Rehabilitation Counselors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,270 or more. The middle half of rehabilitation counselors in Chicago earn between $45,550 and $59,340.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $49KMedian
- $59K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,210 | $4,518 | $26.06 |
| Median | $49,350 | $4,112 | $23.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,550 | $3,796 | $21.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,340 | $4,945 | $28.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Rehabilitation Counselors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Rehabilitation counselors in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($54,300) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($51,820). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $46,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $54,210 | $49,350 | $37,320 | $74,270 | 2,440 |
| Illinois | $54,300 | $49,350 | $37,280 | $75,020 | 4,140 |
| United States | $51,820 | $46,850 | $35,060 | $77,170 | 94,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Rehabilitation Counselors salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $54,210, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $43,195 a year, or $3,600 a month and $1,661 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $44,141 | $3,678 |
| Working in IL | $43,195 | $3,600 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for rehabilitation counselors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $54,210 buys what about $52,329 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Rehabilitation Counselors salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 5th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($64,390).
- Springfield$64,390
- Champaign$58,510
- Kankakee$56,680
- Peoria$56,660
- Chicago$54,210
- Decatur$52,130
- Rockford$52,130
- Bloomington$44,710
Highest-paying cities for rehabilitation counselors
New Orleans, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($80,030).
- New Orleans, LA$80,030
- Killeen, TX$75,610
- Olympia, WA$74,560
- Portland, ME$71,280
- Longview, WA$71,080
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Rehabilitation Counselors salary in Chicago: questions
How much do rehabilitation counselors make an hour in Chicago?
$26.06 an hour on average, and $23.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level rehabilitation counselors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the rehabilitation counselors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $43,195 a year ($3,600 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,210.
Do rehabilitation counselors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($51,820).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-1015; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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