Best degree programs for Social and Human Service Assistants, ranked by enrollment
2 college programs and 441 schools train Social and Human Service Assistants. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $45,930 median wage, 437,860 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
2 college programs at 441 schools train social and human service assistants, graduating 12,264 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Human Services, General. The job pays a median of $45,930 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
2 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Human Services, Generalmain feeder CIP 44.0000 | 12,186 | 99.4% | 433 | $35,168 | $29,279 |
| 2 | Developmental Services Workermain feeder CIP 19.0710 | 78 | 0.6% | 11 | $31,642 | $23,092 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 1,250 | Human Services, General | 43% | $21,535 | 79% |
| 2 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 751 | Human Services, General | 43% | $34,565 | 100% |
| 3 | Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 652 | Human Services, General | 55% | $20,584 | — |
| 4 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 483 | Human Services, General | 50% | — | — |
| 5 | Walden University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 290 | Human Services, General | — | — | — |
| 6 | Bryant & Stratton College - Online Orchard Park, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 229 | Human Services, General | 23% | $14,394 | — |
| 7 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 205 | Human Services, General | 70% | — | 91% |
| 8 | Monroe University Bronx, NY Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 180 | Human Services, General | 57% | $12,028 | 68% |
| 9 | Lindsey Wilson University Columbia, KY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 142 | Human Services, General | 44% | $14,471 | — |
| 10 | Post University Waterbury, CT Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 131 | Human Services, General | 25% | $14,659 | — |
| 11 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 118 | Human Services, General | 50% | $11,672 | 99% |
| 12 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 117 | Human Services, General | 53% | $19,944 | — |
| 13 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 112 | Human Services, General | 35% | $18,316 | — |
| 14 | Holyoke Community College Holyoke, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 102 | Human Services, General | 29% | — | — |
| 15 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 98 | Human Services, General | 56% | — | 57% |
| 16 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DE Public · 1 feeder programs | 98 | Human Services, General | 22% | — | — |
| 17 | Capella University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 97 | Human Services, General | 20% | $19,369 | — |
| 18 | Utah State University Logan, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 91 | Human Services, General | 59% | — | 92% |
| 19 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 90 | Human Services, General | 21% | — | 80% |
| 20 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 88 | Human Services, General | 32% | — | — |
| 21 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 88 | Human Services, General | 11% | $26,445 | — |
| 22 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 86 | Human Services, General | 37% | — | — |
| 23 | Columbia College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 84 | Human Services, General | 42% | $23,247 | — |
| 24 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 84 | Human Services, General | 45% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · 1 feeder programs | 81 | Human Services, General | 72% | — | 88% |
| 26 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 75 | Human Services, General | 59% | — | 97% |
| 27 | Towson University Towson, MD Public · 1 feeder programs | 75 | Human Services, General | 69% | — | 82% |
| 28 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 72 | Human Services, General | 41% | — | — |
| 29 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 71 | Human Services, General | 22% | — | — |
| 30 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 69 | Human Services, General | 43% | — | 93% |
| 31 | Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Human Services, General | 19% | $20,754 | 56% |
| 32 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Human Services, General | 77% | — | 43% |
| 33 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 63 | Human Services, General | 26% | — | — |
| 34 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 63 | Human Services, General | 65% | — | 93% |
| 35 | Community College of Vermont Montpelier, VT Public · 1 feeder programs | 62 | Human Services, General | 20% | — | — |
| 36 | Folsom Lake College Folsom, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 61 | Human Services, General | 44% | — | — |
| 37 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 61 | Human Services, General | 34% | — | — |
| 38 | Lincoln University Lincoln University, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 59 | Human Services, General | 44% | — | 66% |
| 39 | Colorado State University Global Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder programs | 57 | Human Services, General | — | — | 98% |
| 40 | Wilmington University New Castle, DE Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 55 | Human Services, General | 20% | $16,588 | — |
| 41 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 54 | Human Services, General | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 42 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 53 | Human Services, General | 35% | — | — |
| 43 | Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 51 | Human Services, General | 30% | — | — |
| 44 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KY Public · 1 feeder programs | 51 | Human Services, General | 56% | — | — |
| 45 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Human Services, General | 31% | — | — |
| 46 | Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Human Services, General | 49% | $29,887 | 74% |
| 47 | San Diego City College San Diego, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Human Services, General | 30% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Human Services, General | 81% | — | 71% |
| 49 | Columbia College Sonora, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 49 | Human Services, General | 27% | — | — |
| 50 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 49 | Human Services, General | 52% | — | 69% |
What social and human service assistants earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $51,090 | 58,730 | 1.15× | 66 | 1,562 |
| Arizona | $40,730 | 7,290 | 0.80× | 9 | 1,412 |
| New York | $47,190 | 40,970 | 1.50× | 44 | 1,241 |
| Florida | $44,410 | 22,670 | 0.81× | 12 | 1,035 |
| New Hampshire | $46,950 | 1,860 | 0.97× | 6 | 785 |
| Minnesota | $49,940 | 11,110 | 1.34× | 23 | 680 |
| Indiana | $44,550 | 11,740 | 1.30× | 11 | 675 |
| Kentucky | $37,440 | 4,670 | 0.83× | 14 | 529 |
| Massachusetts | $47,130 | 9,180 | 0.90× | 19 | 408 |
| North Carolina | $42,850 | 9,020 | 0.65× | 25 | 382 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,050 | 24,340 | 1.43× | 21 | 292 |
| Washington | $54,770 | 7,590 | 0.76× | 8 | 253 |
| South Carolina | $38,550 | 5,220 | 0.80× | 12 | 211 |
| Delawaremoderate | $40,710 | 1,050 | 0.77× | 4 | 208 |
| Connecticut | $44,730 | 9,930 | 2.08× | 5 | 189 |
| Missouri | $41,780 | 6,200 | 0.75× | 9 | 186 |
| Texas | $45,860 | 21,620 | 0.55× | 8 | 175 |
| Coloradomoderate | $47,690 | 5,410 | 0.67× | 4 | 166 |
| Oregon | $51,230 | 11,260 | 2.03× | 8 | 166 |
| Georgia | $39,480 | 7,410 | 0.54× | 7 | 130 |
| Marylandmoderate | $47,210 | 7,280 | 0.94× | 4 | 122 |
| Maine | $47,710 | 4,580 | 2.54× | 6 | 119 |
| Iowa | $42,480 | 5,230 | 1.19× | 12 | 115 |
| Nebraska | $38,940 | 1,460 | 0.51× | 5 | 96 |
| Virginia | $43,450 | 10,670 | 0.92× | 5 | 96 |
| Utahlimited | $39,930 | 6,540 | 1.34× | 1 | 91 |
| Ohio | $38,390 | 10,970 | 0.70× | 12 | 88 |
| Wisconsin | $47,500 | 7,750 | 0.94× | 8 | 88 |
| Illinois | $46,950 | 22,220 | 1.29× | 8 | 76 |
| South Dakotamoderate | $38,350 | 830 | 0.64× | 4 | 74 |
| New Jersey | $48,420 | 17,270 | 1.43× | 6 | 69 |
| Tennessee | $40,310 | 4,380 | 0.47× | 6 | 62 |
| Vermontlimited | $46,640 | 1,920 | 2.24× | 1 | 62 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $36,740 | 3,340 | 0.69× | 3 | 51 |
| Alabamalimited | $35,830 | 3,370 | 0.57× | 1 | 48 |
| Nevadalimited | $38,570 | 2,420 | 0.55× | 2 | 47 |
| West Virginialimited | $39,290 | 3,320 | 1.68× | 2 | 38 |
| Kansas | $42,570 | 6,070 | 1.50× | 5 | 35 |
| Michigan | $39,160 | 12,450 | 1.00× | 7 | 35 |
| North Dakota | $46,260 | 1,530 | 1.26× | 7 | 29 |
| District of Columbialimited | $59,460 | 2,080 | 1.05× | 2 | 24 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $47,720 | 2,290 | 1.62× | 2 | 21 |
| Alaskalimited | $47,360 | 1,370 | 1.50× | 1 | 18 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $46,340 | 3,050 | 1.24× | 3 | 16 |
| Hawaiilimited | $42,400 | 2,230 | 1.26× | 2 | 14 |
| Mississippilimited | $31,200 | — | — | 2 | 12 |
| Wyominglimited | $45,290 | 610 | 0.77× | 1 | 11 |
| Arkansaslimited | $36,770 | 3,530 | 0.96× | 2 | 6 |
| Montanamoderate | $38,570 | 1,200 | 0.83× | 3 | 5 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Writing3.6
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies2.9
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.5
- Psychology4.3
- Therapy and Counseling3.9
- English Language3.7
- Administrative3.3
- Sociology and Anthropology3.3
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.0
- Speech Clarity3.9
- Problem Sensitivity3.9
- Deductive Reasoning3.9
- Oral Comprehension3.9
- Written Comprehension3.9
Core activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.7
- Documenting/Recording Information4.5
- Getting Information4.3
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.1
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.0
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.0
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Social
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 2 majors mapped to Social and Human Service Assistants2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 19.0710Developmental Services Worker
- 44.0000Human Services, General
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Social?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Human Services, General, which awarded 12,186 degrees in 2024-25, 99.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Social?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this occupation. The largest are Human Services, Human Development. Together they graduate about 12,264 people a year.
How much do social and human service assistants earn?+
The median is $45,930 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $34,200 at the 10th percentile to $63,290 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for social and human service assistants growing?+
BLS projects a +6.4% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 50,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
441 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do social and human service assistants work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Advocate, Clinical Assistant, Social Work Associate, Social Worker Assistant among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 21-1093.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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