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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The national median tells one story. The city-level data tells a dozen. The national median salary for Rehabilitation Counselors in 2026 is $48,883, with entry-level positions averaging $35,196 and senior roles reaching $69,414. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $89,040, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Rehabilitation Counselor falls within the Community & Social Services sector, specifically in Community & Social. The typical education path involves Master's degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is clinical — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$54,180 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Rehabilitation Counselor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $89,040 — $54,180 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($34,860). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Rehabilitation Counselors in 2026: $35,196 at entry (P10), $48,883 at midpoint, and $69,414 at the senior end (P90). But raw salary is only half the story. The $34,218 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $31,484 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $83,160, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $35,140. The $48,020 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Rehabilitation Counselor in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $89,040 — $54,180 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($34,860). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $35,196 | $48,883 | $69,414 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £18,290 | £25,403 | £36,072 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$28,321 | CA$39,335 | CA$55,856 |
| Australia | 13 | A$31,708 | A$44,039 | A$62,536 |
| Sweden | 24 | 202,953 kr | 281,879 kr | 400,269 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $42,480 | $59,000 | $83,780 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $41,051 | $57,015 | $80,961 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $40,824 | $56,700 | $80,514 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $37,800 | $52,500 | $74,550 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $37,346 | $51,870 | $73,655 |
| Washington | 8 | $36,628 | $50,873 | $72,239 |
| New York | 5 | $34,473 | $47,880 | $67,989 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $34,474 | $47,880 | $67,990 |
| Florida | 22 | $34,212 | $47,517 | $67,475 |
| Colorado | 11 | $33,621 | $46,696 | $66,309 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $33,566 | $46,620 | $66,200 |
| Nevada | 5 | $33,506 | $46,536 | $66,081 |
| Arizona | 12 | $33,340 | $46,305 | $65,753 |
| Oregon | 5 | $33,264 | $46,200 | $65,604 |
| Idaho | 3 | $33,163 | $46,060 | $65,405 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $32,901 | $45,696 | $64,888 |
| Utah | 4 | $32,810 | $45,570 | $64,709 |
| Virginia | 7 | $32,270 | $44,820 | $63,644 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $31,853 | $44,240 | $62,821 |
| Alaska | 1 | $31,752 | $44,100 | $62,622 |
| Illinois | 5 | $31,389 | $43,596 | $61,906 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $30,610 | $42,513 | $60,369 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Montana | 1 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $30,139 | $41,860 | $59,441 |
| Texas | 40 | $29,991 | $41,654 | $59,148 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $29,938 | $41,580 | $59,044 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $29,787 | $41,370 | $58,746 |
| Georgia | 6 | $29,686 | $41,230 | $58,547 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $29,635 | $41,160 | $58,447 |
| Kansas | 4 | $29,484 | $40,950 | $58,149 |
| Michigan | 6 | $29,383 | $40,810 | $57,950 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $29,031 | $40,320 | $57,255 |
| Maryland | 1 | $29,030 | $40,320 | $57,254 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $27,972 | $38,850 | $55,167 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $27,821 | $38,640 | $54,869 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $27,443 | $38,115 | $54,123 |
| Missouri | 4 | $27,443 | $38,115 | $54,124 |
| Alabama | 5 | $27,337 | $37,968 | $53,915 |
| Indiana | 3 | $26,914 | $37,380 | $53,080 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $26,914 | $37,380 | $53,080 |
| Iowa | 2 | $26,611 | $36,960 | $52,483 |
| Ohio | 6 | $26,561 | $36,890 | $52,384 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $25,402 | $35,280 | $50,098 |
The state salary map for Rehabilitation Counselors: California at $59,000, Massachusetts at $57,015, Hawaii at $56,700 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($35,280), Ohio ($36,890), Iowa ($36,960) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $23,720.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($89,040 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $42,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $89,040 | 212 | $42,000 | $55,744 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $83,160 | 198 | $42,000 | $52,390 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $77,280 | 184 | $42,000 | $49,035 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $76,020 | 181 | $42,000 | $48,316 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $74,760 | 178 | $42,000 | $47,598 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $74,340 | 177 | $42,000 | $47,358 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $74,340 | 177 | $42,000 | $47,358 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $72,660 | 173 | $42,000 | $46,400 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $72,660 | 173 | $42,000 | $46,400 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $70,980 | 169 | $42,000 | $45,441 |
From a career planning perspective, Rehabilitation Counselor offers a $34,218 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Master's degree. Day-to-day, expect clinical work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Rehabilitation Counselors is $48,883 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $35,196, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $69,414.
The highest-paying city for Rehabilitation Counselors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $89,040. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($89,040), Santa Clara ($83,160), Irvine ($77,280). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Rehabilitation Counselor salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $34,860. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Rehabilitation Counselors (10th percentile) average $35,196 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $64,109. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Rehabilitation Counselors average $69,414 nationally — $34,218 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Rehabilitation Counselors can earn up to $126,437.
The top-paying states for Rehabilitation Counselors are California ($59,000 median), Massachusetts ($57,015 median), Hawaii ($56,700 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Rehabilitation Counselor involves Master's degree. The field is in the Community & Social Services sector (Community & Social), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical.
With a national median of $48,883 and representation across 288 metro areas, Rehabilitation Counselor offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $34,218 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.