Rehabilitation Counselors Salary
Rehabilitation Counselors in Kentucky make a median of $58,540 a year, or about $28.15 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $64,879 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Kentucky?
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky sits well above the national pay line for rehabilitation counselors, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $47K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level rehabilitation counselors (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Rehabilitation Counselors salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $59K | +0% | 240 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $40K | -32% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track rehabilitation counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rehabilitation counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for rehabilitation counselors in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rehabilitation counselors typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,980/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rehabilitation counselor a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $59K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for rehabilitation counselors?
Kentucky pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rehabilitation counselors make in Kentucky?
The median is $58,540 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,000, and experienced rehabilitation counselors can clear $77,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,895/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 28.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a rehabilitation counselors salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rehabilitation counselors salary is worth about $64,879 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.