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Human Services

What Human Services Majors Need to Know

Studies in Human Services emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Human Services graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Human Services emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Therapy and Counseling — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Human Services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Coordination — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Human Services careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Human Services graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.0 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Human Services professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
PointClickCare healthcare software	Medical software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking	Voice recognition software	—
Electronic medical record EMR software	Medical software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
MEDITECH software	Medical software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Human Services graduates include:

• Youth Development Practitioner
• Shelter Advocate
• Family Service Aide
• Intake Worker
• Social Services Assistant
• Counseling Aide
• Social Service Designee (SSD)
• Addictions Counselor Assistant
• Therapeutic Assistant
• Youth Advocate
• Neighborhood Aide
• Social Work Associate
• Psychological Aide
• Residential Care Assistant
• Gerontology Aide

What Can You Do With a Human Services Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Human Services commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Social and Human Service Assistants	9.5%	$69,957	$55,295–$84,619
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	13.1%	$75,358	$58,637–$92,080

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Human Services graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	43.9%
Master’s degree	14.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	14.0%
Some college courses	10.5%
High school diploma or equivalent	9.1%
Post-master’s certificate	5.5%
Doctoral degree	2.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.6%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

How Much Do Human Services Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Human Services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$37,474
4 years	$39,398
5 years	$44,764

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $44,764 — roughly 19% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Human Services Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Human Services. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	54	18
Bachelor’s	71	27
Master’s	24	8
Doctoral (Research)	3	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Human Services Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Human Services graduates earn a median of $39,398 four years after completion — roughly 4% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Social Services Public Administration	93,195
Social Work	58,176
Public Administration	13,993
Public Policy Analysis	6,183
Community Organization and Advocacy	2,651
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other	518

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.