Social and human service assistants
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Social and human service assistants in the United States earn a median salary of $45,930 per year — about $22 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 450K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +6%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is a hybrid of digital administrative work and high-touch interpersonal service. AI can significantly automate the 'knowledge work' components, such as researching community resources, assisting with complex benefit applications, and coordinating service schedules. However, the core of the job requires physical presence in homes or clinics and deep emotional intelligence to support clients in crisis, which provides a substantial buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WIBEST VALUE | $63,870 | Below avg (91.5) | $69,782 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $56,120 | Below avg (87.2) | $64,372 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $58,940 | Below avg (93.0) | $63,392 |
| Wausau, WI | $55,330 | Below avg (90.7) | $60,976 |
| Springfield, IL | $51,680 | Below avg (90.7) | $57,010 |
| Salem, OR | $57,560 | Average (102.5) | $56,179 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $48,220 | Below avg (87.9) | $54,865 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $52,990 | Average (97.9) | $54,112 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $46,400 | Below avg (85.9) | $54,011 |
| Green Bay, WI | $49,750 | Below avg (92.2) | $53,962 |
| Ithaca, NY | $53,550 | Average (99.5) | $53,804 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $49,610 | Below avg (92.3) | $53,729 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,650 | Above avg (113.1) | $53,645 |
| Minot, ND | $47,330 | Below avg (88.7) | $53,369 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,580 | Above avg (110.3) | $53,132 |