Rehabilitation Counselors

Rehabilitation Counselors score 35 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #468 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 17 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 10 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 4 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

35/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #468of 923 jobs
US workers: 94,740BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $46,850a year
In real AI use: 4 of 17tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (6%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 10 (59%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 6 (35%)

Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Arrange for physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and developing rehabilitation plans.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals to develop and implement client rehabilitation programs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Collaborate with community agencies to establish facilities and programs for persons with disabilities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Manage budgets and direct case service allocations, authorizing expenditures and payments.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Develop diagnostic procedures to determine clients' needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Collaborate with clients' families to implement rehabilitation plans, such as behavioral, residential, social, or employment goals.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Arrange for on-site job coaching or assistive devices, such as specially equipped wheelchairs, to help clients adapt to work or school environments.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Supervise rehabilitation counselors and staff.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about rehabilitation counselors and AI

Will AI replace rehabilitation counselors?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Rehabilitation Counselors score 35 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #468 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 11 of the job's 17 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 6 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which rehabilitation counselors tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence".

Which rehabilitation counselors tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed"; "Collaborate with clients' families to implement rehabilitation plans, such as behavioral, residential, social, or employment goals"; "Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 4 of the 17 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as rehabilitation counselors, and what do they earn?

About 94,740 people in the US, with median pay of $46,850 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.