How to hire a human services assistant

How to hire a human services assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step human services assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a human services assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The human services assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A human services assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, human services assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of human services assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Human Services Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Human Services Assistant	Social 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.	$9-22
   Residential Counselor	A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences... Show more	$12-20
   Student Support Services	The one who shows the track of academic pursuit is student support service. Equipped with a wide range of knowledge themselves, such people provide auxiliary aids and services to the aspirants... Show more	$12-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Patients
   • Social Work
   • Direct Supervision
   • Direct Care
   • Social Services
   • Patient Care
   • Mental Health
   • Community Resources
   • Residential Facility
   • ADL
   • Treatment Plan
   • Front Desk
   • Vital Signs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage client medical data in accordance with HIPPA guidelines.
   • Assist residents with ADL's, social interactions, meals.
   • Provide care (ADL's) -serve trays/shower, escort clients/court/cafeteria, monitor ward checks/precautions/restraints/behavior/safety, census, orient new admissions.
   • Assist individuals in the participation of leisure-time activities and recreation as appropriate including anything outline in the individuals IP.
   • Document progress and communicate to MHMR case manager.

   More human services assistant duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, human services assistants' average salary in georgia is 37% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level human services assistants 59% less than senior-level human services assistants.
   • Certifications. A human services assistant 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 human services assistant's salary.

   Average human services assistant salary

   $14.39hourly

   $29,921 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level human services assistant salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average human services assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$31,686	$15
   2	New York	$31,390	$15
   3	Washington	$30,816	$15
   4	California	$30,615	$15
   5	Illinois	$29,429	$14
   6	Pennsylvania	$29,042	$14
   7	Oregon	$28,588	$14
   8	New Jersey	$27,513	$13
   9	Rhode Island	$27,486	$13
   10	Kansas	$26,643	$13
   11	Texas	$26,353	$13
   12	Delaware	$25,612	$12
   13	Massachusetts	$25,060	$12
   14	Missouri	$24,418	$12
   15	Alaska	$24,001	$12
   16	Virginia	$23,880	$11
   17	Utah	$23,590	$11
   18	Indiana	$23,278	$11
   19	Nebraska	$23,132	$11
   20	Oklahoma	$22,001	$11

   Average human services assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	ICF	$53,827	$25.88	9
   2	Minnesota State Fair	$34,190	$16.44	57
   3	The State of Oregon	$30,401	$14.62	10
   4	Liberty Healthcare	$29,520	$14.19	16
   5	Bancroft	$29,075	$13.98	54
   6	State of West Virginia	$28,405	$13.66	159
   7	Baltimore County Golf	$28,040	$13.48	15
   8	Americorps	$27,085	$13.02	34
   9	Kansas State University	$25,876	$12.44
   10	S.C. Department of Commerce	$25,788	$12.40
   11	The Salvation Army	$24,123	$11.60	475

4. Writing a human services assistant job description

   A human services assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a human services assistant job description:

   Human services assistant job description example

   **At Kelly** ** ** **Professional & Industrial, we're passionate about helping you find a job that works for you. How about this one?** We're seeking a **Human Services Assistant** **(Cook)** to work for the State of Arizona in **Tolleson** . With us, it's all about finding the job that's just right.
   **Pay Rate:** $15.50-$17.00 per hour
   
   **Hours:** Part-time (30 hours); Flexible scheduling; 6AM-1PM
   
   _Assignment length; other assignment details_
   
   **Location:** Tolleson 85353
   
   _Candidates must be local at time of submission, and available for in person interviews within 1 week of the posting close date. Candidates must also be able to start within 2 weeks of an offer being made_
   
   **Why you should apply to be a Human Services Assistant (Cook):**
   
   The Human Service Assistant (Cook) is responsible for assisting with daily food preparation and packaging food for recipients
   
   Monitors program participants and ensures they receive expected services; Assist with monitoring inventory or food and kitchen supplies
   
   Notifies supervisor of required ingredients and supplies
   
   Assist with cleaning kitchen and monitoring equipment for safe, functional operation
   
   Assist in programs
   
   Prepares, sets up and tears down/cleans up following activities
   
   Performs related work as assigned.
   
   **Requirements:**
   
   High School Diploma or GED
   
   Background Check (7-year)
   
   Fingerprint Clearance Card
   
   Sign a non-disclosure agreement
   
   **What happens next**
   
   Once you apply, you'll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don't worry-even if this position doesn't work out, you're still in our network. That means all of our recruiters will have access to your profile, expanding your opportunities even more.
   
   Helping you discover what's next in your career is what we're all about, so let's get to work. Apply to be a **Cook** today!
   
   **Get a complete career fit with Kelly** ** ** **.**
   
   You're looking to keep your career moving onward and upward, and we're here to help you do just that. Our staffing experts connect you with top companies for opportunities where you can learn, grow, and thrive. Jobs that fit your skills and experience, and most importantly, fit right on your path of where you want to go in your career.
   
   **About Kelly** ** **
   
   At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.
   
   Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center.
   Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find human services assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your human services assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit human services assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting human services assistants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 human services assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the human services assistant 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new human services assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 human services assistant?