Rehabilitation Counselors

Rehabilitation counselors work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.

Duties

Rehabilitation counselors typically do the following:

• Provide individual and group counseling to help clients with a variety of issues
• Evaluate clients’ abilities, interests, experiences, skills, health, and education
• Develop a rehabilitation plan for clients, and, if necessary, consult with doctors, therapists, or other healthcare workers
• Refer clients to services, such as medical care or career training
• Help employers and community members understand the needs and abilities of people with disabilities, as well as related laws and resources
• Help clients develop their skills and use their strengths to adjust to functional or other limitations
• Locate resources, such as wheelchairs or computer programs, that help clients live and work more independently
• Maintain client records and monitor clients’ progress, adjusting the rehabilitation plan as necessary
• Advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to live in a community and work in the job of their choice

Rehabilitation counselors help people with disabilities at various stages in their lives. For example, some work with students to develop strategies for transitioning from school to work. Others help veterans to cope with the mental or physical effects of their military service. Still others help people adapt to disabilities developed later in life from illness or injury.

Some rehabilitation counselors deal specifically with employment issues. These counselors, sometimes called vocational rehabilitation counselors, typically work with older students and adults.

Rehabilitation counselors held about 91,900 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of rehabilitation counselors were as follows:

Rehabilitation counselors work in a variety of settings, such as community rehabilitation centers, senior citizen centers, and youth guidance organizations.

Work Schedules

Most rehabilitation counselors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Depending on where they are employed, rehabilitation counselors may work evenings, weekends, or part time.

Rehabilitation counselors typically need a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field, although a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for some jobs. Some positions require a license or certification.

The median annual wage for rehabilitation counselors was $46,110 in May 2024.

Employment of rehabilitation counselors is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.

Despite limited employment growth, about 10,000 openings for rehabilitation counselors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.