Human Services, General
What Human Services, General Graduates Do
Your career in human services begins on the front lines as a social and human service assistant. Working in community centers, nonprofit offices, or government agencies, your day involves hands-on support: helping a family apply for food assistance, connecting an individual with transportation services, or documenting client progress in case management software. This is where you build foundational skills and a reputation for reliability.
With experience, you can advance into a leadership role as a social and community service manager. Your focus will shift from direct client work to overseeing programs, managing budgets, writing grant proposals, and supervising a team of assistants. This leadership track is where your earning potential increases significantly. The demand for both entry-level assistants and experienced managers is growing steadily.
While AI tools may eventually help with administrative tasks like scheduling or analyzing program data, the core of your work—building trust, navigating complex human situations, and providing direct support—relies on distinctly human skills that cannot be automated.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 2 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Human Services, General. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Direct Support Specialist (Alternate Title: Assistant Case Manager)
RAPIDS 1040CB |
Competency | Competency | $38K – $45,120 – $53K | 6.4% |
|
Peer Specialist (Bureau Of Prisons Only)
RAPIDS 2039 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $38K – $45,120 – $53K | 6.4% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Human Services, General
Top 20 of 46 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Maine Community College Auburn, ME |
59 57–59 |
$40,029/yr | 47.1x |
| 2 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA |
57 55–57 |
$41,008/yr | 40.7x |
| 3 | Century College White Bear Lake, MN |
56 53–57 |
$41,007/yr | 39.3x |
| 4 | Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha, NE |
56 54–56 |
$34,392/yr | 51.3x |
| 5 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MO |
55 53–55 |
$34,931/yr | 43.5x |
| 6 | CUNY Bronx Community College Bronx, NY |
52 50–53 |
$36,338/yr | 36.7x |
| 7 | University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ |
51 48–52 |
$40,894/yr | 17.1x |
| 8 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA |
51 49–51 |
$36,101/yr | 31.0x |
| 9 | York County Community College Wells, ME |
50 47–51 |
$29,599/yr | 43.6x |
| 10 | Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Dover, DE |
49 46–50 |
$30,923/yr | 36.1x |
| 11 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD |
48 46–49 |
$35,070/yr | 22.3x |
| 12 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NY |
48 45–49 |
$32,887/yr | 28.8x |
| 13 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN |
48 42–48 |
$29,762/yr | 33.6x |
| 14 | Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA |
47 45–48 |
$33,674/yr | 23.4x |
| 15 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NY |
46 40–47 |
$27,581/yr | 36.9x |
| 16 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA |
46 39–47 |
$24,893/yr | 44.9x |
| 17 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud, MN |
45 42–46 |
$33,870/yr | 15.3x |
| 18 | Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Green Bay, WI |
45 41–45 |
$33,870/yr | 13.8x |
| 19 | Fulton-Montgomery Community College Johnstown, NY |
45 43–46 |
$30,075/yr | 23.8x |
| 20 | Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala, FL |
44 40–44 |
$33,870/yr | 10.8x |
Highest Earning Human Services, General Programs
Schools where Human Services, General graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Community College | $41,008/yr | 57 |
| Century College | $41,007/yr | 56 |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona | $40,894/yr | 51 |
| Central Maine Community College | $40,029/yr | 59 |
| CUNY Bronx Community College | $36,338/yr | 52 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | $36,101/yr | 51 |
| Mitchell Technical College | $35,070/yr | 48 |
| Columbia College | $35,001/yr | 43 |
| Saint Louis Community College | $34,931/yr | 55 |
| Metropolitan Community College Area | $34,392/yr | 56 |
Best ROI for Human Services, General
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Human Services, General.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Community College Area | 51.3x | $34,392/yr | 56 |
| Central Maine Community College | 47.1x | $40,029/yr | 59 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | 44.9x | $24,893/yr | 46 |
| York County Community College | 43.6x | $29,599/yr | 50 |
| Saint Louis Community College | 43.5x | $34,931/yr | 55 |
| Tacoma Community College | 40.7x | $41,008/yr | 57 |
| Century College | 39.3x | $41,007/yr | 56 |
| Nassau Community College | 36.9x | $27,581/yr | 46 |
| CUNY Bronx Community College | 36.7x | $36,338/yr | 52 |
| Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | 36.1x | $30,923/yr | 49 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Human Services, General degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.