Rehabilitation Counselors Salary in California
Rehabilitation Counselors in California make a median of $44,280 a year, or about $21.29 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in California?
About rehabilitation counselors
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level rehabilitation counselors (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Rehabilitation Counselors salary by metro in California
24 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $57K | +28% | 500 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $50K | +14% | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $49K | +11% | 1,640 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $47K | +5% | 280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $46K | +3% | 200 |
| Napa | $45K | +2% | 120 |
| Salinas | $45K | +2% | 90 |
| Modesto | $45K | +1% | 80 |
| Vallejo | $44K | -1% | 240 |
| Redding | $44K | -1% | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $43K | -2% | 1,050 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $43K | -3% | 850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $43K | -3% | 4,750 |
| Yuba City | $43K | -3% | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $43K | -4% | 130 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $42K | -4% | 190 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $42K | -6% | 260 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $41K | -7% | 920 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $41K | -8% | 150 |
| El Centro | $40K | -9% | 250 |
| Chico | $39K | -11% | 70 |
| Merced | $39K | -11% | 60 |
| Fresno | $39K | -13% | 590 |
| Visalia | $38K | -14% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 metros
Compare to other states
Track rehabilitation counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do rehabilitation counselors make in California?
The median is $44,280 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,280, and experienced rehabilitation counselors can clear $72,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,056/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 80.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a rehabilitation counselors salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rehabilitation counselors salary is worth about $41,718 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rehabilitation counselors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.