Occupation salary profile

Social and Human Service Assistants

SOC 21-1093 BLS OEWS May 2025 H-1B LCAs, last 12 months

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. Excludes “Rehabilitation Counselors” (21-1015), “Psychiatric Technicians” (29-2053), “Personal Care Aides” (31-1122), and “Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs” (43-4061).

National median · BLS
$45,930
▲ +1.8% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
$50,244
▲ +5.03% YoY · 24 LCAs
Average salary · BLS
$47,690
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
437,860
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Social and Human Service Assistants

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation; H-1B covers 24 certified Labor Condition Applications filed by sponsoring employers in the last 12 months.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS) H-1B sponsored
10th — entry pay$34,200$38,489
25th$38,150$42,536
Median (50th)$45,930$50,244
75th$54,350$54,570
90th — top pay$63,290$64,169
H-1B sponsors pay a median of $50,244 for Social and Human Service Assistants — 9.4% above the BLS national median of $45,930.

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Social and Human Service Assistants

BLS projects employment of social and human service assistants to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 48,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
463,400 → 497,600
+34,200 jobs
Projected change
+7.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
48,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 4)
Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

H-1B sponsored pay

Pay by H-1B wage level

Employers assign every H-1B filing a Department of Labor prevailing-wage level, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). Pay rises steeply with level.

H-1B median $50,244
Change vs prior year +5.03%
After inflation (CPI-U) +1.84%
Wage level LCAs Share P25 Median P75
Level I 13 54.2% $41,600 $45,332 $52,000
Skills & tools

Skills needed for Social and Human Service Assistants

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening4.0
  • Social Perceptiveness4.0
  • Speaking4.0
  • Service Orientation3.9
  • Coordination3.8
  • Reading Comprehension3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.6
  • Monitoring3.6
  • Writing3.6
  • Persuasion3.4
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service4.5
  • Psychology4.3
  • Therapy and Counseling3.9
  • English Language3.7
  • Administrative3.3
  • Sociology and Anthropology3.3
  • Computers and Electronics3.2
  • Education and Training3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareMEDITECH softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordDatabase softwareElectronic medical record EMR softwareNuance Dragon NaturallySpeakingPointClickCare healthcare softwareWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What social and human service assistants do

  • Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
  • Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
  • Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
  • Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
  • Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
  • Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
  • Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
  • Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
Also called
AdvocateClinical AssistantSocial Work AssociateSocial Worker AssistantAddictions Counselor AssistantResidential Care AssistantSocial Services AideSocial Services AssistantSocial Work Assistant
More job titles for this occupation (50)
Case AideCase Management AssistantCase Management CoordinatorCase Work AideCertified Peer SpecialistChild AdvocateChild and Youth Care PractitionerChildren's AideClient AdvocateClinical Social Work AideCommunity AdvocateCommunity AideCommunity Development AideCommunity Organization AideCommunity Program AssistantCounseling AideCounselor AideCourt AdvocateDirect Support SpecialistDomestic Violence AdvocateFamily AdvocateFamily Service AideFamily Service AssistantFood Management AideGerontology AideGroup Activities AideHome VisitorHouse VisitorHousing AssistantHuman Services AssistantIntake WorkerManagement AideNeighborhood AidePeer Support SpecialistPsychological AideService AideShelter AdvocateSocial and Human Services AssistantSocial Service AideSocial Service Designee (SSD)Social Welfare ClerkSocial Worker AideSupport WorkerTherapeutic AssistantVictim AdvocateWelfare AideWelfare Service AideWelfare VisitorYouth AdvocateYouth Development Practitioner

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.