All About Social and Human Service Assistants
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.
- Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
- Assist in locating housing for displaced individuals.
- Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
- Observe clients' food selections and recommend alternate economical and nutritional food choices.
- Transport and accompany clients to shopping areas or to appointments, using automobile.
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What Every Social & Human Service Assistant Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Social and Human Service Assistants say are important on the job.
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
- Clerical Aide
- Casework Specialist
- Shelter Advocate
- Crisis Intervention Specialist
- Family Support Worker
Job Opportunities 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 55,400 job openings in this field each year.

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.
Salary for a Social & Human Service Assistant
The average yearly salary of a Social & Human Service Assistant ranges between $22,430 and $52,420.

Social and Human Service Assistants who work in District of Columbia, California, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Social and Human Service Assistants make in each U.S. state?
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
Learn what Social and Human Service Assistant education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Social & Human Service Assistant?

Who Employs Social and Human Service Assistants?

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

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Social and Human Service Assistant may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Social and Human Service Assistant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
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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