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How to hire a community support worker

Community support worker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring community support workers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a community support worker is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new community support worker to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a community support worker, step by step

To hire a community support worker, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a community support worker:

Here's a step-by-step community support worker hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a community support worker job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new community support worker
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a community support worker do?

A community support worker works with different social groups to provide physical, emotional, and emotional support to clients. Community support workers primarily aim to care for and support people with mental and/or physical restrictions or disabilities. They provide personal care assistance to clients and their families or caregivers. Part of their job is to maximize and promote independence in the home and community setting. They encourage residents in care institutions to take part in activities.

Learn more about the specifics of what a community support worker does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your community support worker job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a community support worker for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a community support worker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a community support worker that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of community support workers.

    Type of Community Support WorkerDescriptionHourly rate
    Community Support WorkerSocial and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.$11-19
    Program CounselorA Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum... Show more$15-27
    VolunteerVolunteers are usually unpaid individuals who render their service to a company or organization. Most of the time, volunteers are skilled in specific areas needed by the organization but prefer to provide free service... Show more$11-19
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Community Resources
    • Social Work
    • CPR
    • Patients
    • Mental Health
    • Severe Mental Illness
    • Rehabilitation
    • Community Support
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Community Integration
    • Substance Abuse Issues
    • Independent Living
    • Social Services
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Key staff person, charge with rehabilitation and environmental support essential to assist a consumer in achieving rehabilitation and recovery goals.
    • Promote recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency through goals and skill development in independent living, psycho-educational learning, socializing and recreation.
    • Key staff person, charge with rehabilitation and environmental support essential to assist a consumer in achieving rehabilitation and recovery goals.
    • Document progress and communicate to MHMR case manager.
    More community support worker duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your community support worker job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A community support worker can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, community support workers' average salary in idaho is 36% less than in oregon.
    • Seniority. Entry-level community support workers 40% less than senior-level community support workers.
    • Certifications. A community support worker with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a community support worker's salary.

    Average community support worker salary

    $15.14hourly

    $31,486 yearly

    Entry-level community support worker salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average community support worker salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$36,139$17
    2New Mexico$35,251$17
    3District of Columbia$35,157$17
    4Connecticut$33,343$16
    5New York$31,760$15
    6Minnesota$31,085$15
    7Massachusetts$31,047$15
    8Pennsylvania$30,460$15
    9Mississippi$30,220$15
    10Maine$30,055$14
    11Missouri$28,935$14
    12Idaho$23,744$11

    Average community support worker salary by company

  4. Writing a community support worker job description

    A job description for a community support worker role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a community support worker job description:

    Community support worker job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary: 15.00

    Sign-on Bonus

    Job Title: Community Support Personnel

    Reports To: Program Coordinator

    FLSA Status: Nonexempt

    SUMMARY


    Implements person centered plans to engage individual(s) supported in activities to either acquire new adaptive skills or support the individual(s) in utilizing adaptive skills to become actively involved in their community. Provides and seeks out opportunities for individual(s) supported to make choices. Treats all individual(s) supported, families, coworkers, and supervisors with dignity and respect.

    ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

    • Services are provided in community settings
    • Assists individual(s) supported in acquiring, retaining, or improving socialization and networking through the use of community resources, natural supports, and community participation.
    • Assists individual(s) to find and engage in specific opportunities for community participation, involvement, membership, contribution, and connections that develop the ability to independently or with natural supports engage in integrated opportunities in the broader community
    • Encourages the successful participation of individual(s) supported in opportunities for meaningful, ongoing interactions with members of the broader community, leading to the development of a network of natural supports for him/her
    • Provides service in a variety of integrated community settings where the opportunities take place and skills will be utilized
    • Assists individual(s) supported to participate in activities of their choosing
    • Provides opportunities for individual(s) supported in various settings and transportation as needed to achieve his/her goals and outcomes as noted in his/her Person-Centered Plan
    • Develops and facilitates community connections and relationships with input from individual(s) supported
    • Assists in scheduling and promoting volunteer opportunities in the community
    • Assists in scheduling and promoting opportunities for community connections
    • Observes and documents individual(s) supported behavior that is out of the ordinary and/or disruptive
    • Provides clear, accurate, and timely records and documentation
    • Notifies supervisory staff of any health concerns or needs for individual(s) supported
    • Converses with/listens to individual (s) personal needs, responsibilities, expectations and aspirations in support a supportive and understanding manner
    • Maintains service record of vehicles
    • Lifts, carries, assists or restrains individuals as needed to prevent injury to themselves or others
    • Be punctual and in attendance at work as scheduled in order to ensure required staffing ratios are met and to maintain individual safety and wellbeing at all times
    • Follows all policies and procedures regarding safety in all environments
    • Participates in and completes periodic training and certification as needed
    • Maintains confidentiality of records/information according to HIPAA, State & Federal laws, and guidelines
    • Reports all instances of abuse, neglect, mistreatment, & exploitation immediately to the appropriate supervisor
    • Displays conduct in the community that enhances the image of individual(s) supported and the agency

    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES There are no supervisory responsibilities assigned to this position.

    QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE High school diploma or GED, Ability to communicate professionally, clearly, and concisely, both verbally and in writing. Ability to easily adapt to constant change and prioritize work. Ability to drive an automobile and maintain an Alabama Driver’s License and meeting requirements insurability.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds while assisting individuals served or during the process of implementing a physical restraint on an individual.

    WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment is community based.

    The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


    Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

    Current Alabama driver's license


  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right community support worker for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your community support worker job on Zippia to find and recruit community support worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit community support workers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new community support worker

    Once you have selected a candidate for the community support worker position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new community support worker. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a community support worker?

Hiring a community support worker comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting community support workers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of community support worker recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Community support workers earn a median yearly salary is $31,486 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find community support workers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $11 and $19.

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