What is a service aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Service aides work for state or county government agencies such as the Department of Child Safety. They usually work under the direct supervision of social services senior staff. They provide assistance in the delivery of social services to individuals and families to resolve various human services issues.

Service aides advise clients regarding appropriate services. Moreover, they also maintain accurate documentations, monitor client's treatment progress, and assist in treatment adherence. Although a high school diploma or a GED may suffice, a bachelor's degree in social services is often required. A few years of progressive work experience in social services programs is also often required. Essential skills include empathy, communication, multitasking, and interpersonal.

The average hourly wage or this position is $12.39, which amounts to $25,769 annually. In addition, the career is expected to grow in the near future, which will result in new opportunities emerging all across the United States.

ScoreService AideUS Average
Salary
2.4

Avg. Salary $31,000

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.9

Growth Rate 12%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.16%

Asian 6.77%

Black or African American 11.76%

Hispanic or Latino 21.19%

Unknown 5.17%

White 52.94%

Gender

female 65.25%

male 34.75%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.1

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Service Aide career paths

Key steps to become a service aide

  1. Explore service aide education requirements

    Most common service aide degrees

    Bachelor's

    39.7 %

    Associate

    22.8 %

    High School Diploma

    22.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific service aide skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients23.81%
    Customer Service7.93%
    Rehabilitation7.08%
    Food Preparation6.36%
    Patient Rooms5.99%
  3. Complete relevant service aide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New service aides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a service aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real service aide resumes.
  4. Research service aide duties and responsibilities

    • Manage day-to-day operations including contract management, accounts payable, receivables, payroll and general administrative assistance.
    • Provide high-quality patient care as an in-demand HST within acute-care, rehabilitation, home-healthcare and nursing-home settings.
    • Process CalWorks, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal applications, renewals, and quarterly & semi-annual reports.
    • Assist employees in caring for dementia and Alzheimer's patients participate in daily activities and read to seniors.
  5. Prepare your service aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your service aide resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a service aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Service Aide Resume templates

    Build a professional Service Aide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Service Aide resume.
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  6. Apply for service aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a service aide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Service Aide Job

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Average service aide salary

The average Service Aide salary in the United States is $31,000 per year or $15 per hour. Service aide salaries range between $24,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average Service Aide Salary
$31,000 Yearly
$14.90 hourly

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How do service aides rate their job?

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Service Aide reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Cons

Dont know


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

Working with people & making them safe. Working with nursing staff to keep the residents healthy.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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