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How to hire a vocational rehabilitation counselor

Vocational rehabilitation counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring vocational rehabilitation counselors in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a vocational rehabilitation counselor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per vocational rehabilitation counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 42,946 vocational rehabilitation counselors in the US, and there are currently 78,174 job openings in this field.
  • Jacksonville, FL, has the highest demand for vocational rehabilitation counselors, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a vocational rehabilitation counselor, step by step

To hire a vocational rehabilitation counselor, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a vocational rehabilitation counselor:

Here's a step-by-step vocational rehabilitation counselor hiring guide:

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

What does a vocational rehabilitation counselor do?

The primary role of a vocational rehabilitation counselor is to help disabled people to live fully and independently. Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities in securing employment. They provide health care to those who are coping with mental illness, substance abuse issues, psychological disorders, or physical disabilities. Knowledge of patient care, health management, rehabilitation program, and clinical psychology is a must for this job.

Learn more about the specifics of what a vocational rehabilitation counselor does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a vocational rehabilitation counselor, 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?

    Hiring the perfect vocational rehabilitation counselor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of vocational rehabilitation counselors.

    Type of Vocational Rehabilitation CounselorDescriptionHourly rate
    Vocational Rehabilitation CounselorRehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.$15-29
    ClinicianA clinician specializes in providing diagnosis, treatment, and direct care to patients with different illnesses. A clinician's duties mainly revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis, providing medical care through various therapies, and improving one's overall health condition... Show more$16-49
    Family TherapistA Family Therapist works with couples and families to help ameliorate marital and family issues. They can work in hospitals, treatment programs, government agencies, health organizations, and private practices.$17-32
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Rehabilitation
    • Substance Abuse
    • Transferable
    • Plan Development
    • Vocational Assessments
    • Social Work
    • Vocational Rehabilitation
    • Mental Health
    • Veterans
    • Competitive Employment
    • Labor Market Surveys
    • Independent Living
    • Rehabilitation Programs
    • Community Resources
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Collaborate with institutions of higher learning and local organizations to help assign veterans achieve independent living and academic success.
    • Conduct vocational assessments, transferable skills analyses, labor market surveys; write r sum s and relate correspondence.
    • Conduct diagnosis interview, eligibility determination, review assessments, plan and implement individual plan for employment (IPE).
    • Determine eligibility for services and develop individualized rehabilitation programs.
    • Provide independent professional vocational rehabilitation counseling to individuals with disabilities.
    • Apply creative and professional conflict resolution strategies to ensure RTW plan success.
    More vocational rehabilitation counselor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your vocational rehabilitation counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A vocational rehabilitation counselor can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, vocational rehabilitation counselors' average salary in florida is 50% less than in new jersey.
    • Seniority. Entry-level vocational rehabilitation counselors 47% less than senior-level vocational rehabilitation counselors.
    • Certifications. A vocational rehabilitation counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a vocational rehabilitation counselor's salary.

    Average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary

    $45,871yearly

    $22.05 hourly rate

    Entry-level vocational rehabilitation counselor salary
    $33,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 27, 2025

    Average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1North Dakota$55,012$26
    2Washington$54,833$26
    3Illinois$54,225$26
    4Michigan$53,573$26
    5Nebraska$51,814$25
    6Pennsylvania$50,863$24
    7Oregon$50,748$24
    8Puerto Rico$49,722$24
    9Ohio$49,673$24
    10Massachusetts$48,825$23
    11New York$48,057$23
    12Nevada$47,046$23
    13Idaho$46,977$23
    14Hawaii$46,690$22
    15South Dakota$46,487$22
    16California$46,429$22
    17Virginia$43,535$21
    18Arizona$43,283$21
    19Kansas$41,039$20
    20Florida$33,949$16

    Average vocational rehabilitation counselor salary by company

  4. Writing a vocational rehabilitation counselor job description

    A good vocational rehabilitation counselor job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a vocational rehabilitation counselor job description:

    Vocational rehabilitation counselor job description example

    TRDI is a corporation with a mission servicing the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), General Services Administration (GSA), and various major corporations. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, TRDI offers a deep portfolio of Facility and Food Management Services . Our mission is “to create and enhance life opportunities for people with barriers and disabilities,” including our veterans.

    Our portfolio of services is backed by reliable employees trained and committed to excel in a broad range of careers spanning dozens of industries. TRDI employees are the quality of workers every employer seeks - individuals of character and integrity, with an emphasis on discipline, and a strong desire to succeed.

    Job Summary

    TRDI is committed in finding a dedicated qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor who will evaluate and assist employees in developing skills to overcome psychological and physical barriers and disabilities to excel in their employment opportunities. In this role, your duty is to qualify individuals for the AbilityOne Program and provide rehabilitation services, to achieve employment goals and further progress into a transitional placement program. This position is an on-site (non-remote) position in San Antonio, TX.

    Duties

    · Knowledge of procedures for assessing achievement, limitations, intellectual, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

    · Complete and maintain records and reports to meet required timelines; verify employee's information as it pertains to AbilityOne requirements.

    · Maintain complete file documentation to include, but not limited to, medical documentation, and individual employee assessment reports, in accordance with requirements of the AbilityOne program.

    · Demonstrate knowledge of data-collection, data-interpretation, and communication with stakeholders for the development and submission of corporate, government, and other regulatory reporting requirements.

    · Calculate and analyze data for the purpose of maintaining ratio requirements, identifying trends, develop training modules, and to provide guidance for all involved stakeholders.

    · Provide training to assist with identification and understanding of individuals with disabilities

    · Network with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies to ensure a successful placement program.

    · Develop and reinforce recruitment strategies to ensure that vacancies are filled to ensure compliance with ratio requirements.

    Skills/Abilities Required

    · Ability to communicate orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner

    · Ability to maintain confidentiality of information

    · Ability to manage time effectively

    · Ability to make decisions and solve problems while working under pressure

    · Detail oriented with strong organizational skills

    · Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Package (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.)

    Travel Requirements

    Occasional travel to contract sites in 9 states.

    Qualifications

    Education

    · Masters Degree in Social Work, Special Education, Psychology, Counseling, or other related field, required.

    · CCM Certification, or working towards certification.

    Experience

    · Proficient in MS Office.

    · Knowledge of disabilities, impact of disability on functional limitations, and the individuals ability to obtain and maintain employment.

    · Bilingual in Spanish, preferred.

    · Federal Contracting/Service Contract Act (SCA) Experience preferred.

    · U.S. AbilityOne Commission Experience preferred.

    Benefits

    · Employer paid Health, Dental, Vision, Life, and AD&D Insurance

    · Employer paid Long-term and short-term disability insurance

    · Paid time off

    · Paid Holidays

    · 401K Plan

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

    41 CFR 60-1.35(c) Administration


    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find vocational rehabilitation counselors 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 vocational rehabilitation counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit vocational rehabilitation counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit vocational rehabilitation counselors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    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 vocational rehabilitation counselor

    Once you've decided on a perfect vocational rehabilitation counselor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new vocational rehabilitation counselor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 vocational rehabilitation counselor?

There are different types of costs for hiring vocational rehabilitation counselors. 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 vocational rehabilitation counselor employee.

You can expect to pay around $45,871 per year for a vocational rehabilitation counselor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for vocational rehabilitation counselors in the US typically range between $15 and $29 an hour.

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