Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs earn a median of $54,210 per year ($26.06/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.6% through 2035, with about 12,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 43-4061
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs in four numbers
- Median pay
- $54,210a year, or $26.06/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $75K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.6%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 12,700162,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025162.8K
- Projected 2035165.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 162.8K Projected 2035 165.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school25.6%
- Some college19.4%
- Associate's23.6%
- Bachelor's24.2%
- Master's7.2%
Highest education held by eligibility interviewers, government programs Segment Value High school 25.6% Some college 19.4% Associate's 23.6% Bachelor's 24.2% Master's 7.2%
Also advertised as: Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician), Business and Employment Specialist, Case Manager, Eligibility Examiner, Eligibility Specialist, Eligibility Worker.
Pay
How much do eligibility interviewers make?
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs earn a median of $54,210 a year ($26.06 an hour, or about $4,520 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $38,900 and the top 10% more than $74,690 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $74,080. See Eligibility interviewer, government programs salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($87,440 average): salary in every city.
Every eligibility interviewer, government programs in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$54,210
Middle half earn $45,910 to $63,610
- 10th
- $38,900
- 25th
- $45,910
- 75th
- $63,610
- 90th
- $74,690
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,900 |
| 25th | $45,910 |
| Median | $54,210 |
| 75th | $63,610 |
| 90th | $74,690 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $54,210
- Median hourly wage
- $26.06/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,090
- People employed
- 154,800
Versus all US occupations
At $54,210, Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs earn 6% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,230 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 10% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $74,690 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,900, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($74,080), but once local prices are taken into account Iowa leads at $69,894 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay eligibility interviewers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $74,080 | $67,406 | 640 |
| 2Connecticut | $71,940 | $69,433 | 1,250 |
| 3Michigan | $66,830 | $69,458 | 5,060 |
| 4Washington | $66,330 | $61,983 | 3,880 |
| 5Massachusetts | $64,750 | $61,225 | 1,700 |
| 6Rhode Island | $64,560 | $63,121 | 570 |
| 7California | $63,520 | $57,370 | 30,960 |
| 8Minnesota | $62,820 | $63,698 | 2,910 |
| 9Alaska | $61,840 | $60,415 | 400 |
| 10Illinois | $61,840 | $61,866 | 1,740 |
Job outlook
Is eligibility interviewer, government programs a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | +1.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs to change 1.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,700 openings are projected each year, 7.8% of the 162,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of information clerks is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of information clerks varies by occupation (see table).
The increased use of online ordering and self-service systems will limit demand for some of these workers, such as order clerks and human resources assistants.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become an eligibility interviewer, government programs
Information clerks typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as eligibility interviewers, government programs.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)25.6%
- Bachelor's Degree24.2%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree23.6%
- Some College Courses19.4%
- Master's Degree7.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 25.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 24.2% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 23.6% |
| Some College Courses | 19.4% |
| Master's Degree | 7.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an eligibility interviewer, government programs do?
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
Information clerks do routine clerical tasks such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
- Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights.
- Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.
- Answer applicants' questions about benefits and claim procedures.
- Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
- Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
- Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
- Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most information clerks work full time. However, part-time work is common for hotel clerks and file clerks.
Clerks in lodging and transportation establishments that are open around the clock may work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.3
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Writing3.8
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Learning Strategies2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Service Orientation3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Negotiation3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Persuasion2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base reporting software
- Data compression software
- Document management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as an eligibility interviewer, government programs?
Women make up 74.3% of eligibility interviewers, government programs, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation.
Only 17.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 42.7 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 74.3%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 42.7All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 17.8%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 90,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of eligibility interviewers, government programs | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 74.3% | 47.1% |
| White | 52.7% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 36.0% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 3.9% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.9% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 17.8% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 4.4% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an eligibility interviewer, government programs?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Conventional6.3
- Social4.5
- Enterprising3.9
- Investigative2.5
- Realistic1.0
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
$50,610median a year
Most earn $37K to $68K
−6.2%Associate's - Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
Compensation, Benefit, and Job Analysis Specialist
$78,210median a year
Most earn $49K to $129K
+6.0%Bachelor's - Management
- Office and Administrative Support
Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk
$49,230median a year
Most earn $38K to $74K
−1.9%High school
More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with eligibility interviewers, government programs highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs$54,210
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs | $54,210 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs appears on
Questions
Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs: frequently asked questions
How much do eligibility interviewers make?
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs earn a median of $54,210 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.06/hr. The middle half earn between $45,910 and $63,610. The top 10% earn $74,690 or more.
How much do eligibility interviewers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for eligibility interviewers, government programs is $26.06 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $54,210 annual median works out to about $4,520 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for an eligibility interviewer, government programs?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of eligibility interviewers, government programs earn less than $38,900 a year and the bottom quarter less than $45,910 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do eligibility interviewers make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $74,690, so fewer than 10% of eligibility interviewers, government programs earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is District of Columbia at $74,080.
Which states pay eligibility interviewers the most?
The highest state medians for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs are District of Columbia ($74,080), Connecticut ($71,940), Michigan ($66,830) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Iowa moves to the top at $69,894.
What kind of eligibility interviewer, government programs earns the most?
BLS does not split eligibility interviewers, government programs' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $74,690, against a median of $54,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($74,080), Connecticut ($71,940), Michigan ($66,830).
Do you need a degree to become an eligibility interviewer, government programs?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 25.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become an eligibility interviewer, government programs?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for eligibility interviewers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is eligibility interviewer, government programs a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.6% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 12,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an eligibility interviewer, government programs do?
Information clerks do routine clerical tasks such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers. A core O*NET task: initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Do eligibility interviewers work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 3% of eligibility interviewers, government programs usually work more than 40 hours a week, 81% work exactly 40 and 16% work fewer. 100% say their schedule is regular and 0% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits an eligibility interviewer, government programs?
O*NET scores Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs highest on the Conventional, Social and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of eligibility interviewers are women?
Women make up 74.3% of eligibility interviewers, government programs, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. Only 17.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 42.7 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.