Rehabilitation Counselor salary in California
Rehabilitation Counselors in California earn a median of $44,480 a year ($21.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,260 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $46,850. California ranks 39th of 51 states for rehabilitation counselors pay. There are 0.75 rehabilitation counselors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rehabilitation counselors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| 25th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| Median | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| 75th percentile | $51,420 | $24.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,260 | $33.30 |
| Average (mean) | $48,570 | $23.35 |
Half of rehabilitation counselors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,706.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,853.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,710.77 |
| Weekly | $855.38 |
| Hourly | $21.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rehabilitation Counselor salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,450 | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,510 | 1,600 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $48,070 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $46,900 | 180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,700 | 1,100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,970 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,270 | 80 |
| El Centro, CA | $43,960 | 260 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $43,880 | 870 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,750 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,480 | 4,980 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,410 | 250 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,150 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,110 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $42,620 | 220 |
| Napa, CA | $42,560 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $41,930 | 930 |
| Chico, CA | $39,950 | 60 |
| Merced, CA | $39,640 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,690 | 430 |
| Visalia, CA | $36,600 | 170 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,310 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,440 | 400 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for rehabilitation counselors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $67,640 |
| North Dakota | $63,050 |
| Alaska | $61,590 |
| Kentucky | $58,540 |
| Washington | $58,050 |
| Connecticut | $56,340 |
| Georgia | $55,000 |
| Oregon | $54,970 |
| Idaho | $54,550 |
| Alabama | $54,040 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $28.48 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $67,300 | $32.35 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,770 | $28.26 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| Health Education Specialist | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| Community Health Worker | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| Clergy | $77,710 | $37.36 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1015. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rehabilitation counselor make in California?
The median salary for rehabilitation counselors in California is $44,480 a year, or $21.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rehabilitation counselors make in California?
The top 10% of rehabilitation counselors in California earn at least $69,260 a year. The top 25% earn $51,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for rehabilitation counselors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,940 a year, and a quarter of rehabilitation counselors earn $37,560 or less.
How many rehabilitation counselors work in California?
About 13,690 rehabilitation counselors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.