Social and Human Service Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social and human service assistants in Valdosta, GA is $31,370/year ($15.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.27), which stretches that salary to about $35,539 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,192/month, about 55.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Valdosta?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Valdosta’s Regional Price Parity (88.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About social and human service assistants
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What this looks like in Valdosta
Pay for social and human service assistants in Valdosta runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,192/month, which is 55.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.27 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for social and human service assistantss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social and human service assistants in metros near Valdosta, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $41K | $41K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $39K | $42K |
| Columbus | $36K | $40K |
| Athens-Clarke County | $37K | $39K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Valdosta, GA
Entry-level social and human service assistants (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Social and Human Service Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social and Human Service Assistants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59K | +29% | 2,080 |
| Washington | $55K | +19% | 7,590 |
| Oregon | $51K | +12% | 11,260 |
| California | $51K | +11% | 58,730 |
| Minnesota | $50K | +9% | 11,110 |
| New Jersey | $48K | +5% | 17,270 |
| Rhode Island | $48K | +4% | 2,290 |
| Maine | $48K | +4% | 4,580 |
| Colorado | $48K | +4% | 5,410 |
| Idaho | $48K | +4% | 3,810 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | +3% | 7,750 |
| Alaska | $47K | +3% | 1,370 |
| Maryland | $47K | +3% | 7,280 |
| New York | $47K | +3% | 40,970 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +3% | 9,180 |
| Illinois | $47K | +2% | 22,220 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | +2% | 1,860 |
| Vermont | $47K | +2% | 1,920 |
| New Mexico | $46K | +1% | 3,050 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +1% | 1,530 |
| Texas | $46K | -0% | 21,620 |
| Wyoming | $45K | -1% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $45K | -3% | 9,930 |
| Indiana | $45K | -3% | 11,740 |
| Florida | $44K | -3% | 22,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | -4% | 24,340 |
| Virginia | $43K | -5% | 10,670 |
| North Carolina | $43K | -7% | 9,020 |
| Kansas | $43K | -7% | 6,070 |
| Iowa | $42K | -8% | 5,230 |
| Hawaii | $42K | -8% | 2,230 |
| Missouri | $42K | -9% | 6,200 |
| Arizona | $41K | -11% | 7,290 |
| Delaware | $41K | -11% | 1,050 |
| Tennessee | $40K | -12% | 4,380 |
| Utah | $40K | -13% | 6,540 |
| Georgia | $39K | -14% | 7,410 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -14% | 3,320 |
| Michigan | $39K | -15% | 12,450 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -15% | 1,460 |
| Nevada | $39K | -16% | 2,420 |
| Montana | $39K | -16% | 1,200 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -16% | 5,220 |
| Ohio | $38K | -16% | 10,970 |
| South Dakota | $38K | -17% | 830 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -18% | 4,670 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -20% | 3,530 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -20% | 3,340 |
| Alabama | $36K | -22% | 3,370 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -22% | 3,440 |
| Mississippi | $31K | -32% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track social and human service assistants salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social and human service assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Valdosta?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 55.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,192/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social and human service assistants in Valdosta?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social and human service assistants typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,734/month. At HUD’s $1,192/month FMR, rent would take 69% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social and human service assistant a high-paying job in Valdosta?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $31K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Valdosta compare to the national average for social and human service assistants?
Valdosta pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do social and human service assistants make in Valdosta, GA?
The median is $31,370 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,900, and experienced social and human service assistants can clear $44,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Valdosta?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,164/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,192/month, which eats 55.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a social and human service assistants salary go in Valdosta?
Valdosta has a Regional Price Parity of 88.27 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social and human service assistants salary is worth about $35,539 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social and human service assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.