by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Rehabilitation Aide explores Rehabilitation Aide. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist In Rehabilitation Services Under The Supervision Of Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, And Other Therapeutic Professionals, And To Perform Routine Functions In Support Of Rehabilitation. Includes Instruction In Roles And Responsibilities Of Rehabilitation Providers, Basic Function Of The Human Body, Disabling Conditions, Therapeutic Skills, Client Management, And Communication Skills. Read on to learn the key facts every rehabilitation aide student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering rehabilitation aide programs.
Across the country, rehabilitation aide is a widely-pursued major, with 158 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Rehabilitation Aide Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for rehabilitation aide students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of rehabilitation aide programs later in this article.
Studies in Rehabilitation Aide build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations rehabilitation aide graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a rehabilitation aide program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a rehabilitation aide major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several rehabilitation aide degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 32 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 114 |
People currently working in careers related to rehabilitation aide tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 32.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 30.8% |
| Some college courses | 12.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Master’s degree | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in rehabilitation aide careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying rehabilitation aide prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to rehabilitation aide.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to rehabilitation aide.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Aides | 1,321,923 | 8.6% |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 866,044 | 14.8% |
| Endoscopy Technicians | 708,506 | 7.8% |
| Physical Therapist Aides | 209,671 | 7.2% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | 191,989 | 3.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of rehabilitation aide graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,334 |
| 4 years | $27,226 |
| 5 years | $29,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for rehabilitation aide graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers rehabilitation aide grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $53,362 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | $48,496 |
| Endoscopy Technicians | $40,643 |
| Physical Therapist Aides | $32,519 |
| Occupational Therapy Aides | $25,085 |
With 10 different rehabilitation aide programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased rehabilitation aide school rankings to help you.
Those considering rehabilitation aide, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Home Health Aide/Home Attendant | 1,704 |
| Medication Aide | 724 |
| Health Aide | 488 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Other | 49 |
| Physical Therapy Technician/Aide | 20 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
