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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊDisability Counselor
Mid-Level

Disability Counselor

You help people with disabilities build the lives and careers they want β€” assessing needs, connecting them to resources, and counseling through the practical and emotional barriers. Support centered on possibility, not limitation.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
E
C
I
A
R
Socialhelping, teaching
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Disability Counselors
Entertainment & MediaHealthcare Β· 74%Government Β· 20%Education Β· 2%Consumer Services Β· 1%Professional Services Β· 1%
Job markets for Disability Counselors
Employment concentration Β· ~268 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Social Services
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Disability Counselor

The work means one-on-one counseling, assessing goals and barriers, and connecting people to training, jobs, or services. You build long relationships, document progress, and coordinate with employers and agencies. A lot of the job is helping someone see what's possible β€” then walking the practical path there with them.

What's hard is the barriers outside your control β€” employer bias, thin services, and systems that don't cooperate. Caseloads and documentation can be heavy, progress is gradual, and outcomes depend on more than your effort. The emotional weight is real, and burnout is a genuine risk.

It fits someone patient, resourceful, and energized by individual progress. If you need fast wins or hate paperwork, the role can frustrate. But if you find deep meaning in helping someone build a life on their own terms β€” and the small victories that add up β€” the work tends to give that back, person by person.

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

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” 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
Energy & Utilities$95K+57%
Professional Services$91K+50%
Technology & Information$83K+37%
Construction$74K+21%
Wholesale & Distribution$73K+20%
Compared to Social Services average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Disability Counselors (SOC 21-1015.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Social Services β†’
Disability CounselorProgram ManagerOffender Workforce Development Program Manager (OWDPM)Employment SpecialistPlacement CoordinatorEmployment AdvisorJob DeveloperTransition SpecialistRehabilitation EngineerRehabilitation SpecialistJob CoachEmployment TrainerResidence CounselorVocational CounselorCare NavigatorVocational Rehabilitation SpecialistGroup CounselorGroup Home CounselorDirect Care CounselorClient TrainerOptions AdvisorCareer NavigatorHousing NavigatorEmployment NavigatorDisability Consultant+1 more
Exploring the Disability Counselor career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial β€” 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 β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$34K–$77K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
89K
U.S. Employment
+1.4%
10yr Growth
10K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$65K$63K$60K$57K$55K201920202021202220232024$55K$65K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
21-1015.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midProgram Manager$88KmidOffender Workforce Development Program Manager (OWDPM)$78KmidEmployment Specialist$59KseniorSenior Employment Specialist$59KmidPlacement Coordinator$61KmidEmployment Advisor$65K
View all Social Services roles β†’

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