Social and Human Service Assistants Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Social and Human Service Assistants — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$45,930
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.08
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$63,290
entry level starts ~$34,200
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 438,000 employed

How much do Social and Human Service Assistants make?

The median pay for Social and Human Service Assistants in the United States is $45,930 per year — about $22.08 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $34,200, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $63,290.

That is $15,460 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Social and Human Service Assistants salary range by percentile

Half of all Social and Human Service Assistants earn between $38,150 and $54,350 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$34,200$16.44
25th percentile (early career)$38,150$18.34
50th percentile (median)$45,930$22.08
75th percentile (experienced)$54,350$26.13
90th percentile (top earners)$63,290$30.43

Highest-paying states for Social and Human Service Assistants

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Social and Human Service Assistants pay at $59,460 a year, followed by Washington ($54,770) and Oregon ($51,230). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $31,200 — a gap of $28,260 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$59,460$28.59+29%
2Washington$54,770$26.33+19%
3Oregon$51,230$24.63+12%
4California$51,090$24.56+11%
5Minnesota$49,940$24.01+9%

Workforce and education

About 438,000 people work as Social and Human Service Assistants in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $47,690 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Social and Human Service Assistants make in the United States?
The median Social and Human Service Assistants salary in the United States is $45,930 per year, or about $22.08 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $34,200, while the top 10% of earners make $63,290 or more.
How does Social and Human Service Assistants pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Social and Human Service Assistants median of $45,930 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Social and Human Service Assistants the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Social and Human Service Assistants, with a median salary of $59,460 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Social and Human Service Assistants need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Social and Human Service Assistants work in the United States?
About 438,000 people were employed as Social and Human Service Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.