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The average salary for an Eligibility Specialist is approximately $37,322 annually, translating to about $18 per hour. Salary can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry. For example, entry-level specialists may earn lower salaries, while those with advanced experience and specializations can command significantly higher wages.
On average, Eligibility Specialists can expect to see salary increases as they gain experience. Typically, entry-level positions start around $30,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $50,000, especially in high-demand areas.
States that offer higher compensation include California, New York, and Texas. These locations often have a higher cost of living but also provide more opportunities for advancement and specialization within the field.
Salary data varies across different sources, but it consistently indicates that the role remains a stable career choice with opportunities for growth. Understanding these trends can help prospective candidates make informed decisions about their career paths in this essential field.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level eligibility specialist | $28,500 | $13.69 |
| Mid-level eligibility specialist | $37,700 | $18.13 |
| Senior-level eligibility specialist | $40,200 | $19.32 |
The average eligibility specialist salary in Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average eligibility specialist salary states are Arizona, Virginia, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $47,894 | $23.03 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $41,412 | $19.91 |
| 3 | Kansas | $47,058 | $22.62 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $41,634 | $20.02 |
| 5 | Montana | $42,447 | $20.41 |
| 6 | Nevada | $41,363 | $19.89 |
| 7 | Illinois | $47,659 | $22.91 |
| 8 | Oregon | $41,702 | $20.05 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 11 | Vermont | $40,028 | $19.24 |
| 12 | Delaware | $39,773 | $19.12 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $47,025 | $22.61 |
| 14 | New York | $42,608 | $20.48 |
| 15 | Washington | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $37,073 | $17.82 |
| 17 | Idaho | $39,076 | $18.79 |
| 18 | Indiana | $37,375 | $17.97 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $40,293 | $19.37 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $40,113 | $19.29 |
| 21 | Colorado | $40,879 | $19.65 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $37,404 | $17.98 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 24 | Utah | $38,089 | $18.31 |
| 25 | California | $42,912 | $20.63 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $40,172 | $19.31 |
| 27 | Michigan | $36,441 | $17.52 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 29 | Maryland | $39,557 | $19.02 |
| 30 | Alaska | $35,759 | $17.19 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $40,341 | $19.39 |
| 32 | Maine | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $34,127 | $16.41 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $33,412 | $16.06 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $39,323 | $18.91 |
| 36 | Ohio | $35,548 | $17.09 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $35,252 | $16.95 |
| 38 | Alabama | $33,708 | $16.21 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $33,370 | $16.04 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $34,666 | $16.67 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $30,401 | $14.62 |
| 43 | Texas | $31,909 | $15.34 |
| 44 | Arizona | $31,434 | $15.11 |
| 45 | Missouri | $32,691 | $15.72 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $32,500 | $15.63 |
| 47 | Florida | $29,487 | $14.18 |
| 48 | Georgia | $31,524 | $15.16 |
| 49 | Virginia | $31,328 | $15.06 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $30,807 | $14.81 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,413 | $14.62 |
The highest-paying cities for eligibility specialists are Chicago, IL, Apple Valley, MN, and Olympia, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $47,733 | $22.95 |
| 2 | Apple Valley, MN | $47,277 | $22.73 |
| 3 | Olympia, WA | $44,823 | $21.55 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $43,486 | $20.91 |
| 5 | Elmont, NY | $42,578 | $20.47 |
| 6 | Woodburn, OR | $41,733 | $20.06 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $41,303 | $19.86 |
| 8 | Cheyenne, WY | $41,184 | $19.80 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $40,944 | $19.68 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,093 | $18.31 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $36,959 | $17.77 |
| 12 | Fayetteville, AR | $34,583 | $16.63 |
| 13 | Las Cruces, NM | $33,964 | $16.33 |
| 14 | Chattanooga, TN | $32,061 | $15.41 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $32,007 | $15.39 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,499 | $15.14 |
| 17 | Columbia, SC | $30,916 | $14.86 |
| 18 | Chapel Hill, NC | $30,549 | $14.69 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $29,633 | $14.25 |
An eligibility specialist's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $37,322 | $3,110 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of eligibility specialists are specialist, work force advisor, and medicaid specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Staff | $31,772 | $2,648 | $15.28 | 161,915 |
| Eligibility Worker | $38,510 | $3,209 | $18.51 | 19,954 |
Top companies hiring eligibility specialists now:
Eligibility specialist salaries at CBIZ and University of Nevada, Reno are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average eligibility specialist salary at companies like Highland General Hospital and Health Research, Inc. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CBIZ | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| 2 | University of Nevada, Reno | $43,068 | $20.71 |
| 3 | Highland General Hospital | $42,846 | $20.60 |
| 4 | Health Research, Inc. | $42,619 | $20.49 |
| 5 | Integra LifeSciences | $42,518 | $20.44 |
| 6 | Alameda Health System | $42,393 | $20.38 |
| 7 | Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority | $42,153 | $20.27 |
| 8 | Minnesota State Fair | $42,148 | $20.26 |
| 9 | County of Riverside | $42,099 | $20.24 |
| 10 | Texas | $42,004 | $20.19 |
| 11 | BNY Mellon | $41,741 | $20.07 |
| 12 | Orange County | $41,678 | $20.04 |
| 13 | Napa County, California | $41,296 | $19.85 |
| 14 | Washington State University | $41,112 | $19.77 |
| 15 | HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County | $41,023 | $19.72 |
| 16 | S.C. Department of Commerce | $40,978 | $19.70 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $40,767 | $19.60 |
| 18 | Maine | $40,673 | $19.55 |
| 19 | Graystone Eye | $40,620 | $19.53 |
| 20 | Arizonas Children Association | $40,387 | $19.42 |
The average eligibility specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $38,476 | $18.50 |
| 2 | Health Care | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| 3 | Professional | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| 4 | Technology | $33,996 | $16.34 |
The average eligibility specialist salary has risen by $4,793 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average eligibility specialist earned $32,529 annually, but today, they earn $37,322 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for eligibility specialists over the last decade.
Compare eligibility specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare eligibility specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,300 | $17.94 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $36,900 | $17.75 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $36,500 | $17.53 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $35,200 | $16.91 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $34,300 | $16.51 | +0.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Florida | Eligibility Specialist I | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 06/29/2025 | $35,217 |
| Savista, LLC | Eligibility Specialist 1 | Camden, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of New Mexico-Hospitals | Registration & Eligibility Specialist | Albuquerque, NM | 06/28/2025 | $34,623 |
| Copa Health | Benefits and Eligibility Specialist | Phoenix, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Savista | Eligibility Specialist 1 | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Savista, LLC | Eligibility Specialist 1 | Lincoln, NE | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Savista | Eligibility Specialist 1 | Scottsdale, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Savista, LLC | Eligibility Specialist 2 (Floater) | Lockport, IL | 06/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| Savista, LLC | Eligibility Specialist 1 | Beaumont, TX | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Savista | Eligibility Specialist II | Ione, CA | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
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