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Best states for a vocational rehabilitation counselor
Quoted expert
Michael Kiener Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for vocational rehabilitation counselors in the United States. Vocational rehabilitation counselor positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for vocational rehabilitation counselors.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs.
We figured that the best places for vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for vocational rehabilitation counselors, and the Northeast is the worst. Williston, ND is the best city in the country for vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs, where as New Jersey is the best state in the country.
10 best states for vocational rehabilitation counselors in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 919 Average annual salary: $66,746 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
2. Alaska
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $60,890 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
3. Maine
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $54,759 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
4. Colorado
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 659 Average annual salary: $57,827 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. Minnesota
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 657 Average annual salary: $56,960 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
6. Washington
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 1,051 Average annual salary: $54,516 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
7. Michigan
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 785 Average annual salary: $53,399 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
8. Pennsylvania
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 1,441 Average annual salary: $50,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
9. North Dakota
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $55,015 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
10. West Virginia
Total vocational rehabilitation counselor jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $63,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.61
Vocational rehabilitation counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a vocational rehabilitation counselor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a vocational rehabilitation counselor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $66,746 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 919 |
| 2 | Alaska | $60,890 | $52,000 | 739,795 | 146 |
| 3 | Maine | $54,759 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 268 |
| 4 | Colorado | $57,827 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 659 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $56,960 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 657 |
| 6 | Washington | $54,516 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,051 |
| 7 | Michigan | $53,399 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 785 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $50,745 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,441 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $55,015 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 82 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $63,183 | $44,000 | 1,815,857 | 98 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $60,363 | $43,000 | 4,454,189 | 256 |
| 12 | Illinois | $53,986 | $38,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,228 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $51,627 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 209 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $56,427 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 180 |
| 15 | Utah | $52,817 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 248 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $49,324 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 133 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $49,627 | $35,000 | 3,588,184 | 469 |
| 18 | Oregon | $50,726 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 440 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $49,829 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 57 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $47,975 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 273 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $48,946 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,028 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $49,782 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 182 |
| 23 | Montana | $48,608 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 130 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $49,068 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 175 |
| 25 | Maryland | $48,512 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 937 |
| 26 | Ohio | $48,432 | $34,000 | 11,658,609 | 790 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $48,383 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 160 |
| 28 | New York | $47,964 | $34,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,618 |
| 29 | Texas | $48,030 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,675 |
| 30 | Delaware | $49,019 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 113 |
| 31 | Idaho | $46,773 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 161 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $46,666 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 103 |
| 33 | Nevada | $47,157 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 165 |
| 34 | California | $44,840 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,743 |
| 35 | Vermont | $47,353 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 64 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $46,406 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 80 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $46,692 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 452 |
| 38 | Indiana | $45,166 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 531 |
| 39 | Georgia | $45,397 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 983 |
| 40 | Arizona | $43,243 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 731 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $45,447 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 446 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $44,007 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 463 |
| 43 | Iowa | $43,960 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 329 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $43,151 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 286 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $44,671 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 594 |
| 46 | Florida | $33,567 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,826 |
| 47 | Alabama | $43,741 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 266 |
| 48 | Virginia | $42,185 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 773 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $33,622 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 277 |
| 50 | Missouri | $40,864 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 443 |
| 51 | Kansas | $40,887 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 180 |
Highest paying states for vocational rehabilitation counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $66,746 |
| 2 | Alaska | $60,890 |
| 3 | Maine | $54,759 |
| 4 | Colorado | $57,827 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $56,960 |
| 6 | Washington | $54,516 |
| 7 | Michigan | $53,399 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $50,745 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $55,015 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $63,183 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $60,363 |
| 12 | Illinois | $53,986 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $51,627 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $56,427 |
| 15 | Utah | $52,817 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $49,324 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $49,627 |
| 18 | Oregon | $50,726 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $49,829 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $47,975 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $48,946 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $49,782 |
| 23 | Montana | $48,608 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $49,068 |
| 25 | Maryland | $48,512 |
| 26 | Ohio | $48,432 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $48,383 |
| 28 | New York | $47,964 |
| 29 | Texas | $48,030 |
| 30 | Delaware | $49,019 |
| 31 | Idaho | $46,773 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $46,666 |
| 33 | Nevada | $47,157 |
| 34 | California | $44,840 |
| 35 | Vermont | $47,353 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $46,406 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $46,692 |
| 38 | Indiana | $45,166 |
| 39 | Georgia | $45,397 |
| 40 | Arizona | $43,243 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $45,447 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $44,007 |
| 43 | Iowa | $43,960 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $43,151 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $44,671 |
| 46 | Florida | $33,567 |
| 47 | Alabama | $43,741 |
| 48 | Virginia | $42,185 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $33,622 |
| 50 | Missouri | $40,864 |
| 51 | Kansas | $40,887 |
Expert opinions on the best states for vocational rehabilitation counselors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for vocational rehabilitation counselors to find work opportunities?
Michael Kiener Ph.D.
Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling, Maryville University
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there is a need for over 12,000 more rehabilitation counselors nationwide and the growth in the profession is faster than the average of all occupations. The pandemic will only add to this demand. Rehabilitation counselors have the unique scope of practice to provide both mental health and vocational counseling. Areas of the country that experienced high unemployment rates could benefit from rehabilitation counselors helping displaced workers find new employment or transition to new careers. Moreover, rehabilitation counselors could provide mental health counseling to front line workers who have been managing the pandemic since March.
Vocational rehabilitation counselor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025