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A Housing Specialist plays a vital role in assisting individuals and families with housing needs, from securing affordable options to navigating complex regulations. As of October 2025, the average salary for this profession stands at $40,842 per year. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, specialists in urban areas often earn higher wages due to the cost of living.
Salary estimates show that entry-level positions typically start around $35,000, while experienced professionals may earn upwards of $50,000. For those seeking higher compensation, pursuing roles such as Senior Housing Specialist or Housing Program Manager can provide significant financial benefits. Furthermore, networking and continuing education can open doors to opportunities that enhance both skill sets and earning potential.
Examining average salaries by state reveals considerable variation. States with higher demand for housing assistance, like California and New York, often report higher salaries compared to less populated regions. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective Housing Specialists make informed career decisions and target their job search effectively.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level housing specialist | $28,300 | $13.63 |
| Mid-level housing specialist | $40,200 | $19.34 |
| Senior-level housing specialist | $46,200 | $22.20 |
The highest-paying states for housing specialists are New Jersey, Hawaii, and California. The lowest average housing specialist salary states are South Carolina, Iowa, and Tennessee.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $69,681 | $33.50 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $53,733 | $25.83 |
| 3 | Washington | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 4 | New York | $48,089 | $23.12 |
| 5 | Delaware | $47,607 | $22.89 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $51,524 | $24.77 |
| 7 | Alaska | $46,827 | $22.51 |
| 8 | Maine | $46,646 | $22.43 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $47,449 | $22.81 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $47,036 | $22.61 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $44,975 | $21.62 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $48,322 | $23.23 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $45,086 | $21.68 |
| 14 | Nevada | $44,549 | $21.42 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $46,621 | $22.41 |
| 16 | Maryland | $45,554 | $21.90 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $46,541 | $22.38 |
| 18 | California | $50,609 | $24.33 |
| 19 | Arizona | $42,937 | $20.64 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $43,194 | $20.77 |
| 21 | Virginia | $42,757 | $20.56 |
| 22 | Idaho | $43,455 | $20.89 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $41,033 | $19.73 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $39,587 | $19.03 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $40,986 | $19.70 |
| 26 | Ohio | $41,956 | $20.17 |
| 27 | Oregon | $39,839 | $19.15 |
| 28 | Texas | $40,499 | $19.47 |
| 29 | Illinois | $42,308 | $20.34 |
| 30 | Kansas | $38,573 | $18.54 |
| 31 | Vermont | $37,091 | $17.83 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $35,091 | $16.87 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $37,135 | $17.85 |
| 34 | Michigan | $38,704 | $18.61 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $38,973 | $18.74 |
| 36 | Montana | $35,558 | $17.10 |
| 37 | Florida | $35,736 | $17.18 |
| 38 | Colorado | $38,279 | $18.40 |
| 39 | Indiana | $36,656 | $17.62 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $35,703 | $17.16 |
| 41 | Iowa | $32,786 | $15.76 |
| 42 | Utah | $35,492 | $17.06 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $33,783 | $16.24 |
| 44 | Georgia | $36,672 | $17.63 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,063 | $15.90 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $29,457 | $14.16 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $33,796 | $16.25 |
| 48 | Missouri | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $32,499 | $15.62 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $32,141 | $15.45 |
| 51 | Alabama | $31,746 | $15.26 |
The highest-paying cities for housing specialists are Urban Honolulu, HI, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $51,629 | $24.82 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $51,509 | $24.76 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $48,451 | $23.29 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $48,193 | $23.17 |
| 5 | Bethlehem, PA | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| 6 | Gaithersburg, MD | $45,216 | $21.74 |
| 7 | Quincy, MA | $44,967 | $21.62 |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $43,277 | $20.81 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $42,979 | $20.66 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $42,594 | $20.48 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $41,279 | $19.85 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $40,714 | $19.57 |
| 13 | Eugene, OR | $39,863 | $19.16 |
| 14 | Clinton, MI | $39,091 | $18.79 |
| 15 | Aurora, CO | $38,237 | $18.38 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $36,599 | $17.60 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,370 | $17.49 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $36,214 | $17.41 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $35,358 | $17.00 |
| 20 | Bozeman, MT | $35,154 | $16.90 |
A housing specialist's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $57,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $40,842 | $3,404 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of housing specialists are specialist, child life specialist, and human service specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outreach Worker | $37,639 | $3,137 | $18.10 | 65,822 |
| Children's Program Coordinator | $40,825 | $3,402 | $19.63 | 113,250 |
| Case Coordinator | $41,179 | $3,432 | $19.80 | 73,596 |
| Housing Coordinator | $41,425 | $3,452 | $19.92 | 38,873 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for housing specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Top companies hiring housing specialists now:
Housing specialist salaries at GeoLogics and Washington State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average housing specialist salary at companies like Boston College and University of California, Berkeley are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GeoLogics | $59,806 | $28.75 |
| 2 | Washington State University | $54,325 | $26.12 |
| 3 | Boston College | $54,067 | $25.99 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | $54,012 | $25.97 |
| 5 | Centene | $51,327 | $24.68 |
| 6 | Multicare Companies Inc. | $50,693 | $24.37 |
| 7 | Madison County Health Care System | $49,661 | $23.88 |
| 8 | International Rescue Committee | $48,169 | $23.16 |
| 9 | Synovus | $48,099 | $23.12 |
| 10 | Pokagon Band Of Potawatomi | $47,844 | $23.00 |
| 11 | Beacon Hill Staffing Group | $47,584 | $22.88 |
| 12 | DESC | $47,452 | $22.81 |
| 13 | Yukon Kuskokwim Health | $46,823 | $22.51 |
| 14 | Tampa Housing | $46,133 | $22.18 |
| 15 | County of Riverside | $45,884 | $22.06 |
| 16 | The Road Home | $45,247 | $21.75 |
| 17 | Restore NYC | $45,071 | $21.67 |
| 18 | Day & Zimmermann | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| 19 | BronxWorks | $44,406 | $21.35 |
| 20 | LifeWorks | $44,240 | $21.27 |
The average housing specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $52,680 | $25.33 |
| 2 | Finance | $43,992 | $21.15 |
| 3 | Professional | $40,797 | $19.61 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $39,486 | $18.98 |
| 5 | Health Care | $39,263 | $18.88 |
The average housing specialist salary has risen by $8,200 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average housing specialist earned $32,642 annually, but today, they earn $40,842 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for housing specialists over the last decade.
Compare housing specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare housing specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,800 | $19.64 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $39,800 | $19.14 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $38,300 | $18.43 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $37,600 | $18.08 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $36,100 | $17.37 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odyssey House Inc. | Housing Specialist | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $45,000 |
| Forestdale Inc. | Strong Futures Housing Specialist | Hillsdale, NY | 06/29/2025 | $60,773 |
| Center for Transforming Lives | Housing Specialist | Fort Worth, TX | 06/28/2025 | $55,000 |
| Liberty_Resources | Housing Specialist | Syracuse, NY | 06/27/2025 | $43,410 |
| Hathaway-Sycamores | Housing Specialist-Transitional Living Program | Pasadena, CA | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Community Housing Innovations | Housing Specialist | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $52,000 |
| Goddard Riverside Community Center | Housing Specialist (THE Monument) | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $43,000 |
| State of Louisiana | Housing Specialist 4 | Noble, LA | 06/27/2025 | $32,784 |
| Cumberland County, Nc | House Arrest Specialist POS # 105010005 | Fayetteville, NC | 06/27/2025 | $47,331 |
| County of Riverside, Ca | Housing Specialist I/II | Riverside, CA | 06/27/2025 | $70,081 |
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