02 |
| 12 | Illinois | $53,986 | $25.95 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $51,627 | $24.82 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $56,427 | $27.13 |
| 15 | Utah | $52,817 | $25.39 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $49,324 | $23.71 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $49,627 | $23.86 |
| 18 | Oregon | $50,726 | $24.39 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $49,829 | $23.96 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $47,975 | $23.06 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $48,946 | $23.53 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $49,782 | $23.93 |
| 23 | Montana | $48,608 | $23.37 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $49,068 | $23.59 |
| 25 | Maryland | $48,512 | $23.32 |
| 26 | Ohio | $48,432 | $23.28 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $48,383 | $23.26 |
| 28 | New York | $47,964 | $23.06 |
| 29 | Texas | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| 30 | Delaware | $49,019 | $23.57 |
| 31 | Idaho | $46,773 | $22.49 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $46,666 | $22.44 |
| 33 | Nevada | $47,157 | $22.67 |
| 34 | California | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| 35 | Vermont | $47,353 | $22.77 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $46,406 | $22.31 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $46,692 | $22.45 |
| 38 | Indiana | $45,166 | $21.71 |
| 39 | Georgia | $45,397 | $21.83 |
| 40 | Arizona | $43,243 | $20.79 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $45,447 | $21.85 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $44,007 | $21.16 |
| 43 | Iowa | $43,960 | $21.13 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $43,151 | $20.75 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $44,671 | $21.48 |
| 46 | Florida | $33,567 | $16.14 |
| 47 | Alabama | $43,741 | $21.03 |
| 48 | Virginia | $42,185 | $20.28 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $33,622 | $16.16 |
| 50 | Missouri | $40,864 | $19.65 |
| 51 | Kansas | $40,887 | $19.66 |
Highest paying cities for vocational rehabilitation counselors
The highest-paying cities for vocational rehabilitation counselors are Williston, ND, Seattle, WA, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williston, ND | $55,012 | $26.45 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $54,833 | $26.36 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $54,225 | $26.07 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $53,573 | $25.76 |
| 5 | Omaha, NE | $51,814 | $24.91 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,863 | $24.45 |
| 7 | Corvallis, OR | $50,748 | $24.40 |
| 8 | Bayamn, PR | $49,722 | $23.90 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $49,673 | $23.88 |
| 10 | Malden, MA | $48,825 | $23.47 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $48,057 | $23.10 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,046 | $22.62 |
| 13 | Nampa, ID | $46,977 | $22.59 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| 15 | Sioux Falls, SD | $46,487 | $22.35 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $46,429 | $22.32 |
| 17 | Leesburg, VA | $43,535 | $20.93 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,283 | $20.81 |
| 19 | Lawrence, KS | $41,039 | $19.73 |
| 20 | Pensacola, FL | $33,949 | $16.32 |
Vocational rehabilitation counselor salary details
A vocational rehabilitation counselor's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vocational rehabilitation counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $45,871 | $3,823 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs
The highest paying types of vocational rehabilitation counselors are licensed professional counselor, assessment specialist, and clinician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinician | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 105,023 |
| Family Therapist | $50,774 | $4,231 | $24.41 | 106,982 |
| Mental Health Practitioner | $50,628 | $4,219 | $24.34 | 140,365 |
| Therapeutic Support Staff | $34,086 | $2,841 | $16.39 | 192,172 |
| Marriage And Family Therapist | $57,856 | $4,821 | $27.82 | 114,361 |
| School Social Worker | $54,856 | $4,571 | $26.37 | 122,376 |
Top companies hiring vocational rehabilitation counselors now:
Which companies pay vocational rehabilitation counselors the most?
Vocational rehabilitation counselor salaries at New York State Restaurant Association and Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary at companies like Spectrum Healthcare Resources and Paralyzed Veterans of America are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York State Restaurant Association | $60,892 | $29.27 |
| 2 | Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan | $60,606 | $29.14 |
| 3 | Spectrum Healthcare Resources | $57,999 | $27.88 |
| 4 | Paralyzed Veterans of America | $56,877 | $27.34 |
| 5 | Apogee Enterprises | $56,629 | $27.23 |
| 6 | Washington State University | $54,397 | $26.15 |
| 7 | Sycuan Casino Resort | $53,960 | $25.94 |
| 8 | Urban League of Rochester | $52,957 | $25.46 |
| 9 | The MetroHealth System | $52,366 | $25.18 |
| 10 | State of North Dakota | $52,014 | $25.01 |
| 11 | California Dept Rehabilitation | $51,911 | $24.96 |
| 12 | State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc | $51,316 | $24.67 |
| 13 | My Florida Regional Mls | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| 14 | State of Connecticut | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| 15 | Advocare | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| 16 | Nexus Health Systems | $48,277 | $23.21 |
| 17 | Mental Health Systems | $48,219 | $23.18 |
| 18 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $47,855 | $23.01 |
| 19 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 20 | The Chicago Lighthouse | $47,274 | $22.73 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vocational rehabilitation counselor salary trends
The average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary has risen by $4,633 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vocational rehabilitation counselor earned $41,238 annually, but today, they earn $45,871 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for vocational rehabilitation counselors over the last decade.
Compare vocational rehabilitation counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary over time
Compare vocational rehabilitation counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vocational rehabilitation counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,900 | $22.05 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $43,900 | $21.12 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $43,500 | $20.94 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $42,600 | $20.48 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | $42,400 | $20.37 | +0.8% |
Recently added vocational rehabilitation counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of South Dakota | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Rapid City, SD | 06/30/2025 | $50,944 |
| State of Kansas | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Atchison, KS | 06/27/2025 | $49,650 |
| State of Washington | Dshs DVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Ione, WA | 06/27/2025 | $50,592 |
| Aa270 | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Austin, TX | 06/27/2025 | $40,920 |
| State of New York | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor/Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee (NY Helps), WCB | Syracuse, NY | 06/26/2025 | $56,807 |
| State of Michigan | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 9-P11 | Lansing, MI | 06/24/2025 | $54,304 |
| State of Florida | Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counsel | Miami, FL | 06/23/2025 | $47,840 |
| State of Texas | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Killeen, TX | 06/20/2025 | $40,920 |
| The Agency | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee (UMP) | Kankakee, IL | 06/19/2025 | $61,776 |
| The Agency | Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee (UMP) | Mount Vernon, NY | 06/19/2025 | $61,776 |
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