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Vocational rehabilitation specialist salary
Average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary
$47,721
Understanding the Salary of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
A Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist plays a crucial role in assisting individuals with disabilities to gain employment and improve their quality of life. The average salary for this position is $47,721 annually, or approximately $23 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
For instance, states such as California and New York offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled specialists. Entry-level positions typically start lower, but with experience, professionals can command higher wages. Additionally, various sectors, including government and private organizations, provide different pay scales.
Understanding these dynamics is essential for potential job seekers. By analyzing salary estimates by state and experience level, candidates can better position themselves in the competitive job market. Resources like Zippia provide comprehensive data on vocational rehabilitation salaries, helping individuals to make informed career choices and maximize their earning potential.
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Where can a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist earn more?
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level vocational rehabilitation specialist | $34,600 | $16.64 |
| Mid-level vocational rehabilitation specialist | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| Senior-level vocational rehabilitation specialist | $49,300 | $23.71 |
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary by state
The average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary in New Jersey, West Virginia, and Colorado are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary states are Maryland, Virginia, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vocational rehabilitation specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $62,668 | $30.13 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $57,187 | $27.49 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $64,427 | $30.97 |
| 4 | Maine | $56,173 | $27.01 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $52,390 | $25.19 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $53,516 | $25.73 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,340 | $32.38 |
| 8 | Colorado | $63,260 | $30.41 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $61,854 | $29.74 |
| 10 | Michigan | $51,996 | $25.00 |
| 11 | Utah | $55,919 | $26.88 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $58,681 | $28.21 |
| 13 | Washington | $56,470 | $27.15 |
| 14 | Illinois | $55,254 | $26.56 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $49,937 | $24.01 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $51,245 | $24.64 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $57,233 | $27.52 |
| 18 | Delaware | $49,663 | $23.88 |
| 19 | Montana | $50,973 | $24.51 |
| 20 | Texas | $50,554 | $24.30 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $52,361 | $25.17 |
| 22 | Idaho | $49,137 | $23.62 |
| 23 | Oregon | $52,926 | $25.45 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $52,198 | $25.10 |
| 25 | Nevada | $49,694 | $23.89 |
| 26 | Vermont | $48,779 | $23.45 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $50,709 | $24.38 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $49,615 | $23.85 |
| 29 | Iowa | $45,311 | $21.78 |
| 30 | Ohio | $49,263 | $23.68 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $49,813 | $23.95 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $47,887 | $23.02 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $49,193 | $23.65 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $48,127 | $23.14 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $46,896 | $22.55 |
| 36 | New York | $48,530 | $23.33 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $50,158 | $24.11 |
| 38 | Georgia | $46,646 | $22.43 |
| 39 | Arizona | $45,677 | $21.96 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $45,771 | $22.01 |
| 41 | Indiana | $46,184 | $22.20 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $44,758 | $21.52 |
| 43 | Alabama | $45,113 | $21.69 |
| 44 | Kansas | $42,544 | $20.45 |
| 45 | Florida | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 46 | Maryland | $42,976 | $20.66 |
| 47 | California | $46,501 | $22.36 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $45,068 | $21.67 |
| 49 | Virginia | $42,921 | $20.64 |
| 50 | Missouri | $42,255 | $20.31 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $35,265 | $16.95 |
Highest paying cities for vocational rehabilitation specialists
The highest-paying cities for vocational rehabilitation specialists are Minneapolis, MN, Chicago, IL, and Gresham, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $58,698 | $28.22 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $55,494 | $26.68 |
| 3 | Gresham, OR | $52,948 | $25.46 |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,429 | $25.21 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,382 | $24.70 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $51,112 | $24.57 |
| 7 | Coeur dAlene, ID | $49,854 | $23.97 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $48,770 | $23.45 |
| 9 | Knoxville, TN | $47,106 | $22.65 |
| 10 | Rome, GA | $46,913 | $22.55 |
| 11 | Orange, CA | $45,991 | $22.11 |
| 12 | Prescott, AZ | $45,804 | $22.02 |
| 13 | Iowa City, IA | $45,318 | $21.79 |
| 14 | Oakton, VA | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $43,114 | $20.73 |
| 16 | Bartlesville, OK | $35,341 | $16.99 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $35,197 | $16.92 |
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salary details
A vocational rehabilitation specialist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vocational rehabilitation specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $47,721 | $3,977 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying vocational rehabilitation specialist jobs
The highest paying types of vocational rehabilitation specialists are rehabilitation supervisor, specialist, and work counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Counselor | $55,384 | $4,615 | $26.63 | 77,184 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $43,111 | $3,593 | $20.73 | 77,220 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | $45,871 | $3,823 | $22.05 | 78,174 |
Top companies hiring vocational rehabilitation specialists now:
Which companies pay vocational rehabilitation specialists the most?
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salaries at Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan and Peoria Unified School District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary at companies like Accord Healthcare and Project Transition are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan | $57,104 | $27.45 |
| 2 | Peoria Unified School District | $51,936 | $24.97 |
| 3 | Accord Healthcare | $51,859 | $24.93 |
| 4 | Project Transition | $51,705 | $24.86 |
| 5 | My Florida Regional Mls | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| 6 | Highland Rivers Health | $50,208 | $24.14 |
| 7 | Mt. Hood Community College | $44,798 | $21.54 |
| 8 | Community Involvement Programs | $43,159 | $20.75 |
| 9 | Florida Department of Transportation | $41,608 | $20.00 |
| 10 | Community Counseling Center of Mercer County | $40,428 | $19.44 |
| 11 | Functional Ind | $35,904 | $17.26 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salary trends
The average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary has risen by $4,820 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vocational rehabilitation specialist earned $42,901 annually, but today, they earn $47,721 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for vocational rehabilitation specialists over the last decade.
Compare vocational rehabilitation specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vocational rehabilitation specialist salary over time
Compare vocational rehabilitation specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,700 | $22.94 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | $45,700 | $21.98 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | $45,300 | $21.78 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $44,300 | $21.31 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $44,100 | $21.19 | +0.8% |
Recently added vocational rehabilitation specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aa270 | Vocational Rehabilitation Training Specialist (Hybrid) | Austin, TX | 06/29/2025 | $62,000 |
| State of Oklahoma | Vocational Rehabilitation Spec | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/02/2025 | $49,297 |
| Reliance Standard | Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Philadelphia, PA | 05/27/2025 | $69,890 |
| Abilities of Florida | Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Intake Specialist | Gainesville, FL | 05/22/2025 | $45,330 |
| 00 RHA Health Services | Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Specialist | Fayetteville, NC | 05/22/2025 | $31,305 |
| Aa270 | Vocational Rehabilitation Training Specialist (Hybrid) | Austin, TX | 04/28/2025 | $62,000 |
| State of Wisconsin | Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Superior, WI | 04/27/2025 | $53,052 |
| State of Oklahoma | Vocational Rehabilitation Spec | Kaw City, OK | 04/26/2025 | $49,297 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Aurora, CO | 04/25/2025 | $82,440 |
| Manulife | Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Alberta, VA | 04/11/2025 | $51,375 |
Vocational rehabilitation specialist salary FAQs
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