Some of the most popular degree programs in the US are those leading to careers in social services. Many people who enter that field are interested in being in a “helping” job. Others look towards careers in human services because the opportunities are so diverse. Salaries for people in human services are not high, especially at the local level. What can you expect to earn working for the Department of Human Services?
At the Local Level
County departments of human services employ people as receptionists, as custodians and as case aides in addition to hiring social workers and administrators. The median salary for a social worker is $42, 480. Counties pay what they can afford, and some starting social worker salaries are in the upper $20,000s. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers working for local government entities earned $23.77 hourly.
State Departments of Human Services
State human services employees earn the same as their counterparts in other state jobs. According to “Chron,” the highest paid social workers are those who work for the state of Connecticut, who earn $29.90 an hour. Social workers make just under $15 an hour in West Virginia. There are other jobs available working for state departments of human services, though. You might be an accountant or a program planner, an eligibility technician for state programs or even a receptionist. The salary varies by state and by job level (most states have a salary schedule based on education, difficulty and other factors). The state salaries are a matter of public record and can be found by searching the state website online.
Federal Department of Human Services Jobs
There are several agencies couched in the Human Services Department, among which are:
• Administration on Aging
• Administration for Children and families
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Substance Abuse
According to the website “HHS.gov” employees in these divisions are usually paid under the GS system, and given a generous benefit package. There are 15 grades defined by work difficulty, responsibility and qualifications. A salary range of 10 steps is provided for each grade. The starting salary for someone at an entry-level job (GS1) is $17,803, and they might advance to $22,269 in that grade. An employee with some responsibility (perhaps a GS9) might start at $41,563 and could expect to advance to $54,028. The range for managerial and administrative jobs is from $99,628 to $129,517. There are grades above GS 15, but these sometimes require senate confirmation and there is no scale for them. In the Administration for Children and Families, a recent job posted was for a social science statistician at a GS 13 and the starting salary was just over $89,000. The Indian Affairs Agency had an opening for a health aide at a GS 3 which started at $24,933.
Whether you work in a state department of human services, or at the federal level, the diversity of government jobs, even in a particular department makes it difficult to give an answer to a specific question about salary for a position. Some jobs are for a limited duration as well. Obviously, higher education will allow you to start at a higher level and, so, at a higher salary.
Related resource: Which Government Agencies Hire Public Health Graduates?