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Careers›Roles›Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Mid-Level

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)

Moving safely through the world is something people with vision loss often have to relearn, and you're the specialist who teaches it: cane skills, routes, and the confidence behind them. Independence rebuilt one route at a time.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
R
I
A
C
E
Socialhelping, teaching
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)s
Healthcare · 82%Education · 13%Government · 2%Administrative Services · 2%Professional Services · 0%Consumer Services · 0%
Job markets for Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)s
Employment concentration · ~361 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Healthcare
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)

Most of the work is hands-on and out in the real world: assessing skills, then teaching cane technique, route planning, and how to read an environment by sound and touch. You work one-on-one, in homes, streets, and transit. Progress is measured in regained independence, and trust builds slowly as someone learns to move without sight or fear.

The demanding part is the emotional dimension beside the skills work: many clients are grieving vision loss, and motivation rises and falls. Caseloads, documentation, and travel between clients add up, and progress can be slow and uneven. Settings span schools, agencies, the VA, and private practice, each with its own population and pace.

It fits someone patient, encouraging, and energized by gradual, meaningful gains. If you need fast results or a hands-off role, the slow pace may frustrate. But if helping someone walk to the store alone for the first time in years lands as a real victory, the work tends to give that back, route by route.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsHigh
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
RecognitionModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$77K+1%
Energy & Utilities$77K+0%
Technology & Information$74K-4%
Financial Services$70K-9%
Healthcare$70K-9%
Compared to Healthcare average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)s (SOC 29-1122.01), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Healthcare →
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)Rehabilitation SpecialistRehabilitation TherapistGlobal Mobility SpecialistCertified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT)
Exploring the Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$67K–$130K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
152K
U.S. Employment
+13.8%
10yr Growth
10K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSpeakingLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessInstructingReading ComprehensionService OrientationWritingMonitoringActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
29-1122.01

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorHealth and Wellness Director$61KmidRehabilitation Specialist$117KmidRehabilitation Therapist$75KmidGlobal Mobility Specialist$98KmidCertified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT)$98K
View all Healthcare roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.