What Is the Salary for Bachelor's in Human Services Graduates?
Earning a bachelor's degree in human services can open up many career opportunities in social services and counseling that vary in salary. Read on to learn more about human services career options and the average pay you could earn.
Field Description
If you're interested in helping people, the human services field is a relevant career choice. You'll find jobs in social and community services, including child protective service care, youth counseling, drug rehabilitation and health education. These occupations often involve direct interaction with people and offer various methods of assistance, counseling and treatment. Individuals interested in this career field typically have an undergraduate degree in human services. These types of programs focus on the concepts of sociology, psychology, case management, addiction and counseling.
Important Facts About a Career in Human Services
| Key Skills | Communication, compassion, interpersonal, organizational, time-management, and problem-solving |
| Work Environment | Offices, clinics, hospitals, schools, group homes, and shelters |
| On-the-job Training | Because those working in the human services field may face a wide range of situations and people with extremely different backgrounds, on-the-job training in case management is very prevalent |
| Licensure | National Board for Certified Counselors |
Career Options
If you possess a bachelor's degree in human services, you could work in a variety of jobs that help people. You could work as a substance abuse counselor, guidance counselor, marriage therapist, social worker, mental health worker, correctional treatment specialist, human services assistant or social service specialist.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for community and social service occupations, the major group that covers these workers, was $46,050 in May 2018 (www.bls.gov). The most common industries of employment were individual and family services, government agencies, schools and residential facilities. The top-paying jobs in these fields were found at the scientific research and development services, while the states with the highest employment of community and social service workers were in New York, Florida, California, Louisiana, and New Jersey, according to the BLS.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
In May 2018, the BLS reported that substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned $47,920 on average. Outpatient care centers employed the highest number of these workers and paid them an average wage of $46,260. Junior colleges had a low employment level but offered the highest average wage of $63,760. Among the states, Utah offered these professionals the highest average salary of $66,330.
Rehabilitation Counselors
Rehabilitation counselors earned an average wage of $39,930 as of May 2018, reported the BLS. Vocational rehabilitation services had the highest employment level and paid an average wage of $35,860. Insurance carriers only employed 120 of these professionals but offered the highest average wage of $61,410. New Jersey, which had the best pay, offered these workers $65,350 on average.
Social and Human Service Assistants
Social and human service assistants earned an average wage of $35,830 in May 2018, according to BLS figures. The top employer was individual and family services, which offered these workers $34,650 on average. However, legal services offered the highest pay of $47,900 on average. The District of Columbia, which offered an average wage of $45,340, was the highest-paying state.
Community and Social Service Specialists
According to the BLS, community and social service specialists earned $49,280 on average in May 2018. While individual and family services was the top employer and offered an average wage of $41,520, the federal executive branch offered the highest average pay of $79,210. The District of Columbia had the highest average wage of $61,860.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
The BLS reported in May 2018 that probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned $58,790 on average. State government was the top employer and offered an average wage of $57,240, while local government offered the highest average wage of $62,110. California had the best average wage of $89,240.
Health Educators
Health educators made $59,660 on average, according to May 2018 BLS figures. General medical and surgical hospitals employed the highest number of these workers and offered an average wage of $66,290. The federal executive government paid the highest average wage of $102,550, while the District of Columbia offered the highest wage of $88,060 on average.