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Community and Social Service Occupations

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Community and social service occupations include social workers, counselors, and religious workers. Employment of community and social service occupations is projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 371,900 jobs. Most projected new jobs in this occupational group are in counselor and social worker occupations, as their services will continue to be needed in areas such as drug abuse counseling and rehabilitation counseling, and also for school and career counseling.

The median annual wage for community and social service occupations was $43,840 in May 2017, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $37,690.

OCCUPATION	JOB SUMMARY	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2017 MEDIAN PAY
Health Educators and Community Health Workers	Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities. Community health workers collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities.	See How to Become One	$45,360
Marriage and Family Therapists	Marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome problems with family and other relationships.	Master's degree	$48,790
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.	Bachelor's degree	$51,410
Rehabilitation Counselors	Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.	Master's degree	$34,860
School and Career Counselors	School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed in school. Career counselors help people choose careers and follow a path to employment.	Master's degree	$55,410
Social and Human Service Assistants	Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.	High school diploma or equivalent	$33,120
Social Workers	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social workers also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.	See How to Become One	$47,980
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, mental health issues, or other mental or behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help clients recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors.	See How to Become One	$43,300