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Career

Social and Human Service Assistants

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Assist other social and human service providers 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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $45,930 Median per year · $22.08/hr Most earn $34,200–$63,290

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Inform tenants of facilities, such as laundries or playgrounds.
  • Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
  • Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
  • Transport and accompany clients to shopping areas or to appointments, using automobile.
  • Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
  • Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
7% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 48,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals11.4%
  • Community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services7.9%
  • Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities7.6%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals7.4%
  • Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers4.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is an entry-level job for people who have a bachelor's degree and some hands-on experience. Most people get there in about 4 to 5 years, counting school plus roughly 6 months to 1 year of related work.

  1. Bachelor's degree in human services, psychology, social work, or a related field

    4 years

    You learn how people, families, and community programs work, and you build the foundation for helping clients.

  2. Human Services Aide

    6 months to 1 year

    In a part-time or entry-level support role at a social service agency, you learn how to help clients, keep records, and connect people to services.

  3. Social and Human Service Assistant

    Ongoing

    You support social workers and other providers by helping clients find benefits and community services, and by helping run prevention and support programs.

Where it can lead

  1. Child, Family, and School Social Worker

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move from assisting to directly leading casework with children and families, which usually means taking on more independent responsibility for each case.

  2. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker

    2-4 years of experience first

    You provide counseling and treatment planning for people facing mental health or substance use challenges, which typically requires a master's degree.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take psychology, sociology, or health classesThese courses introduce you to how people think, behave, and interact in communities, which is the core of human services work.
  • Volunteer at a local shelter, food bank, or community centerHands-on helping gives you real experience with clients and shows colleges and employers that you care about this work.
  • Join a club like Key Club, HOSA, or a peer mentoring groupLeadership and service clubs build teamwork and communication skills and often lead to service projects you can list on applications.
  • Get a starter job that involves customer service or working with peopleJobs like cashier, camp counselor, or tutor help you practice patience, listening, and problem-solving with different kinds of people.

In college

  • Major in human services, psychology, sociology, or social workA relevant major gives you the knowledge base this career builds on and matches the typical bachelor's degree requirement.
  • Complete a field placement or internship at a social service agencySupervised hands-on work counts toward the experience employers look for and helps you decide whether this path fits you.
  • Work a campus job in advising, residence life, or student supportThese roles give you regular practice helping people find resources and solve problems.
  • Volunteer with a crisis line, food pantry, or housing programConsistent volunteering builds real-world experience and gives you examples to talk about in job interviews.
  • Look into a certification in peer support or case management if your area offers oneA short certificate can strengthen your résumé while you finish your degree, though requirements vary by location and employer.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for volunteer or part-time work at shelters, food banks, youth programs, or senior centers. This builds the 6 months to 1 year of experience employers often want.
  • Ask your school counselor or a teacher to help you find a job shadow with a social service agency to see what the daily work looks like.
  • Learn to write clear notes and keep organized records. Strong documentation is a big part of this job and helps you stand out.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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