Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

21-1093 Social and Human Service Assistants

Assist 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. Excludes "Rehabilitation Counselors" (21-1015), "Psychiatric Technicians" (29-2053), "Personal Care Aides" (39-9021), and "Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs" (43-4061).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
359,860 0.8 % $14.77 $30,710 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.22 $11.02 $13.82 $17.52 $21.98
Annual Wage (2) $19,180 $22,930 $28,740 $36,440 $45,710


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Individual and Family Services 82,930 6.64 $14.14 $29,410
State Government (OES Designation) 44,490 1.96 $17.03 $35,420
Local Government (OES Designation) 43,010 0.78 $16.97 $35,310
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 42,030 7.34 $12.37 $25,730
Vocational Rehabilitation Services 25,090 7.57 $13.02 $27,080

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services 17,320 12.03 $13.38 $27,830
Vocational Rehabilitation Services 25,090 7.57 $13.02 $27,080
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 42,030 7.34 $12.37 $25,730
Other Residential Care Facilities 11,610 7.32 $12.73 $26,470
Social Advocacy Organizations 13,730 7.06 $15.46 $32,150

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities 100 0.01 $23.75 $49,400
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,470 0.07 $21.14 $43,970
Other Information Services 60 0.04 $20.14 $41,890
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 690 0.07 $19.48 $40,510
Activities Related to Real Estate 150 0.03 $19.27 $40,090


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 34,460 2.45 0.87 $17.12 $35,620
New York 33,150 3.93 1.40 $16.71 $34,760
Pennsylvania 19,790 3.57 1.27 $13.53 $28,140
Texas 19,440 1.89 0.67 $15.15 $31,510
Minnesota 17,200 6.63 2.36 $14.15 $29,430




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Vermont 2,140 7.36 2.62 $14.71 $30,590
Rhode Island 3,000 6.65 2.37 $14.16 $29,460
Minnesota 17,200 6.63 2.36 $14.15 $29,430
Maine 3,500 6.08 2.17 $13.78 $28,660
Utah 6,240 5.35 1.91 $11.80 $24,540




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 1,450 2.24 0.80 $21.95 $45,650
Connecticut 8,520 5.30 1.89 $18.53 $38,530
Alaska 1,070 3.40 1.21 $18.42 $38,320
California 34,460 2.45 0.87 $17.12 $35,620
Maryland 6,530 2.63 0.94 $16.77 $34,880





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 19,860 3.92 1.40 $16.87 $35,090
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 10,560 2.76 0.99 $17.34 $36,070
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 8,480 4.95 1.77 $14.58 $30,330
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 7,180 4.28 1.53 $16.23 $33,750
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 6,750 1.88 0.67 $15.24 $31,700
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 6,510 3.59 1.28 $14.30 $29,740
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 4,570 2.69 0.96 $14.30 $29,740
Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division 4,560 4.81 1.71 $15.27 $31,750
Pittsburgh, PA 4,320 3.88 1.38 $13.56 $28,200
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 4,290 1.93 0.69 $14.46 $30,070




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Mankato-North Mankato, MN 1,280 25.03 8.92 (8) (8)
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ 960 16.19 5.77 $16.00 $33,270
Duluth, MN-WI 1,850 15.09 5.38 $13.01 $27,070
Ocean City, NJ 480 13.25 4.72 $14.82 $30,820
Provo-Orem, UT 2,190 12.75 4.54 $10.70 $22,260
New Bedford, MA 770 12.24 4.36 $13.74 $28,580
Pittsfield, MA 360 10.71 3.82 $16.35 $34,010
Ithaca, NY 480 9.94 3.55 $16.90 $35,160
Bangor, ME 610 9.77 3.48 $13.82 $28,740
Yakima, WA 760 9.65 3.44 $13.65 $28,380




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division 1,230 2.21 0.79 $20.90 $43,460
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 2,370 5.78 2.06 $20.52 $42,680
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA 340 2.07 0.74 $20.44 $42,510
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division 3,340 3.51 1.25 $20.37 $42,370
Fairbanks, AK (8) (8) (8) $20.36 $42,340
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 260 2.22 0.79 $19.96 $41,530
Taunton-Norton-Raynham, MA NECTA Division 120 2.76 0.98 $19.87 $41,330
Peabody, MA NECTA Division 660 6.63 2.36 $19.34 $40,230
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA 2,440 3.04 1.08 $19.32 $40,180
Salinas, CA 210 1.36 0.49 $19.10 $39,730

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 1,690 4.44 1.58 $12.57 $26,140
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 1,440 8.08 2.88 $13.36 $27,800
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 1,360 7.91 2.82 $14.13 $29,390
East Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 1,290 5.51 1.96 $11.83 $24,600
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 1,260 6.69 2.38 $13.60 $28,290

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 850 11.76 4.19 $14.01 $29,150
Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area 960 11.45 4.08 $13.80 $28,700
Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 590 11.39 4.06 $13.63 $28,340
Northwestern Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 370 10.67 3.80 $18.22 $37,890
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 1,190 9.78 3.49 $12.67 $26,340

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East Central New York nonmetropolitan area 300 9.10 3.24 $18.95 $39,430
Eastern Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 180 7.07 2.52 $18.23 $37,920
Northwestern Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 370 10.67 3.80 $18.22 $37,890
Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area 150 4.22 1.51 $17.86 $37,150
North Central Colorado nonmetropolitan area 60 0.87 0.31 $17.74 $36,900


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012