Rehabilitation Counselor Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Rehabilitation Counselors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $43,480 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,822 take-home, or $2,985 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median rehabilitation counselor salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,038
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,696
- Medicare (1.45%)$630
- California income tax$729
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$565
- Take-home pay$35,822
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Rehabilitation Counselor pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,160 | $17.38 | $30,329 | $2,527 |
| 25th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 | $31,379 | $2,615 |
| Median (50th) | $43,480 | $20.90 | $35,822 | $2,985 |
| 75th percentile | $46,400 | $22.31 | $38,014 | $3,168 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,140 | $28.91 | $48,063 | $4,005 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,480 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median rehabilitation counselor's $35,822 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,543 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of rehabilitation counselor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for rehabilitation counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median rehabilitation counselor salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $43,480 a year, or about $20.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,560 and $46,400.
What is a rehabilitation counselor’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $43,480 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,822 a year ($2,985 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,294 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a rehabilitation counselor?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $46,850. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,543 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a rehabilitation counselor afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median rehabilitation counselor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist — $108,150
- Healthcare Social Worker — $79,830
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $79,000
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $78,410
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $71,250
- Marriage and Family Therapist — $71,110
- Health Education Specialist — $62,380
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $56,960
- Community Health Worker — $56,030
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $51,910
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $50,330
- Counselors, All Other — $48,830