Occupations · Community and Social Service
Social and Human Service Assistants
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 21-1093.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 89% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $47,390 | 34,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $49,830 | 18,720 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $45,950 | 14,890 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,080 | 11,830 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,150 | 7,770 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $57,220 | 7,540 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,890 | 7,380 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,990 | 6,760 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $52,910 | 6,640 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $50,350 | 5,440 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $44,690 | 5,320 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,350 | 5,040 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
- Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
- Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
- Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
- Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
- Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
- Assist in locating housing for displaced individuals.
- Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
- Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
- Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.
- Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
- Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Teach parenting techniques to family members.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 3
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| social work assistant | 3412.5 | exact |
| substance misuse worker | 2635.3.24 | close |
| gerontology social worker | 2635.3.14 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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