Social Work Assistant

Employment

Social and human service assistants held about 425,600 jobs in 2019. Employment of social and human service assistants is projected to grow 17 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. They generally work full time, and some work nights and weekends. Social/Human Service Assistants work for nonprofit organizations, private for-profit social service agencies, and state and local government. They may work in offices, clinics, hospitals, group homes, and shelters. Some travel around their communities to see clients.

The median annual wage for social and human service assistants was $35,060 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,750m and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,230.

In May 2019, the median annual wages for social and human service assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

  • $41,030 - Local government, excluding education and hospitals
  • $38,760 - State government, excluding education and hospitals
  • $34,450 - Individual and family services
  • $31,370 - Community and vocational rehabilitation services
  • $31,020 - Nursing and residential care facilities

Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2021 edition, Social and Human Service Assistants.at https://www.bls.gov.ooh/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm