Ask what work a client wants
Discuss past jobs, interests and obstacles, check them against school and medical records, and see what help fits.
Career profile
Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation counselors help disabled clients prepare for work and live more independently.
A job goal becomes workable once a counselor works out the training, transportation and support the person needs to pursue it.
A day in the life
Agree on a job goal
Afterward, work out needed training and services, explain each option, and write a plan the client can use.
Help a client get to work
If work starts before the bus comes, explore other commutes or schedules and arrange job coaching if useful.
Check in during training or work
Ask about problems, note progress in the case file, and revise the plan if the placement doesn't fit.
Quick facts
Usually a master's degree
United States
$46,850/year
United States · May 2025
2% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Usually a master's degreeSome jobs accept a related bachelor's degree.
Pay
$46,850/yearNational median; about $22.52/hour.
Outlook
2% projected growthAbout 8,200 openings annually, including replacement needs.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like asking questions before proposing a solution.
- You can respect a person's choices while discussing practical obstacles.
- You enjoy following up on details after a conversation ends.
Things to weigh
- Case notes and service arrangements take time alongside counseling conversations.
- In public vocational programs, you may also decide eligibility and manage service spending—decisions that can make conversations difficult.
Where AI may help
Tools that generate text—artificial intelligence (AI)—can help draft materials or summarize information. Using client information requires approved tools and privacy safeguards.
What people still lead
You remain responsible for checking accuracy, recognizing bias, and making professional judgments with the client.
What we can’t predict yet
How much drafting and job matching can safely move to AI remains uncertain, especially when a tool overlooks disability-related needs or a client's preferences.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national median as a reference point when comparing actual offers.
The middle of the pay range
The median was $46,850 annually, equivalent to about $22.52 an hour over 2,080 hours. This isn't a starting-pay estimate.
The national spread
The lowest-paid 10% earned below $35,060; the highest-paid 10% earned above $77,170 annually.
Workplace type matters
Annual medians were $66,510 in state government, $58,280 in local government, and $44,920 in vocational rehabilitation services. Government figures exclude education and hospitals.
Openings include replacement hiring
Employment is projected to grow 2%, with about 8,200 openings a year on average. Openings include replacing people who leave the occupation; they aren't all newly created jobs.
Getting started
Complete graduate preparation
- What the route involves
- Earn a master's in rehabilitation counseling or a related field, typically including a supervised internship.
- What it can lead to
- Meet the education level many employers require or prefer.
- What to check
- Counseling licensure depends on state and services. It typically requires a master's, supervised experience, and an accepted exam; vocational-only services may be exempt. Check the state board before choosing a program.
Target jobs accepting a bachelor's
- What the route involves
- Earn a related bachelor's degree, such as psychology, health, or social sciences.
- What it can lead to
- Qualify educationally for some employers' rehabilitation positions.
- What to check
- These workers typically provide a narrower range of services than master's-trained counselors.
Choose education around the services you want to provide and the jobs you intend to apply for.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn your agency's referral network and case procedures. Make records clear enough to track what the client needs next.
Handle more complex cases
Build skill interpreting assessments and coordinating plans for people with different or multiple disabilities.
Guide other counselors
A lead role can add advising colleagues on counseling and placement decisions. Requirements and titles depend on the employer.
Where you can work
State vocational rehabilitation agencies
Client planning sits alongside eligibility decisions and service budgets. You also work with employers and community agencies to arrange a workable route into employment.
- Office
Veterans Benefits Administration
You work with veterans whose disabilities affect employment or independence. Medical and vocational evaluations inform plans, and the role includes deciding eligibility and entitlement to rehabilitation services.
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Imagine a client wants a job whose shift starts before their bus arrives. Write three questions you would ask before suggesting a solution, then sketch two options to discuss. Notice whether you enjoy working through barriers while leaving the choice with the client.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rehabilitation Counselors. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine. 21-1015.00 — Rehabilitation Counselors. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- California Department of Human Resources. Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (9806). Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Qualification Standard. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Frequently Asked Questions and Guiding Statements for Using Artificial Intelligence. Accessed 2026-10-03.