Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Community and Social Service

Social and Human Service Assistants

Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

Also called: Addictions Counselor Assistant, Advocate, Clinical Assistant, Residential Care Assistant, Social Services Aide, Social Services Assistant

Median pay in Greater Boston
$47,530
$22.85/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
6,090
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+5.8%
1,380 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$39,780$44,200$47,530$57,580$63,100

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
  • Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
  • Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
  • Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
  • Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
  • Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure59 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 57
  • Language-model AIOE 60
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 61

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and little AI use has been seen so far. AI tools could help with visit notes, reports, and care-plan paperwork. Visiting people at home, assessing needs, and offering steady support rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Writing visit notes and client reports
  • Drafting parts of care plans

Still relies on people

  • Visiting clients in their homes
  • Judging needs and offering personal support

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Psychiatric Technicians

    Supporting clients and encouraging social skills carry over. This role has lower AI exposure, a Boston median pay of $57,610, and short-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$10,080 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +16.3%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Psychiatric Aides

    Listening and giving emotional support carry over. It has lower AI exposure and short-term on-the-job training, with a high school diploma needed.

    Pay difference
    +$570 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Medical Assistants

    Interviewing clients and recording information carry over. This role has lower AI exposure and a Boston median pay of $50,740, and it needs a postsecondary certificate.

    Pay difference
    +$3,210 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +9.0%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

16 programs near Boston

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach