How to hire a living specialist

How to hire a living specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step living specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a living specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a living specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A living specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, living specialists 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of living specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Living Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Living Specialist	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.	$13-22

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Independent Living
   • Community Resources
   • Autism
   • CPR
   • Mental Health
   • Foster Care
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Mental Illness
   • Substance Abuse
   • Emergency Situations
   • Emergency First Aid
   • Direct Care
   • Meal Preparation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Ensure the facilities' mission are achieved by effectively supervising the mental health rehabilitative efforts of severely and chronically ill patients.
   • Conduct comprehensive care assessments to determine client eligibility for Medicaid fund home health assistance.
   • Provide education and vocational counseling for the individual and/or their family members and significant others to ensure healthy lifestyles and rehabilitation.
   • Collaborate with community health councils and other community agencies to provide programs that enhance community awareness of health and safety.

   More living specialist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, living specialists' average salary in georgia is 40% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level living specialists 40% less than senior-level living specialists.
   • Certifications. A living specialist 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 living specialist's salary.

   Average living specialist salary

   $36,759yearly

   $17.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level living specialist salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average living specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$47,242	$23
   2	Connecticut	$44,395	$21
   3	California	$42,463	$20
   4	Washington	$41,143	$20
   5	Oregon	$40,150	$19
   6	Florida	$38,397	$18
   7	Minnesota	$37,851	$18
   8	Maine	$37,077	$18
   9	Pennsylvania	$36,398	$18
   10	South Carolina	$35,543	$17
   11	Michigan	$34,834	$17
   12	Missouri	$34,169	$16
   13	Texas	$33,746	$16
   14	Arizona	$33,405	$16
   15	Kansas	$33,333	$16
   16	Indiana	$32,499	$16

   Average living specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Terros Health	$46,711	$22.46	25
   2	East Bay Innovations	$41,109	$19.76
   3	Horizon House	$40,086	$19.27	28
   4	Keystone Human Services	$39,898	$19.18	7
   5	Youth Villages	$38,059	$18.30	10
   6	Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services	$37,559	$18.06	3
   7	PosiGen	$37,013	$17.79
   8	Trilogy Health Services	$36,917	$17.75	56
   9	COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH SERVICES	$36,907	$17.74	2
   10	Embrace Families	$36,907	$17.74
   11	Saint Francis Community Services Inc	$36,674	$17.63
   12	Peoples Services	$36,421	$17.51	3
   13	UCP of Long Island	$35,840	$17.23
   14	MCIL Minnesota	$35,772	$17.20
   15	Cornerstone Care	$35,458	$17.05	35
   16	BRC	$34,976	$16.82	34
   17	Nugget Markets	$34,895	$16.78	2
   18	Community Missions of Niagara Frontier	$33,735	$16.22
   19	Percepta	$32,404	$15.58	7
   20	YMCA of South Florida	$31,432	$15.11	1

4. Writing a living specialist job description

   A living specialist 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a living specialist job description:

   Living specialist job description example

   Are you looking for an awesome weekend job where you get to make a difference every day? Would you like to work one-on-one with people who experience developmental disabilities?
   
   If so, UCP Oregon might have the perfect job for you! At UCP, we support adults and kids who experience all kinds of disabilities-not just cerebral palsy-helping them to live the life of their dreams. We empower them to develop their self-advocacy abilities because we believe in the power of assisting them to make informed and independent choices, develop deeper connections within the community, and actualize personal goals.
   
   We're currently seeking a “Weekend Supported Living Specialist” who will help adults who experience developmental disabilities to live independently in their own houses and apartments. You'll get to help them make their own choices, learn awesome new skills, and do fun activities in the community. Some folks will need help with chores, and a few people will need assistance to shower or use the bathroom. You'll work one-on-one, so you'll have the time to build real relationships.Your schedule will be Saturdays and Sundays, generally from 9am to 6pm. Your hours will vary between 16-18 hours per weekend depending on your start and end times. *You'll also work your regular hours on Agency holidays that fall on the weekend.
   
   This is a great job for people who want to gain experience in the fields of social services, social justice, non-profits, and healthcare… and for anyone who's looking for a long-term career. Be proud of where you work! Come join UCP Oregon.
   To Apply:
   
   It's easy to apply! Click the "Apply for this job" button below.
   
   UCP Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and actively seeks applicants from diverse backgrounds. UCP considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. We encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people who experience disabilities to apply.
   
   Find out more about UCP Oregon at:
   
   Requirements
   
   High school diploma or GED.
   
   Be able to transport clients in your car: be at least 18 years old, have a current driver's license, a reliable personal vehicle, at least two years of driving experience, auto insurance, and a clean driving record.
   
   Be able to pass a reference check, a physical with a lifting test of 50lbs, and a criminal history background check.
   
   Experience in developmental disability field preferred but not required.
   
   All UCP Oregon employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an approved medical or religious exception. If you are hired, you will need to provide proof of vaccination (or obtain an approved exception) prior to starting work.
   
   Benefits
   
   $20.52 per hour. Annual wage increase based on satisfactory performance.
   
   Paid sick leave.
   
   Vacation pay (double pay for the first 12 hours of any Agency vacation shift that you work).
   
   Mileage reimbursement.
   
   Partial cell phone reimbursement ($10/month).
   
   Fun, casual work environment, with lots of opportunities for advancement and growth.
   
   Re-Posted: 10/4/22

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find living specialists 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 living specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit living specialist 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 living specialists, 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.

   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 living specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the living specialist 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.

   To prepare for the new living specialist 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 living specialist?