The invention discloses a treatment method for rare earth tailings. The treatment method comprises the following steps that firstly, pretreated rare earth tailings and calcium chloride containing inorganic matter are mixed, a mixed material is obtained, the mixed material is roasted at 480-750 DEG C, roasted smoke and roasted slag are obtained, the roasted smoke is cooled, and a niobium chloride containing product is obtained; secondly, the roasted slag is leached through water, then, solid-liquid separation is conducted, and a rare earth chloride solution and water leaching slag are obtained;thirdly, the water leaching slag is subjected to primary ore grinding and primary magnetic separation, roughing iron concentrates and roughing tailings are obtained, the roughing iron concentrates are subjected to secondary ore grinding and secondary magnetic separation, and finely-selected iron concentrates and finely-selected tailings are obtained; and fourthly, the roughing tailings and the finely-selected tailings are mixed, mixed tailings are obtained, the mixed tailings are leached through hydrochloric acid, then, solid-liquid separation is conducted, and a scandium chloride containingproduct is obtained, wherein the calcium chloride containing inorganic matter comprises calcium chloride, calcium oxide and blind coal. By means of the treatment method, respective recycling of iron,rare earth, niobium and scandium can be achieved.