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Social and Human Service Assistants
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
Other titles employers use
Addictions Counselor Assistant · Advocate · Clinical Assistant · Residential Care Assistant · Social Services Aide · Social Services Assistant · Social Work Assistant · Social Work Associate
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
- Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
- Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
- Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
- Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
- Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, organizing and persuading work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Administrative
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.4 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.3 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.1 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 39%
- A two-year degree 18%
- A certificate or some college 16%
- High school or less 10%
- A master's degree 9%
- A doctorate or professional degree 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Voice recognition software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 60,500
- Job openings each year
- 6,480
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 60,500 | 6,480 | 13.7% |
| New York | 48,340 | 950 | 24.3% |
| Texas | 25,510 | 2,760 | 16.0% |
| New Jersey | 24,140 | 2,540 | 8.4% |
| Florida | 22,150 | 2,380 | 14.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 20,780 | 2,160 | 6.1% |
| Illinois | 18,030 | 1,890 | 7.4% |
| Ohio | 14,250 | 1,480 | 6.3% |
| Minnesota | 13,320 | 1,390 | 7.3% |
| Michigan | 13,240 | 1,400 | 9.7% |
| Virginia | 13,110 | 1,420 | 16.1% |
| Washington | 11,820 | 1,390 | 12.0% |
| Indiana | 11,100 | 1,180 | 11.7% |
| Georgia | 11,040 | 1,200 | 18.2% |
| Wisconsin | 9,930 | 1,030 | 6.0% |
| Connecticut | 9,630 | 1,020 | 10.9% |
| Utah | 8,470 | 940 | 24.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 7,720 | 820 | 10.4% |
| Oregon | 7,470 | 800 | 13.0% |
| Arizona | 7,410 | 820 | 24.5% |
| Kentucky | 7,260 | 760 | 9.3% |
| Maryland | 7,090 | 760 | 11.8% |
| Colorado | 6,370 | 690 | 16.2% |
| Massachusetts | 6,180 | 650 | 7.9% |
| South Carolina | 6,130 | 660 | 17.2% |
| Kansas | 6,040 | 630 | 8.1% |
| North Carolina | 6,030 | 650 | 14.4% |
| Missouri | 5,750 | 600 | 5.3% |
| Iowa | 5,490 | 600 | 17.6% |
| Arkansas | 5,390 | 600 | 24.2% |
| Tennessee | 4,980 | 550 | 20.0% |
| Alabama | 4,320 | 450 | 5.9% |
| Maine | 4,300 | 430 | −2.1% |
| West Virginia | 4,080 | 440 | 12.7% |
| Mississippi | 3,820 | 410 | 14.7% |
| Idaho | 3,170 | 340 | 16.1% |
| New Mexico | 3,160 | 340 | 12.9% |
| Rhode Island | 3,160 | 340 | 14.1% |
| Nevada | 3,080 | 330 | 16.7% |
| Louisiana | 2,820 | 300 | 10.6% |
| Oklahoma | 2,750 | 290 | 10.0% |
| New Hampshire | 2,400 | 260 | 13.2% |
| Nebraska | 2,310 | 250 | 10.5% |
| Vermont | 2,140 | 230 | 13.2% |
| Montana | 1,970 | 220 | 18.7% |
| District of Columbia | 1,340 | 140 | 13.6% |
| Delaware | 1,170 | 130 | 11.4% |
| North Dakota | 1,160 | 120 | 10.5% |
| South Dakota | 810 | 80 | 8.0% |
| Wyoming | 810 | 90 | 14.1% |
| Alaska | 790 | 80 | 6.8% |
| Virgin Islands | 150 | 10 | −11.8% |
| Guam | 130 | 20 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Brigham Young University-Idaho
- Degrees each year
- 619
- Admit rate
- 97%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 602
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
University of California-Davis
- Degrees each year
- 335
- Admit rate
- 42%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Brigham Young University
- Degrees each year
- 266
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 264
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Florida State University
- Degrees each year
- 246
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State University-East Bay
- Degrees each year
- 216
- Admit rate
- 97%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Degrees each year
- 209
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Compare every college offering human development, family studies, and related services