Community and social services occupations

School counselors must be certified, and other counselors must be licensed to practice in all but two States. A master's degree generally is needed to become a licensed counselor.
Job opportunities for counselors should be very good because job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from counseling programs.
State and local governments employ about 4 in 10 counselors, and the health services industry employs most of the others.

State and local governments employ most workers.
A bachelor's degree in social work, criminal justice, or a related field usually is required.
Employment growth, which is projected to be about as fast as average, depends on government funding.

While a bachelor's degree usually is not required, employers increasingly seek individuals with relevant work experience or education beyond high school.
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average.
Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for applicants with appropriate postsecondary education, but pay is low.

About 9 out of 10 jobs were in health care and social assistance industries, as well as State and local government agencies.
While a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement, a master's degree in social work or a related field has become the standard for many positions.
Employment is projected to grow faster than average.
Competition for jobs is expected in cities, but opportunities should be good in rural areas.

Quick Stats

Community and social service specialists, all other

2004 employment: 98,000
2014 projected employment: 129,000
Change — numeric: 31,000; percent: 32.0%
2004 median annual earnings: $32,530; earnings group: high
2004 self-employed: 0.0%
2004 part-time employment: low
2004 unemployment: low
Typical education and training: Bachelor's degree
Educational attainment — high school: 14.9%; some college: 27.9%; bachelor's degree: 57.2%

source: Employment Matrix; about this section

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Community and social services occupations
— National
U.S.:	$37,530
— by State
AL:	$33,540
AK:	$38,650
AZ:	$35,290
AR:	$30,400
CA:	$43,020
CO:	$38,490
CT:	$44,030
DE:	$38,000
DC:	$43,700
FL:	$35,030
GA:	$36,540
HI:	$39,270
ID:	$33,980
IL:	$39,380
IN:	$33,880
IA:	$31,960
KS:	$32,270
LA:	$36,000
ME:	$31,710
MD:	$40,500
MA:	$40,060
MI:	$42,390
MN:	$36,870
MS:	$31,870
MO:	$34,340
MT:	$30,000
NE:	$30,290
NV:	$43,430
NH:	$35,660
NJ:	$44,000
NM:	$32,650
NY:	$39,890
NC:	$34,060
ND:	$31,870
OH:	$38,270
OK:	$30,530
OR:	$37,420
PA:	$33,740
RI:	$38,480
SC:	$32,350
SD:	$31,650
TN:	$32,420
TX:	$34,770
UT:	$31,660
VT:	$36,400
VA:	$40,160
WA:	$37,480
WV:	$27,430
WI:	$39,020
WY:	$31,200
GU:	n.a.
PR:	$24,530
VI:	$32,690
— by NAICS Industry Sector
23	$37,970
31-33	$41,930
42	$32,620
44-45	$31,990
48-49	$29,630
51	$35,990
52	$44,780
53	$32,520
54	$42,570
55	$34,230
56	$35,040
61	$49,200
62	$33,110
71	$30,650
72	$32,730
81	$34,100
92	$40,000
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for community and social services occupations.

Community and social service specialists, all other
— National
U.S.:	$35,060
— by State
AL:	$30,980
AK:	$37,720
AZ:	$41,370
AR:	$27,200
CA:	$38,170
CO:	$36,650
CT:	$41,940
DE:	$31,270
DC:	$42,310
FL:	$35,210
GA:	$32,760
HI:	$41,450
ID:	$35,510
IL:	$33,730
IN:	$28,890
IA:	$30,140
KS:	$27,000
KY:	$33,210
LA:	$28,680
ME:	$29,720
MD:	$39,090
MA:	$34,940
MI:	$38,920
MN:	$37,060
MS:	$27,900
MO:	$29,360
MT:	$32,330
NE:	$30,350
NV:	$38,040
NH:	$33,750
NJ:	$39,620
NM:	$29,260
NY:	$38,690
NC:	$35,400
ND:	$30,940
OH:	$32,480
OK:	$28,340
OR:	$33,090
PA:	$31,780
RI:	$40,510
SC:	$30,230
TN:	$28,130
TX:	$31,000
UT:	$30,710
VT:	$28,990
VA:	$40,230
WA:	$38,460
WV:	$26,380
WI:	$31,300
WY:	$24,750
GU:	$27,740
PR:	$23,690
— by NAICS Industry Sector
23	$40,080
31-33	$28,120
42	$46,180
44-45	$28,890
48-49	$24,960
51	$43,670
52	$41,780
53	$35,760
54	$36,460
55	$33,580
56	$29,420
61	$33,550
62	$32,340
71	$30,410
81	$33,650
92	$38,630
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for community and social service specialists, all other.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Community and social services occupations

Full-time wage and salary workers, 2004
Employment Median weekly earnings
$ W/M ratio
Women
(emp.) (earn.) 1,082,000 $661 0.863
Men
(emp.) (earn.) 764,000 $766
All workers
(emp.) (earn.) 1,846,000 $707

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

• Union affiliation of employed wage & salary workers
• Median weekly earnings of full-time wage & salary workers

Community and social services occupations

Employed persons: 2,100,000
Members of unions		Represented by unions
Number	Percent	Number	Percent
346,000	16.5%	376,000	17.9%
more union employment statistics

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers, 2004

Occupation	Employee Tenure, median (years)
Community and social services occupations	4.7

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

2004 Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and event or exposure

Occupation	Fatalities: Event or exposure
Occupation	Total	Tran.	Viol.	Cont.	Falls	Expo.	Fires
Community and social services occupations	44	24	12	6	-	-	-
Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists	21	11	8	-	-	-	-
Religious workers	23	13	4	5	-	-	-
Miscellaneous religious workers	7	6	-	-	-	-	-

source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program; about this section

All full-time wage and salary workers	$725
— Members of unions	$880
— Represented by unions	$865
— Non-union	$693
more union earnings statistics