By: All Psychology Schools Staff
Updated: January 16, 2026
Human services salaries in Texas
The most compelling reason to become a human services worker in Texas is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on underserved communities in a rapidly growing and diverse state.
Texas is the fourth largest employer of human services assistants in the U.S., and for good reason. Here are three reasons specific to Texas to choose the state for a career as a human services professional or substance abuse, mental health or behavioral counselor:
Large immigrant and refugee population:
Texas has one of the largest immigrant populations in the U.S., creating a strong need for culturally competent human services professionals.
Expansive rural and underserved areas:
Many areas in Texas lack adequate mental health and social support services, offering opportunities to make a direct and lasting impact.
State investment in mental and behavioral health:
Texas continues to increase funding for mental health and social service programs, creating stable job opportunities and pathways for advancement.
Quick view of human services roles in TX
There are many job titles that fall under the human services umbrella in Texas and nationally, but for this salary article we’ll focus on career fields as human services assistants, community and social services specialists and substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counseling.
What human services jobs does Texas need the most?
Three of the most commonly performed human services roles in Texas are:
- Social and human services assistants: These vital workers support caseworkers and help clients access community resources.
- Substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counselors: These professionals provide critical support in a state with a rising demand for mental health and addiction services.
- Child, family and school social workers: Social workers address the needs of vulnerable children and families across Texas’s large and diverse school systems.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 6,570 people are employed as community and social services specialists in Texas, 21,890 as human services assistants and 19,520 people work as substance abuse, behavioral or mental health counselors. The median wage per hour for human services assistants in Texas is $21, while substance abuse, behavioral and mental health counselors made a median hourly wage of $29.
How does Texas support its human services workforce?
In a state as large as Texas (268,820 square miles) and with such a varied and diverse population, it’s critical that human services professionals garner the support of the state and its governing bodies. Here are three key ways Texas supports its human services workforce:
Texas supports its human services workforce by…
Enforcing legally mandated caseload management systems:
Texas Human Resources Code § 40.0529 and Government Code § 526.0401 require the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to implement caseload management systems with equitable distribution, risk-based limits and staffing based on complexity and geographic needs.
Enforcing programs to prevent burnout and secondary trauma:
Under Texas’ 85th Legislature, workers must be able to receive trauma-based care training and a voluntary secondary-trauma support program—including critical-incident stress debriefing.
Creating funding, recruitment, retention and incentives plans for human services workers:
The Texas Behavioral Health Workforce Workgroup, which was formed in 2019, led to legislation allocating funding for workforce training, Medicaid rate adjustments, loan repayment programs and salary increases—specifically aimed at stabilizing and growing the human services workforce in underserved areas.
Who employs health services workers in Texas?
The following employers span state government, healthcare, education and nonprofit sectors, each offering unique opportunities for human services professionals in Texas. Here are five employers that heavily rely on the skills and services of the human services workforce:
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Austin HQ:
- As the state’s central agency for health, behavioral health and social services, HHSC employs thousands of human services workers across programs like Medicaid, SNAP and mental health services.
- University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health), Galveston:
- This major academic health center provides medical, psychiatric, and correctional care services, employing counselors, social workers, and case managers statewide.
- Harris Health Systems, Houston:
- One of the largest public health systems in Texas, serving a diverse, high-need population with roles in behavioral health, social services and care coordination.
- The Center for Health Care Services, San Antonio:
- A nonprofit behavioral health authority offering mental health, substance abuse and intellectual disability services, with extensive use of counselors and social workers.
- Catholic Charities of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio:
- These large, faith-based nonprofits serve immigrants, refugees, families and low-income populations—employing case managers, housing specialists and trauma counselors.
Salary stats for Texas’ human services workforce
BLS national median salaries for social and community services specialists listed at $54,940 a year, human services assistants at $45,120 and substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counseling salaries at $58,570. Pay in Texas may vary depending upon where you work, employer type, the region’s cost of living, how much experience you have and your level of education.
With that in mind, here’s how Texas’ median pay ranks against the national figures:
| Human services field | Median annual national pay | Median Texas annual pay |
|---|---|---|
| Community and social service specialists | $54,940 | $48,240 |
| Social and human services assistants | $45,120 | $44,030 |
| Substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counselors | $59,190 | $60,630 |
What are salaries like within Texas for human services professionals?
Here are the areas that generally offer the best pay for:
Human services assistants
- Austin-Round Rock: Higher cost of living and government/tech sector support drives better wages.
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington: Large demand and well-funded nonprofit and hospital networks.
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land: Dense healthcare infrastructure and immigrant support networks create higher-paying roles.
Substance abuse and mental health counselors
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land: High need and strong behavioral health provider networks.
- Austin-Round Rock: Public health innovation and nonprofit advocacy help boost salaries.
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington: Steady investment in mental health services from county governments and hospitals.
These metro areas tend to offer 5 to 15% higher salaries than rural areas, along with more opportunities for advancement, licensing support and specializations.
Here’s what the BLS reported as median salaries for different human services professions in Texas:
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
10%$30,490
25%$38,370
50%$48,240Median
75%$59,650
90%$69,930
Median Hourly Wage$23
Job growth4.6%
Total Employment6,570
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $52,180 | $36,180 | $82,390 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,130 | $30,070 | $71,210 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $49,350 | $34,840 | $73,650 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,590 | $34,430 | $65,300 |
| Waco, TX | $48,590 | $33,370 | $61,990 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,240 | $32,720 | $66,400 |
| El Paso, TX | $47,540 | $28,780 | $58,880 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $47,120 | $34,430 | $58,040 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $46,730 | $28,610 | $57,990 |
| Odessa, TX | $46,480 | $34,720 | $66,190 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Social and Human Service Assistants
10%$30,260
25%$37,110
50%$44,030Median
75%$51,110
90%$59,910
Median Hourly Wage$21
Job growth6.4%
Total Employment21,890
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $49,870 | $32,030 | $67,220 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $48,740 | $35,430 | $61,420 |
| Midland, TX | $47,080 | $34,230 | $61,210 |
| Odessa, TX | $46,120 | $31,390 | $58,940 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,100 | $29,800 | $61,900 |
| Victoria, TX | $45,330 | $29,320 | $56,360 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,310 | $30,260 | $60,290 |
| Amarillo, TX | $44,820 | $29,320 | $51,530 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $44,160 | $29,800 | $71,060 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $44,030 | $29,970 | $53,610 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
10%$38,720
25%$47,600
50%$60,630Median
75%$76,390
90%$96,260
Median Hourly Wage$29
Job growth16.8%
Total Employment19,520
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $74,160 | $39,400 | $78,810 |
| Amarillo, TX | $66,930 | $38,090 | $99,800 |
| Laredo, TX | $65,500 | $37,890 | $86,450 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $65,000 | $40,880 | $86,200 |
| El Paso, TX | $64,170 | $41,760 | $81,660 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $64,140 | $41,200 | $93,880 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,440 | $38,630 | N/A |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $61,620 | $37,540 | $113,480 |
| San Angelo, TX | $60,700 | $40,160 | $81,330 |
| Victoria, TX | $58,970 | $31,740 | $82,120 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
How do human services salaries compare?
Here’s how the BLS compared national median pay rates among different types of human services professionals:
If demand is high, why aren’t Texas salaries higher?
The BLS cited Texas as a top 10 employer for human services roles such as human services assistant (ranked at #4 in the U.S.) community and social services specialists (ranked #2) and substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counselors (ranked at #5). It seems logical that if a role is in high demand that pay would be better than average. However, that is not always the case. Here’s a breakdown of why demand doesn’t always equate to higher pay in Texas:
- Funding limitations: Many human services jobs are publicly funded or grant-based, such as those through Medicaid, state agencies or nonprofits, which caps salaries regardless of demand.
- Supply of workers: Texas has a large labor pool, including entry-level candidates with associate or bachelor’s degrees, which can drive wages down compared to more specialized fields.
- Services over salaries: In state budgets and nonprofit operations, resources are often channeled into expanding service access and client reach before increasing wages.
What’s the job growth for the field?
Employment of human services assistant roles is expected to grow 6.4% through 2034, which is faster than the national average for all occupations. Texas is witnessing robust demand for human service assistants, with well-above-average growth and steady annual job openings—making now an excellent time to enter the field.
O*Net, a subsidiary of the BLS, stated that human services assistants would enjoy a 16% projected job growth rate in Texas through 2032, doubling the national job growth rate and adding some 2,760 positions.
National employment numbers by metro area
Factors affecting human services salaries in Texas
In Texas, several state-specific factors can significantly impact a human services worker’s salary. Here are the most critical ones:
- Urban vs. rural location:
- Urban areas such as Austin, Houston or Dallas generally offer higher salaries due to a higher cost of living and stronger funding sources, including hospitals, nonprofits and county mental health authorities. Rural areas may offer lower base pay but may provide loan repayment incentives and federal aid for working in underserved regions.
- Employer type:
- State agencies may offer stable employment and benefits, but salaries are capped by legislative budgets, while private nonprofits and hospital systems in Texas’s urban hubs may pay more, especially for licensed professionals.
- Licensing and specializing:
- In Texas, holding a license such as a LCDC, LPC or LMSW, or having training in high-need areas like bilingual counseling, substance abuse or trauma care may boost earning potential over unlicensed roles. Specializing to serve immigrants, veterans or at-risk youth—all of which are major demographic priorities in Texas—may also lead to higher compensation through targeted grants and roles.
Learn more about human services salaries in your state
For a more detailed breakdown of human services salaries where you live, check out your state below:
Education path to become a human services assistant in Texas
Here’s the basic education path and requirements to become a human services assistant in Texas:
- Earn an associate degree in human services:
- After completing your high school education, earn an associate degree in human services. This two year program is offered at Texas community colleges. Coursework includes psychology, sociology, case management and crisis intervention.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in human services:
- A bachelor’s in human services, social work or psychology may lead to advancement or specialization in counseling or case management. A bachelor’s may qualify you for supervisory roles and can be a stepping stone to licensure.
- Consider on-the-Job training and certifications:
- Many roles include state-sponsored or agency-led training on topics like HIPAA, cultural competency and trauma-informed care. Some employers may require or offer certification in mental health first aid or community health work.
Cost of living in Texas
The Cost of Living Index rated Texas at 92.7, meaning if the national average is 100, North Carolina is 7.3% lower, making it an affordable state to reside in.
However, expenses can vary significantly across different cities. Austin, Dallas, Plano and Houston are among the more expensive areas, reflecting higher housing and living costs.
Resources for human services professionals
Professional groups offer support, advocacy and important resources for human services workers. Texas has several professional associations that support human services professionals:
Texas Association of Community Action Agencies (TACAA): TACAA supports agencies and professionals working in poverty alleviation, family services and community development.
Texas Counseling Association (TCA): TCA represents licensed professional counselors and mental health professionals across the state.
National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter (NASW-TX): NASW-TX advocates for social workers and provides continuing education, policy advocacy and networking.
Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP): TAAP serves substance abuse counselors, prevention specialists and recovery professionals with training and credential support.
A career in human services in Texas may be shaped by location, specialization and career choices. While wages may not always be as high as other states, the lower cost of living in many cities and towns may help stretch salaries. Use our salary guide to help you make an informed decision about your future, your pay and entering into a career dedicated to helping others.