Best paying community and social service jobs

The highest-paying occupations in community and social service, ranked with median wage weighted heaviest.

How this ranking is scored

score = .70·pay + .10·growth + .10·employment + .10·openings

Each factor is scaled to the strongest occupation on this list, then weighted and summed. Weights differ by list type. Full methodology.

Wages — OEWS May 2025

Growth & openings — EP 2024–34

Rank by Overall score ·Pay ·Growth ·Openings

Compare · management·business and finance·technology

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

P25–P75

Growth

Employed

Open/yr

Score

01

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors · Master's degree · 21-1018

$59,350

+16.8%

491,930

48,300

100

02

Healthcare Social Workers · Master's degree · 21-1022

$67,880

+7.7%

187,630

18,400

89

03

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors · Master's degree · 21-1012

$64,330

+3.5%

353,310

31,000

89

04

Marriage and Family Therapists · Master's degree · 21-1013

$66,940

+12.6%

66,740

7,700

87

05

Social Workers, All Other · Bachelor's degree · 21-1029

$71,900

+3.9%

62,930

7,000

86

06

Child, Family, and School Social Workers · Bachelor's degree · 21-1021

$59,550

+3.4%

392,550

35,100

86

07

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers · Master's degree · 21-1023

$60,280

+9.7%

132,810

13,500

80

08

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists · Bachelor's degree · 21-1092

$66,270

+2.6%

89,390

7,900

80

09

Health Education Specialists · Bachelor's degree · 21-1091

$64,070

+4.5%

65,690

7,900

78

10

Social and Human Service Assistants · High school diploma or equivalent · 21-1093

$45,930

+6.4%

437,860

50,600

77

11

Clergy · Bachelor's degree · 21-2011

$60,810

+1.0%

57,200

23,000

75

12

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other · Bachelor's degree · 21-1099

$56,730

+4.6%

107,730

13,100

72

13

Community Health Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 21-1094

$51,850

+11.3%

61,660

7,800

69

14

Counselors, All Other · Master's degree · 21-1019

$50,860

+12.6%

28,580

7,400

68

15

Directors, Religious Activities and Education · Bachelor's degree · 21-2021

$52,100

+2.1%

22,160

13,800

63

16

Rehabilitation Counselors · Master's degree · 21-1015

$46,850

+1.4%

94,740

10,000

58

17

Religious Workers, All Other · Bachelor's degree · 21-2099

$45,280

+0.6%

15,760

11,100

54

All 17 scored occupations shown.

Fastest-growing community and social service careers

01 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors +16.8%

02 Marriage and Family Therapists +12.6%

03 Counselors, All Other +12.6%

04 Community Health Workers +11.3%

05 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers +9.7%

community and social service careers without a four-year degree

01 Social and Human Service Assistants $45,930

02 Community Health Workers $51,850

Live jobs in community and social service

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About community and social service careers

How many community and social service careers are there?

Jobs.best ranks 17 community and social service occupations with published wages, from OEWS May 2025.

What is the highest-paying community and social service job?

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, with a national median of $59,350.

Can you enter community and social service without a degree?

Yes — 2 of the ranked community and social service occupations typically need no four-year degree, including Social and Human Service Assistants.