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.
Social and Human Service Assistant Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Social and Human Service Assistants earn a median of $45,930 per year ($22.08/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 6.4% through 2034, with about 50,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 21-1093Community and Social ServiceLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $45,930
- Projected growth
- +6.4%
- Openings a year
- 50,600
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Addictions Counselor Assistant, Advocate, Clinical Assistant, Residential Care Assistant, Social Services Aide, Social Services Assistant.
How much do Social and Human Service Assistants make?
10th percentile$34,200
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$38,150
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$45,930
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$54,350
Upper quartile
90th percentile$63,290
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $45,930 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $22.08/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $47,690 |
| People employed | 437,860 |
Versus all US occupations
At $45,930, Social and Human Service Assistants earn 10% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $5,050 a year.
Versus community and social service occupations
Inside the Community and Social Service group, where the middle occupation pays $60,320, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $63,290 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,200, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $59,460, and still leads at $54,103 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Social and Human Service Assistants the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,460 | $54,103 | 2,080 |
| Washington | $54,770 | $51,181 | 7,590 |
| Oregon | $51,230 | $49,564 | 11,260 |
| California | $51,090 | $46,143 | 58,730 |
| Minnesota | $49,940 | $50,638 | 11,110 |
| New Jersey | $48,420 | $44,502 | 17,270 |
| Rhode Island | $47,720 | $46,656 | 2,290 |
| Maine | $47,710 | $49,160 | 4,580 |
| Colorado | $47,690 | $46,278 | 5,410 |
| Idaho | $47,540 | $49,783 | 3,810 |
Is Social and Human Service Assistant a growing career?
Social and Human Service Assistants6.4%
All US occupations3.1%
+6.4% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Social and Human Service Assistants to change 6.4% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.1× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 28,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 50,600 openings are projected each year, 11.3% of the 449,600 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
A growing population of older people and rising demand for social services are expected to drive demand for these workers.
An increase in the number of older adults is expected to result in growing demand for the social services they use, including home-delivered meals and community center activities. Because social and human service assistants often arrange and provide these services, more of these workers will be needed to meet the increased demand.
In addition, employment growth is expected as more people with substance use disorders enroll in treatment programs rather than being sent to jail. As a result, demand should increase for social and human service assistants who work in treatment programs or who work with people with addictions.
How to become a Social and Human Service Assistant
Social and human service assistants typically need at least a high school diploma, although specific requirements may vary. Training is usually provided on the job.
Some employers may require a criminal background check. Social and human service assistants also may need a valid driver’s license.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as social and human service assistants.
- Bachelor's Degree39.4%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)18.0%
- Some College Courses16.2%
- High School Diploma10.4%
- Master's Degree7.4%
What does a Social and Human Service Assistant do?
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.
Day-to-day tasks
- Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
- Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
- Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
- Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
- Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
- Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
- Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
- Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where social and human service assistants work
| Individual and family services | 28% |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 11% |
| Community food and housing, emergency and other relief services, and vocational rehabilitation services | 11% |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 10% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 8% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
- Learning Strategies2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Service Orientation3.9/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Persuasion3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Internet browser software
- Voice recognition software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Social and Human Service Assistant?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.3
Investigative2.8
Artistic1.9
Socialprimary6.1
Enterprisingprimary3.6
Conventionalprimary4.6
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
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.
Social and Human Service Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do Social and Human Service Assistants make?
Social and Human Service Assistants earn a median of $45,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 10% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.08/hr. The middle half earn between $38,150 and $54,350. The top 10% earn $63,290 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Social and Human Service Assistant?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Social and Human Service Assistants. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.4% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Social and Human Service Assistant a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 50,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Social and Human Service Assistant do?
Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. A core O*NET task: provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Medical software.
Which states pay Social and Human Service Assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Social and Human Service Assistants are District of Columbia ($59,460), Washington ($54,770), Oregon ($51,230) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Social and Human Service Assistant?
O*NET scores Social and Human Service Assistants highest on the Social, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. 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 923 occupations in the bank.