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Human services worker salary
Average human services worker salary
$13.94
Understanding Human Services Worker Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Human Services Worker is around $29,005 annually, equating to $14 per hour. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including counseling, case management, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. Salaries vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific job titles.
For instance, entry-level positions may start around $13.94 per hour, while experienced workers can earn significantly more. In states like California and New York, human services workers often see higher pay due to the cost of living and demand for services.
Top-paying cities for this profession include San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City. In these locations, factors such as local government funding and the presence of numerous non-profits contribute to competitive salaries. To maximize earning potential, consider pursuing further education or certifications in specialized areas of human services.
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Where can a Human Services Worker earn more?
Human services worker salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level human services worker | $20,100 | $9.68 |
| Mid-level human services worker | $28,600 | $13.74 |
| Senior-level human services worker | $32,800 | $15.77 |
Average human services worker salary by state
The average human services worker salary in Illinois, North Dakota, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average human services worker salary states are Tennessee, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for human services workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $30,239 | $14.54 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $33,955 | $16.32 |
| 3 | Washington | $29,164 | $14.02 |
| 4 | Illinois | $32,835 | $15.79 |
| 5 | California | $31,757 | $15.27 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $30,283 | $14.56 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $29,329 | $14.10 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $31,020 | $14.91 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $32,107 | $15.44 |
| 10 | Idaho | $27,414 | $13.18 |
| 11 | Oregon | $27,871 | $13.40 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $29,441 | $14.15 |
| 13 | Ohio | $29,263 | $14.07 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $30,941 | $14.88 |
| 15 | Missouri | $26,695 | $12.83 |
| 16 | Virginia | $28,492 | $13.70 |
| 17 | Nevada | $28,974 | $13.93 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $29,159 | $14.02 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $30,062 | $14.45 |
| 20 | Delaware | $27,779 | $13.36 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $28,656 | $13.78 |
| 22 | Colorado | $26,975 | $12.97 |
| 23 | Iowa | $26,765 | $12.87 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $25,220 | $12.13 |
| 25 | Vermont | $25,587 | $12.30 |
| 26 | New York | $26,733 | $12.85 |
| 27 | Florida | $24,486 | $11.77 |
| 28 | Maine | $25,743 | $12.38 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $24,948 | $11.99 |
| 30 | Alaska | $26,418 | $12.70 |
| 31 | Texas | $24,748 | $11.90 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $25,456 | $12.24 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $25,512 | $12.27 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $24,645 | $11.85 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $24,142 | $11.61 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $22,586 | $10.86 |
| 37 | Montana | $25,788 | $12.40 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $23,200 | $11.15 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $22,464 | $10.80 |
| 40 | Utah | $23,241 | $11.17 |
| 41 | Maryland | $25,588 | $12.30 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $24,381 | $11.72 |
| 43 | Indiana | $24,334 | $11.70 |
| 44 | Arizona | $23,343 | $11.22 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $21,711 | $10.44 |
| 46 | Kansas | $24,011 | $11.54 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $22,286 | $10.71 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $21,750 | $10.46 |
| 49 | Michigan | $23,019 | $11.07 |
| 50 | Georgia | $19,965 | $9.60 |
| 51 | Alabama | $20,988 | $10.09 |
Highest paying cities for human services workers
The highest-paying cities for human services workers are San Francisco, CA, Milwaukee, WI, and Concord, NH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $32,615 | $15.68 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $30,977 | $14.89 |
| 3 | Concord, NH | $30,886 | $14.85 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $30,092 | $14.47 |
| 5 | Carson City, NV | $29,695 | $14.28 |
| 6 | Framingham, MA | $29,199 | $14.04 |
| 7 | Coventry, RI | $28,722 | $13.81 |
| 8 | Wilmington, DE | $27,963 | $13.44 |
| 9 | Hillsboro, OR | $27,927 | $13.43 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $26,999 | $12.98 |
| 11 | Des Moines, IA | $26,544 | $12.76 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $25,765 | $12.39 |
| 13 | Gainesville, FL | $24,590 | $11.82 |
| 14 | Topeka, KS | $24,124 | $11.60 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $23,405 | $11.25 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $23,255 | $11.18 |
| 17 | Charleston, WV | $22,117 | $10.63 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $21,753 | $10.46 |
| 19 | Montgomery, AL | $20,935 | $10.06 |
Human services worker salary details
A human services worker's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a human services worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $29,005 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
Highest paying human services worker jobs
The highest paying types of human services workers are liaison, social worker, and human service specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liaison | $53,737 | $4,478 | $25.84 | 34,074 |
| Coordinator | $41,599 | $3,467 | $20.00 | 151,508 |
| Program Coordinator | $45,068 | $3,756 | $21.67 | 102,464 |
| Volunteer | $31,227 | $2,602 | $15.01 | 9,583 |
| Social Work Internship | $37,178 | $3,098 | $17.87 | 142,426 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for human services workers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sarah Christa Butts MSW
Director of Public Policy, National Association of Social Workers
Top companies hiring human services workers now:
Which companies pay human services workers the most?
Human services worker salaries at University of California, Berkeley and ICF are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average human services worker salary at companies like Prince William County and The State of Oregon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $46,523 | $22.37 |
| 2 | ICF | $36,205 | $17.41 |
| 3 | Prince William County | $31,768 | $15.27 |
| 4 | The State of Oregon | $31,048 | $14.93 |
| 5 | State Of South Dakota | $29,682 | $14.27 |
| 6 | Howard County Government | $29,645 | $14.25 |
| 7 | Professional | $29,073 | $13.98 |
| 8 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $28,939 | $13.91 |
| 9 | Carson City Nevada | $28,561 | $13.73 |
| 10 | Milwaukee County | $28,218 | $13.57 |
| 11 | Pathlight | $27,973 | $13.45 |
| 12 | City & County Of San Francisco - Police Department (sfpd) | $27,675 | $13.31 |
| 13 | My Florida Regional Mls | $27,609 | $13.27 |
| 14 | Florida Department of Transportation | $26,220 | $12.61 |
| 15 | State Of Florida | $25,720 | $12.37 |
| 16 | Florida Dept. of Health | $25,221 | $12.13 |
| 17 | Goodwill Northern Michigan | $24,977 | $12.01 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Human Services Worker salary by industry
The average human services worker salary varies across industries:
- The average human services worker salary in the education industry is $28,528, the highest of any industry.
- The average human services worker salary in the finance industry is $28,314.
- Human services workers in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $25,453, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for human services workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $28,528 | $13.72 |
| 2 | Professional | $28,314 | $13.61 |
| 3 | Health Care | $27,918 | $13.42 |
| 4 | Government | $27,782 | $13.36 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $25,453 | $12.24 |
High paying human services worker jobs
Human services worker salary trends
The average human services worker salary has risen by $5,824 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average human services worker earned $23,181 annually, but today, they earn $29,005 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for human services workers over the last decade.
Compare human services worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average human services worker salary over time
Compare human services worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Human services worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $29,000 | $13.94 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $28,300 | $13.60 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $27,200 | $13.09 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $26,700 | $12.84 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $25,700 | $12.34 | +3.1% |
Recently added human services worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of South Dakota | Human Services Social Worker (BSW) | Yankton, SD | 06/28/2025 | $55,556 |
| Wasatch Behavioral Health | Human Service Worker South Provo Clinic (SPC) | Provo, UT | 06/25/2025 | $33,914 |
| State of Florida | Human Services Worker II-F/C | Gainesville, FL | 06/23/2025 | $33,579 |
| Kern County, Ca | Social Service Worker I/II-Department of Human Services | Bakersfield, CA | 06/23/2025 | $50,305 |
| Community Partners In Action | Human Services Worker | Hartford, CT | 06/18/2025 | $43,827 |
| Goodwill Northern Michigan | Human Service Worker Lead | Traverse City, MI | 06/11/2025 | $46,123 |
| Goodwill Northern Michigan | Human Service Worker | Traverse City, MI | 05/24/2025 | $40,926 |
| Wasatch Behavioral Health | Human Service Worker Vantage Point Graves (MEN) | Provo, UT | 05/23/2025 | $33,914 |
| State of Florida | Human Services Worker I | Quincy, FL | 05/18/2025 | $32,760 |
| Community Partners In Action | Human Services Worker-Work Release Program | Hartford, CT | 05/09/2025 | $39,653 |
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