Human Service Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Human Service Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Human Service Specialist in the United States is $38,717 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a Human Service Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,788
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,303 to $42,942
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,194

Key Factors That Influence Human Service Specialist Salaries

A Human Service Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Human Service Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Human Service Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $37,796
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $38,531
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,270
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $40,456
  • Expert (over 8 years): $40,581
Levels Salary
Entry Level Human Service Specialist$37,796
Intermediate Level Human Service Specialist$38,531
Senior Level Human Service Specialist$40,270
Specialist Level Human Service Specialist$40,456
Expert Level Human Service Specialist$40,581

Top Paying Cities for Human Service Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $48,834
  • San Francisco: $48,299
  • Oakland: $47,281

What Skills Can Increase a Human Service Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.5% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Social Work (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
  • Laundry (Mentioned in 2.66% Job Postings): Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles. Laundry processes are often done in a room reserved for that purpose; in an individual home this is referred to as a laundry room, Laundry in Australian English or utility room. An apartment building or student hall of residence may have a shared laundry facility such as a tvättstuga. A stand-alone business is referred to as a self-service laundry (launderette in British English or laundromat in American English). The material that is being washed, or has been laundered, is also generally referred to as laundry. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with this universal human need are of interest to several branches of scholarship. Laundry work has traditionally been highly gendered, with the responsibility in most cultures falling to women (known as laundresses or washerwomen). The Industrial Revolution gradually led to mechanised solutions to laundry work, notably the washing machine and later the tumble dryer. Laundry, like cooking and child care, is done both at home and by commercial establishments outside the home.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.5%
Social Work 3.29%
Laundry 2.66%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Human Service Specialist's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $46,073
19%
Presentation $46,073
19%
Microsoft Office $44,912
16%

Human Service Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Human Service Specialist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Human Service Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Human Service Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Human Service Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$46,460$22.020%

How Education impacts a Human Service Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Human Service Specialists enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Human Service Specialist with a Associate's Degree is between $30,440 and $33,434).

Human Service Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Human Service Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 14.4%
Associates 19.2%
Bachelors 51.2%
Masters 14.4%
Doctorate 0.0%

Human Service Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Human Service Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$35,303
Average $38,717/year
$42,942
$2,942
Average $3,226/month
$3,578
$679
Average $745/week
$826
$17
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $42,942 $3,578 $826 $21
Average $38,717 $3,226 $745 $19
25th Percentile $35,303 $2,942 $679 $17

Most common benefits for Human Service Specialist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Human Service Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Human Service Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Human Service Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Human Service Specialist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Human Service Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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