Rehabilitation Counselor Salary in Chicago, IL
Rehabilitation Counselors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $49,350 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,535 take-home, or $3,295 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median rehabilitation counselor salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,742
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,060
- Medicare (1.45%)$716
- Illinois income tax$2,298
- Take-home pay$39,535
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Rehabilitation Counselor pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,320 | $17.94 | $30,464 | $2,539 |
| 25th percentile | $45,550 | $21.90 | $36,669 | $3,056 |
| Median (50th) | $49,350 | $23.73 | $39,535 | $3,295 |
| 75th percentile | $59,340 | $28.53 | $47,067 | $3,922 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,270 | $35.71 | $57,547 | $4,796 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,350 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median rehabilitation counselor's $39,535 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,163 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rehabilitation Counselor jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for rehabilitation counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $58,580 | $49,249 | $44,315 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $49,350 | $39,535 | $38,163 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $48,290 | $39,250 | $36,047 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $50,000 | $40,252 | $35,760 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $47,440 | $38,146 | $35,234 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,480 | $35,822 | $31,543 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: rehabilitation counselors
Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rehabilitation counselor make in Chicago, IL?
The median rehabilitation counselor salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,350 a year, or about $23.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,550 and $59,340.
What is a rehabilitation counselor’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $49,350 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $39,535 a year ($3,295 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,298 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a rehabilitation counselor?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $46,850. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,163 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a rehabilitation counselor afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median rehabilitation counselor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Healthcare Social Worker — $71,430
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $64,790
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $64,730
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $61,600
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $57,720
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $47,180