State of North Carolina logo
State of North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina · Hybrid

Rehabilitation Counselor

CounselorNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$43k-$76k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Agency
  • Dept of Health and Human Services
  • Division

Employ, Indep for People W/Disab - EIPD

  • Job Classification Title
  • Rehabilitation Counselor (S)
  • Position Number
  • 60054837
  • Grade
  • NC10

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Rehabilitation Counselor position is located in the Charlotte VR/IL Unit Office in Mecklenburg County. The primary purpose of the Rehabilitation Counselor is to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving their career and independent living goals by providing counseling, developing individualized plans, and coordinating services to help clients overcome barriers to their disabilities and/or obtain and maintain gainful employment.

Job Responsibilities Include the Following

  • Evaluating professional diagnostic data to determine eligibility and required rehabilitation services
  • Developing a written plan of services in conjunction with the consumer, parent, and/or guardian
  • Providing rehabilitation services within the context of a guidance and counseling relationship and providing supportive counseling
  • Monitoring the consumer's progress throughout the service delivery process
  • Working directly with community partners in order to assist individuals with disabilities in becoming suitably employed
  • Documenting service delivery and case progress in the case management system as required by agency policy

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $43,267.00-$75,718.00

Recruitment Range: $57,000.00 - $67,606.00

A trainee is an applicant who has not fully met the education requirements for the position. Salary for a trainee may be set at a lower level than the classification salary range and recruitment range that is listed in the posting with the salary being adjusted up accordingly when the trainee has obtained the necessary additional education and experience to fully meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the classification specification.

Trainee Progression

  • 6 months
  • 12 months
  • 18 months
  • Fully Qualified / 24 months

*Salary increases are awarded during progression.

Position is eligible for a hybrid-teleworking schedule to include weekly onsite work hours

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

Knowledge of or Experience with Case Management

Knowledge of or experience working with people with disabilities or underserved/marginalized populations

Knowledge of or experience working within a team setting

This position will close at 11:59 p. m. the night before the end date.

  • Repost- Reapply REQUIRED
  • REPOST - Previous Applicants Must Reapply In Order To Be Considered For This Vacancy
  • This position is funded in part through Federal Funds

About Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD):

The DHHS Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) promotes employment and independence for people with disabilities through customer partnership and community leadership. EIPD helps people with disabilities achieve their goals for competitive employment and more independent living in communities statewide. To learn more about EIPD: youtu. be.

Compensation & Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

Visit website for State Benefits

Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: ncdhhs.gov.

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.

If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.

Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at naces.org.

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board, etc.) indicated below.

Contact Information

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

  • Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from an appropriately accredited institution; or
  • Master’s degree in a related human services field from an appropriately accredited institution; or

Current certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employmen

Key Responsibilities

Assess diagnostic information to determine eligibility and rehabilitation needs, then develop individualized service plans with consumers and their families or guardians. Provide counseling, monitor progress, coordinate with community partners to support employment and independent living goals, and document services and case progress.

Requirements

Applicants must have a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, a master's degree in a related human services field, or current Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification. Experience with case management, disability or underserved populations, and teamwork is preferred but not required.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Eligibility AssessmentIndividualized Service PlanningDisability ServicesCareer CounselingIndependent Living SupportProgress MonitoringCommunity Partnership CoordinationEmployment SupportCase Documentation

Rehabilitation Counseling — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Rehabilitation Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 64% are remote, 38% have no call, 68% require no weekends — this position is remote.

In North Carolina, the Rehabilitation Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$62k (19 salary observations; 29 listings), vs ~$65k nationally (34 salary observations; 86 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-02-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$59k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

State of North Carolina ranks #11 of 14 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Rehabilitation Counselor at State of North Carolina a 6.7 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Rehabilitation Counseling — ranked against 33 active Rehabilitation Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, remote work flexibility.

Top Counselor Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 18 employers

11
<$80k
5
$80k-100k
1
$100k
6
$120k-140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks21 jobs · 18 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
43%
Loan repayment
24%
CME allowance
14%
PSLF eligible
14%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

Clinical Director - LMFT, LCSW, LPCC

Seneca Family of Agencies · Salinas, California

$112k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 6.7
Better work-life than 90% of Rehabilitation Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 33 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • Hybrid
  • Remote
State of North Carolina logo

About State of North Carolina

Government Administration
Raleigh, North Carolina
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
State Retirement Plan
Supplemental Retirement Plans
NCFlex Benefits
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave