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Social and Human Service Assistant

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What Does it Take to Be a Social and Human Service Assistant?

Social & Human Service Assistant Job Description Assist 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.

Life As a Social & Human Service Assistant

  • Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.
  • Explain rules established by owner or management, such as sanitation or maintenance requirements or parking regulations.
  • Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
  • Transport and accompany clients to shopping areas or to appointments, using automobile.
  • Meet with youth groups to acquaint them with consequences of delinquent acts.
  • Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.

Social & Human Service Assistant Needed Skills

When polled, Social and Human Service Assistants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Other Social & Human Service Assistant Job Titles

  • Halfway House Counselor
  • Field Representative
  • Case Management Assistant
  • Harm Reduction Worker
  • Mental Health Technician

Is There Going to be Demand for Social and Human Service Assistants?

There were about 389,800 jobs for Social and Human Service Assistant in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 16.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 63,800 new jobs for Social and Human Service Assistant by 2026. The BLS estimates 55,400 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Social & Human Service Assistant are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Illinois, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Social & Human Service Assistant Make?

The salary for Social and Human Service Assistants ranges between about $22,430 and $52,420 a year.

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Social and Human Service Assistants who work in District of Columbia, California, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Social and Human Service Assistants in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $28,740
Alaska $40,720
Arizona $34,190
Arkansas $30,390
California $43,330
Colorado $36,180
Connecticut $40,800
Delaware $33,590
District of Columbia $45,340
Florida $34,250
Georgia $29,360
Hawaii $36,700
Idaho $33,070
Illinois $32,910
Indiana $31,080
Iowa $35,030
Kansas $33,620
Kentucky $30,220
Louisiana $30,360
Maine $34,830
Maryland $35,520
Massachusetts $35,390
Michigan $31,640
Minnesota $36,160
Mississippi $28,710
Missouri $29,960
Montana $30,420
Nebraska $28,540
Nevada $36,850
New Hampshire $33,120
New Jersey $36,470
New Mexico $33,630
New York $37,180
North Carolina $30,840
North Dakota $37,120
Ohio $34,450
Oklahoma $29,400
Oregon $38,020
Pennsylvania $34,320
Rhode Island $35,300
South Carolina $31,660
South Dakota $25,540
Tennessee $32,920
Texas $36,000
Utah $28,840
Vermont $35,400
Virginia $33,580
Washington $40,200
West Virginia $30,750
Wisconsin $37,230
Wyoming $34,710

What Tools do Social and Human Service Assistants Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Social and Human Service Assistants may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Word processing software
  • Database software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking
  • PointClickCare HER

Becoming a Social & Human Service Assistant

Education needed to be a Social and Human Service Assistant:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Social & Human Service Assistant?

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Where do Social and Human Service Assistants Work?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Social and Human Service Assistants employed by various industries.

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Social and Human Service Assistant might also be interested in the following careers:

Career changers with experience as a Social and Human Service Assistant sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: University of the Fraser Valley via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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