Social and Human Service Assistants
Also called: Addictions Counselor Assistant, Advocate, Case Aide, Case Management Assistant, Case Management Coordinator, Case Work Aide, Certified Peer Specialist, Child Advocate
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.
What social and human service assistants do
Typical tasks
- Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
- Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
- 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.
- 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.
- Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
- Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
- Assist in locating housing for displaced individuals.
- Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.
- Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Social and Human Service Assistants salary
The median annual wage for social and human service assistants is $45,930 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $34,200 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $63,290. The mean annual wage is $47,690.
The mean hourly wage of $22.00 is 3.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Social and Human Service Assistants (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $45,930 → in 3 years $50,500 → in 5 years $53,900 → in 10 years $63,200 (10-year range $54,400–$73,400). The model assumes pay growth of +3.2% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Social and Human Service Assistants
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Social and Human Service Assistants? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Social and Human Service Assistants
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Social and Human Service Assistants United States | 福祉用具専門相談員 Japan | 児童指導員 Japan | 障害者福祉施設指導専門員（生活支援員、就労支援員等） Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $45,930 | ¥4.03M ≈ $25,607 | ¥4.42M ≈ $28,086 | ¥4.42M ≈ $28,086 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $63,200 | ¥5.41M | ¥6.22M | ¥6.22M |
| Outlook score | 62 | 54 | 73 | 68 |
| AI replacement risk | 40% Low | 21% Low | 10% Very low | 11% Very low |
| Workers | 438K | — | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Social and Human Service Assistants
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become social and human service assistants
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as social and human service assistants
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.