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How to hire a work counselor

Work counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring work counselors in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a work counselor is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per work counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 3,686 work counselors in the US and 77,184 job openings.
  • Dayton, OH, has the highest demand for work counselors, with 3 job openings.
  • San Diego, CA has the highest concentration of work counselors.

How to hire a work counselor, step by step

To hire a work counselor, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a work counselor, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step work 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 work counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new work counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a work counselor do?

A work counselor's responsibility is to know the employee's problems including stress, workplace depression, declining productivity, and anxiety, and help solve them by resolving negative patterns, rehabilitation, and prevention to improve quality of life. Such purpose is to reduce sickness absence and pressure. Part of their helping profession is to respect the employees' privacy by sharing information and opinions on resources that the client needs since they are not tasked to disclose information and give advice.

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

    Before you start hiring a work 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a work counselor 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 work counselor that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of work counselor salaries for various roles:

    Type of Work CounselorDescriptionHourly rate
    Work 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.$22-31
    Social Work InternshipSocial work interns are students who chose to do their on-the-job training in the field of social work. They apply for an internship at social services facilities... Show more$12-24
    Vocational Rehabilitation CounselorThe 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... Show more$15-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Social Work
    • Discharge Planning
    • Substance Abuse
    • Community Resources
    • Mental Health
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Social Services
    • Community Agencies
    • Restraints
    • Mental Illness
    • Group Homes
    • CPR
    • Group Therapy
    • Litigation
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage litigation involving the agency, and drafts bills and amendments for legislative consideration.
    • Complete FARS, PERFS, and ASAMS as required.
    • Train in OMRDD requirements such as S.K.I.P, compass one, first aid, and CPR
    • Work as an in-home counselor for high intensity children's cases.
    • Assist with life skills, behavior modification, medication, and when necessary restraints.
    • Translate IPP reports verbally and in writing in designate second language (Spanish).
    More work counselor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your work counselor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A work counselor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a work counselor in Arizona may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level work counselor usually earns less than a senior-level work counselor. Additionally, a work counselor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average work counselor salary

    $55,384yearly

    $26.63 hourly rate

    Entry-level work counselor salary
    $46,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025

    Average work counselor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Illinois$63,071$30
    2Utah$62,282$30
    3Colorado$61,546$30
    4New Mexico$60,701$29
    5Michigan$60,659$29
    6Texas$59,914$29
    7Washington$59,033$28
    8Pennsylvania$57,930$28
    9Georgia$57,763$28
    10Hawaii$57,646$28
    11Tennessee$57,225$28
    12Connecticut$56,590$27
    13Massachusetts$56,345$27
    14Ohio$56,197$27
    15Maryland$55,946$27
    16North Carolina$55,543$27
    17New York$54,683$26
    18Indiana$53,653$26
    19California$51,530$25
    20Missouri$50,301$24

    Average work counselor salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1The Travelers Companies$62,397$30.00137
    2VMware$60,138$28.91
    3Family & Children Assoc$59,915$28.81
    4Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs$57,884$27.83
    5Seacoast Mental Health Center$57,533$27.661
    6Cigna$57,489$27.6418
    7City University of Seattle$56,265$27.05
    8Mental Health Partners$55,879$26.861
    9GuideOne Insurance$54,546$26.22
    10Premier Inc.$54,474$26.197
    11Management & Training$53,946$25.9435
    12The Independent Traveler$53,886$25.9126
    13Colorado State Express$53,886$25.91
    14Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr.$53,884$25.9130
    15The State of Oregon$53,489$25.7215
    16Sante Group$52,306$25.1536
    17Colorado Department of Transportation$51,339$24.68
    18West Central Behavioral Health$50,844$24.443
    19Child & Family Service$48,070$23.1140
  4. Writing a work counselor job description

    A good work 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 work counselor job description:

    Work counselor job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary: $18.50 hourly

    EOE Statement

    • At HOPE, we are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the community we serve. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.


    SUMMARY

    • This position is to provide counseling and assistance to individuals who are considering or anticipating changes in their employment situation. This position is to provide information and guidance to IPS employment specialists and provide participants assistance in obtaining comprehensive, individualized work incentives planning.


    ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

    • Provide guidance on benefits, work incentives, and employment services available to consumers.
    • Provide comprehensive, individualized work incentives planning for participants prior to job start
    • Provide information and assistance about reporting earnings to SSA, housing programs, etc., depending on the person’s benefits.
    • Facilitate access to work incentives planning when clients need to make decisions about changes in work hours and pay.
    • Work incentives planning includes SSA benefits, medical benefits, medication subsidies, housing subsidies, food stamps, spouse and dependent children benefits, past job retirement benefits and other source of income.
    • Provide information to beneficiaries on health benefits coverage options that may be available.
    • Show knowledge of SSA’s SSDI and SSI disability program and work incentives as well as other federal, state, and local work incentive programs and be able to communicate this knowledge in an effective and easy-to-understand manner.
    • Provide presentations and outreach to the community, in accordance with SSA guidelines.
    • Promote employment and self-sufficiency through the use of work incentives.
    • Maintain effective and ongoing communication with the IPS team(s).
    • Adheres to agency policy and procedures, CARF and DMHSAS standards and criteria, federal and state confidentiality rules and regulations and any special funding source requirements.
    • Attend agency staffing’s and other meetings as specified by the Director (weekly staff meetings, weekly IPS meetings, etc.)
    • Supports and promotes a service environment for individual in need of behavioral health and/or co-occurring services that is recovery focused, welcoming, and attentive to the needs of individuals who may have experienced trauma in their lives. Attends annual core competencies training in relationship to individuals with co-occurring disorders or who have experienced trauma in their lives.
    • Reports and documents services in accordance with agency policy and procedures. Adheres to HOPE policy and procedure of having documentation completed by the end of the next business day.
    • May be required to work evening or weekend hours.
    • Performs other related duties as assigned.


    QUALIFICATIONS

    • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

    • Bachelor’s Degree in social services or similar field preferred. At least two years of documented experience working with persons with disabilities or personal experience with a disability.
    • Experience with the service system, benefits, entitlements and supports utilized by people with disabilities.


    CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

    • In order to provide client transportation in private or agency vehicles, must possess current, valid Oklahoma license, and meet HOPE's vehicle insurance requirements. HOPE will annually obtain copy of Motor Vehicle and Record from the State Department of Public Safety.
    • Required to complete and maintain IPS related certifications and trainings.
    • Required to obtain and maintain DMHSAS CM Certification
    • Obtain and maintain SOAR Certification.
    • Obtain and maintain CWIC Certification.
    • Required to complete Therapeutic Options or approved safety training and annual updates.
    • May be required to obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR Certifications.


    LANGUAGE SKILLS

    • Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence and clinical writing/documentation in medical records chart. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to families, clients, and other employees of the organization.

    REASONING ABILITY

    • Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to seek out supervisory assistance for additional training when needed and make application of techniques or other skills to meet essential job duties and responsibilities.


    OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

    • Ability to relate to persons with severe mental illness and/or substance use in a positive, helpful, and constructive manner.
    • Ability to establish and maintain effective and tactful working relationships with co-workers; to express ideas and facts clearly and concisely in written or oral form.
    • Personality and mature presentation of oneself demonstrating the ability to work with various systems while maintaining objectivity and cooperative attitude.


    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 frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must have vision enough to read written or typed data. Must have hearing and speech enough to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and public in person or by phone.


    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 occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right work counselor for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your work counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit work counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit work 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 work counselor

    Once you've found the work counselor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new work counselor 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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a work counselor?

Before you start to hire work counselors, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire work counselors pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $55,384 per year for a work 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 work counselors in the US typically range between $22 and $31 an hour.

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