Rehabilitation counselors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Rehabilitation counselors in the United States earn a median salary of $46,850 per year — about $23 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 92K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +1%.
AI & Automation Risk
Rehabilitation counseling involves a significant amount of digital knowledge work, such as developing rehabilitation plans, maintaining records, and researching resources, which are highly susceptible to AI assistance. However, the core of the profession relies on high-stakes interpersonal interaction, empathy, and physical advocacy for clients with disabilities, creating a natural barrier to full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnstown, PABEST VALUE | $70,450 | Below avg (85.9) | $81,986 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $72,960 | Below avg (91.1) | $80,063 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $66,680 | Below avg (87.6) | $76,091 |
| New Haven, CT | $79,380 | Above avg (104.6) | $75,919 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $69,180 | Below avg (91.1) | $75,912 |
| Bismarck, ND | $66,700 | Below avg (91.0) | $73,277 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,420 | Below avg (86.7) | $70,872 |
| Erie, PA | $61,710 | Below avg (91.0) | $67,850 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $66,950 | Average (98.9) | $67,724 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $69,740 | Above avg (103.2) | $67,591 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $61,420 | Below avg (90.9) | $67,590 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $66,480 | Average (101.9) | $65,267 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $64,420 | Average (100.4) | $64,135 |
| Mansfield, OH | $56,970 | Below avg (88.9) | $64,103 |
| Mobile, AL | $56,290 | Below avg (88.1) | $63,895 |