Eligibility interviewers, government programs salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $54,210 | $26.06 |
| Mean (average) | $56,090 | $26.97 |
| 90th percentile | $74,690 | $35.91 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Eligibility interviewers, government programs pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,040 | $37,430 | $66,390 | 2,720 | 1.29 |
| Alaska | $61,840 | $48,840 | $79,460 | 400 | 1.23 |
| Arizona | $41,690 | $38,720 | $59,190 | 3,440 | 1.07 |
| Arkansas | $45,340 | $37,230 | $55,150 | 610 | 0.47 |
| California | $63,520 | $47,320 | $82,960 | 30,960 | 1.71 |
| Colorado | $58,750 | $46,960 | $74,500 | 3,140 | 1.1 |
| Connecticut | $71,940 | $49,760 | $82,080 | 1,250 | 0.74 |
| Delaware | $42,900 | $34,360 | $59,950 | 120 | 0.24 |
| District of Columbia | $74,080 | $58,440 | $91,730 | 640 | 0.92 |
| Florida | $37,230 | $35,030 | $62,570 | 5,880 | 0.6 |
| Georgia | $44,620 | $36,990 | $64,360 | 6,120 | 1.26 |
| Guam | $39,970 | $29,430 | $62,140 | 50 | 0.72 |
| Hawaii | $54,970 | $43,440 | $72,360 | 610 | 0.98 |
| Idaho | $52,670 | $43,310 | $64,440 | 240 | 0.28 |
| Illinois | $61,840 | $45,590 | $81,590 | 1,740 | 0.29 |
| Indiana | $40,160 | $31,960 | $52,940 | 3,000 | 0.94 |
| Iowa | $61,340 | $45,320 | $78,780 | 1,040 | 0.67 |
| Kansas | $49,650 | $37,980 | $67,200 | 810 | 0.57 |
| Kentucky | $52,020 | $42,000 | $74,260 | 1,710 | 0.86 |
| Louisiana | $48,260 | $34,140 | $65,900 | 740 | 0.39 |
| Maine | $50,860 | $40,930 | $57,180 | 620 | 0.98 |
| Maryland | $57,160 | $45,950 | $80,180 | 3,710 | 1.35 |
| Massachusetts | $64,750 | $45,680 | $81,450 | 1,700 | 0.47 |
| Michigan | $66,830 | $47,520 | $70,660 | 5,060 | 1.15 |
| Minnesota | $62,820 | $50,220 | $77,980 | 2,910 | 0.99 |
| Mississippi | $36,840 | $28,410 | $55,310 | 1,760 | 1.52 |
| Missouri | $42,850 | $38,900 | $69,350 | 4,130 | 1.41 |
| Montana | $59,180 | $42,520 | $61,230 | 550 | 1.08 |
| Nebraska | $50,320 | $40,640 | $71,930 | 220 | 0.22 |
| Nevada | $55,160 | $42,330 | $74,550 | ||
| New Hampshire | $57,300 | $39,750 | $78,440 | 240 | 0.36 |
| New Jersey | $51,380 | $40,570 | $71,120 | 920 | 0.22 |
| New Mexico | $53,000 | $40,410 | $70,840 | 790 | 0.91 |
| New York | $53,430 | $47,250 | $78,230 | 10,220 | 1.06 |
| North Carolina | $47,350 | $38,330 | $58,800 | 7,740 | 1.57 |
| North Dakota | $51,810 | $43,230 | $63,910 | 410 | 0.97 |
| Ohio | $50,070 | $39,590 | $71,860 | 4,300 | 0.78 |
| Oklahoma | $49,090 | $35,360 | $73,940 | 520 | 0.31 |
| Oregon | $55,660 | $42,610 | $73,740 | 1,740 | 0.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,070 | $47,240 | $75,320 | 10,280 | 1.7 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,950 | $27,830 | $59,950 | 3,660 | 3.91 |
| Rhode Island | $64,560 | $47,660 | $78,050 | 570 | 1.14 |
| South Carolina | $38,670 | $34,590 | $55,330 | 1,750 | 0.76 |
| South Dakota | $52,350 | $33,210 | $62,540 | 470 | 1.03 |
| Tennessee | $49,230 | $40,260 | $65,170 | 4,060 | 1.24 |
| Texas | $46,860 | $38,680 | $63,790 | 12,020 | 0.86 |
| Utah | $52,790 | $40,330 | $67,200 | 1,960 | 1.14 |
| Vermont | $58,530 | $48,440 | $70,800 | 310 | 1.04 |
| Virgin Islands | $38,060 | $37,000 | $41,400 | 70 | 2.12 |
| Virginia | $50,960 | $37,990 | $73,960 | 4,290 | 1.05 |
| Washington | $66,330 | $52,370 | $76,690 | 3,880 | 1.1 |
| West Virginia | $44,150 | $35,220 | $60,960 | 250 | 0.36 |
| Wisconsin | $51,480 | $45,120 | $74,290 | 1,610 | 0.55 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 12,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Community Organization and Advocacy CIP 44.0201
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
- Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
- Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
- Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
- Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
- Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights.
- Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
- Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Client assessment software
- Corel WinZip
- Email software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Google Meet
- Medicaid management information system MMIS
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Resource and patient management system RPMS patient registration software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician), Business and Employment Specialist, Case Manager, Eligibility Examiner, Eligibility Specialist, Eligibility Worker, Program Eligibility Specialist, Social Welfare Examiner (SWEX), Workforce Advisor, Workforce Services Representative (WSR).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do eligibility interviewers, government programs make?
The national median annual wage for eligibility interviewers, government programs was $54,210 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,900 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $74,690. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do eligibility interviewers, government programs need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is eligibility interviewers, government programs a growing career?
BLS projects employment of eligibility interviewers, government programs to change +1.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 12,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay eligibility interviewers, government programs the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($74,080), Connecticut ($71,940), Michigan ($66,830). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.