Human Services Specialist Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Human Services Specialist in the United States is $38,651 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,118
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,937 to $42,560
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,556
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $34,937 10% $31,556 90% $46,118 75% $42,560 $38,651 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Human Services Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,560 $3,547 $818 $20
Average $38,651 $3,221 $743 $19
25th Percentile $34,937 $2,911 $672 $17
Check out Human Services Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Human Resources Support Specialist

Heinzerling Community - Columbus, OH

Guest Services Specialist

Goodwin Procter - Columbus, OH

FLIGHT SERVICES SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force - Columbus, OH

FLIGHT SERVICES SPECIALIST

US Government Jobs - Columbus, OH

Search More Human Services Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Human Services Specialist Salaries

A Human Services 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 Services Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Human Services 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): $38,290
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,035
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,797
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $40,986
  • Expert (over 8 years): $41,112
Levels Salary
Entry Level Human Services Specialist$38,290
Intermediate Level Human Services Specialist$39,035
Senior Level Human Services Specialist$40,797
Specialist Level Human Services Specialist$40,986
Expert Level Human Services Specialist$41,112
$38,290 0 yr
$39,035 < 2 yrs
$40,797 2-4 yrs
$40,986 5-8 yrs
$41,112 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Human Services 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: $48,751
  • San Francisco: $48,217
  • Oakland: $47,201

What Skills Can Increase a Human Services 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.
See More Skills
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 Services 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
$45,995
19%
Presentation
$45,995
19%
Microsoft Office
$44,835
16%
Psychiatric
$44,062
14%
Programming
$43,289
12%
Collaboration
$43,289
12%
Get Latest Data

Human Services Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Human Services 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 Services Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Human Services Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Human Services Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$46,381$22.020%

How Education impacts a Human Services Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Human Services 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 Services Specialist with a Associate's Degree is between $30,440 and $33,434).

Human Services Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Human Services 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%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Human Services 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Human Services Specialist

Salaries for a Human Services Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,919 in 2023 to around $44,414 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Human Services Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Human Services Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,919
2024
$44,830
2025
$44,414
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,919
2024 $44,830
2025 $44,414
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Human Services Specialist

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Human Services Specialist

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

Find Your Next Human Services Specialist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Human Services Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • JLL

    Columbus, OH

    JLL | Columbus, OH

    Operating Engineer 2 JLL. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and techno... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Columbus Metropolitan Library

    Columbus, OH

    Columbus Metropolitan Library | Columbus, OH

    Customer Services Specialist (20/24 hr./Non-Exempt/Part-time)Location:Northern Lights BranchStarting Pay Range:$18.01 $23.26 hourly (commensurate with expe... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Healthy Connection LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Healthy Connection LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Direct Support Specialist – Senior Healthcare Services. Location: Columbus and surrounding areas. Job Type: [F... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Nationwide Childrens Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    Nationwide Childrens Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Job Title. Develops, implements, and evaluates evidence-based practice assessments and interventions to address the psychosocial, developmental, and physio... more

    9 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    5 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    5 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Human Services Specialist

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Human Services 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst