Social and Human Service Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social and human service assistants in Washington is $54,770/year ($26.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $53,691 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 48.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Washington?
About social and human service assistants
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for social and human service assistants, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 47.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level social and human service assistants (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Social and Human Service Assistants salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $58K | +6% | 3,910 |
| Bellingham | $54K | -1% | 190 |
| Walla Walla | $53K | -3% | 90 |
| Longview-Kelso | $51K | -7% | 90 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $51K | -8% | 250 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $49K | -10% | 200 |
| Yakima | $49K | -10% | 350 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $49K | -11% | 860 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $48K | -12% | 100 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $48K | -13% | 150 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $48K | -13% | 260 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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Track social and human service assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social and human service assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 47.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social and human service assistants typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,591/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 71% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $55K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for social and human service assistants?
Washington pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social and human service assistants make in Washington?
The median is $54,770 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,180, and experienced social and human service assistants can clear $72,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,837/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 47.7% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social and human service assistants salary is worth about $53,691 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.