Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs (SOC 43-4061) earn a median $54,210 a year ($26.06 an hour) in the United States, with 154,800 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What eligibility interviewers, government programs do
Eligibility interviewers for government programs determine whether people who apply for assistance qualify for it. The programs named in the SOC definition include welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing. The interviewer questions applicants, in some cases investigating, to gather the information that bears on the application, and checks with employers or other references to verify answers. Personal and financial data are compiled, recorded, and evaluated for completeness and accuracy before an eligibility decision is made. The interviewer then computes and authorizes the amount of assistance, such as grants, monetary payments, or food stamps, and starts the procedure to grant, modify, deny, or terminate it, or refers the applicant to another agency. Recipients are interviewed at set intervals to certify that they remain eligible. The interviewer also explains eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights, and keeps records of assigned cases and prepares required reports. What sets the work apart is that it centers on deciding eligibility for assistance.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Authorization Specialist, Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician), Business and Employment Specialist, Business Employment Specialist, Case Coordinator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.70 | $22.07 | $26.06 | $30.58 | $35.91 | $26.97 | 154,800 |
| Annual | $38,900 | $45,910 | $54,210 | $63,610 | $74,690 | $56,090 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where eligibility interviewers, government programs earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $28.09 | $31.79 | $35.61 | $40.63 | $44.10 | $36.03 | 640 | 0.92 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $58,440 | $66,130 | $74,080 | $84,520 | $91,730 | $74,940 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $23.93 | $30.53 | $34.59 | $37.71 | $39.46 | $32.89 | 1,250 | 0.73 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $49,760 | $63,500 | $71,940 | $78,440 | $82,080 | $68,410 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $22.85 | $27.15 | $32.13 | $33.97 | $33.97 | $30.75 | 5,060 | 1.15 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $47,520 | $56,480 | $66,830 | $70,660 | $70,660 | $63,960 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.18 | $28.71 | $31.89 | $34.88 | $36.87 | $31.57 | 3,880 | 1.09 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $52,370 | $59,710 | $66,330 | $72,550 | $76,690 | $65,660 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $21.96 | $24.35 | $31.13 | $35.31 | $39.16 | $30.33 | 1,700 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $45,680 | $50,660 | $64,750 | $73,440 | $81,450 | $63,090 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.75 | $26.73 | $30.54 | $34.36 | $39.89 | $31.10 | 30,960 | 1.70 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $47,320 | $55,600 | $63,520 | $71,470 | $82,960 | $64,690 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.60 | $21.25 | $22.53 | $25.93 | $30.67 | $23.75 | 12,020 | 0.85 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $38,680 | $44,190 | $46,860 | $53,930 | $63,790 | $49,400 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $22.71 | $25.99 | $28.40 | $32.08 | $36.21 | $28.86 | 10,280 | 1.70 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $47,240 | $54,060 | $59,070 | $66,730 | $75,320 | $60,020 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.72 | $23.87 | $25.69 | $31.34 | $37.61 | $28.16 | 10,220 | 1.06 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $47,250 | $49,660 | $53,430 | $65,190 | $78,230 | $58,560 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $18.43 | $19.76 | $22.76 | $24.23 | $28.27 | $22.77 | 7,740 | 1.57 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $38,330 | $41,110 | $47,350 | $50,400 | $58,800 | $47,350 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $32.76 | $38.02 | $47.07 | $48.47 | $48.47 | $42.04 | 1,240 | 1.09 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $68,150 | $79,090 | $97,900 | $100,810 | $100,810 | $87,450 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $29.38 | $34.36 | $39.89 | $43.91 | $51.16 | $39.87 | 2,850 | 1.20 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $61,120 | $71,470 | $82,960 | $91,330 | $106,400 | $82,920 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $31.77 | $31.77 | $38.62 | $38.62 | $44.11 | $37.28 | 240 | 1.15 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $66,080 | $66,080 | $80,330 | $80,330 | $91,760 | $77,550 | ||||
| Madison, WI | Hourly | $22.60 | $26.14 | $37.40 | $37.40 | $37.40 | $32.25 | 240 | 0.58 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $47,010 | $54,360 | $77,800 | $77,800 | $77,800 | $67,070 | ||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $30.02 | $30.63 | $36.58 | $40.40 | $43.23 | $36.12 | 320 | 1.71 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $62,440 | $63,710 | $76,090 | $84,030 | $89,920 | $75,120 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.36 | $29.47 | $30.54 | $30.54 | $36.97 | $30.35 | 15,160 | 2.42 | 2.43 |
| Annual | $48,580 | $61,300 | $63,520 | $63,520 | $76,890 | $63,120 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.86 | $23.87 | $25.47 | $32.39 | $39.05 | $28.45 | 6,920 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $47,540 | $49,660 | $52,980 | $67,370 | $81,220 | $59,180 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $21.36 | $25.99 | $29.31 | $33.22 | $38.10 | $29.47 | 4,620 | 1.59 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $44,430 | $54,060 | $60,960 | $69,100 | $79,250 | $61,300 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.85 | $20.50 | $22.85 | $28.12 | $32.10 | $24.15 | 4,380 | 1.52 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $37,130 | $42,640 | $47,530 | $58,490 | $66,770 | $50,240 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $18.64 | $22.75 | $27.63 | $30.62 | $36.49 | $27.55 | 3,250 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Annual | $38,770 | $47,320 | $57,470 | $63,690 | $75,900 | $57,290 | ||||
Top industries employing eligibility interviewers, government programs
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 36.0% of eligibility interviewers, government programs nationally (55,800 jobs) at a median $50,670 a year ($24.36 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (35.6%) and Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (20.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 55,800 | 36.0% | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 55,160 | 35.6% | $58,790 | $28.26 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 31,190 | 20.1% | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 2,690 | 1.7% | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 2,270 | 1.5% | $52,070 | $25.03 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (154,800). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,420 for eligibility interviewers, government programs in May 2021 and $54,210 in May 2025, with employment of 151,340 and 154,800.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,420 | $22.80 | 151,340 |
| May 2022 | $49,230 | $23.67 | 149,760 |
| May 2023 | $50,270 | $24.17 | 150,190 |
| May 2024 | $51,500 | $24.76 | 156,260 |
| May 2025 | $54,210 | $26.06 | 154,800 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $35.61 | $74,080 | $58,440 | $91,730 | 640 | 0.92 | 0.92 |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | $34.59 | $71,940 | $49,760 | $82,080 | 1,250 | 0.73 | 0.74 |
| 3 | Michigan profile | $32.13 | $66,830 | $47,520 | $70,660 | 5,060 | 1.15 | 1.15 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $31.89 | $66,330 | $52,370 | $76,690 | 3,880 | 1.09 | 1.10 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $31.13 | $64,750 | $45,680 | $81,450 | 1,700 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| 6 | Rhode Island profile | $31.04 | $64,560 | $47,660 | $78,050 | 570 | 1.14 | 1.14 |
| 7 | California profile | $30.54 | $63,520 | $47,320 | $82,960 | 30,960 | 1.70 | 1.71 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $30.20 | $62,820 | $50,220 | $77,980 | 2,910 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
| 9 | Alaska profile | $29.73 | $61,840 | $48,840 | $79,460 | 400 | 1.22 | 1.23 |
| 10 | Illinois profile | $29.73 | $61,840 | $45,590 | $81,590 | 1,740 | 0.29 | 0.29 |
| 11 | Iowa profile | $29.49 | $61,340 | $45,320 | $78,780 | 1,040 | 0.67 | 0.67 |
| 12 | Montana profile | $28.45 | $59,180 | $42,520 | $61,230 | 550 | 1.08 | 1.08 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.40 | $59,070 | $47,240 | $75,320 | 10,280 | 1.70 | 1.70 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $28.25 | $58,750 | $46,960 | $74,500 | 3,140 | 1.09 | 1.10 |
| 15 | Vermont profile | $28.14 | $58,530 | $48,440 | $70,800 | 310 | 1.03 | 1.04 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $27.55 | $57,300 | $39,750 | $78,440 | 240 | 0.36 | 0.36 |
| 17 | Maryland profile | $27.48 | $57,160 | $45,950 | $80,180 | 3,710 | 1.34 | 1.35 |
| 18 | Oregon profile | $26.76 | $55,660 | $42,610 | $73,740 | 1,740 | 0.89 | 0.89 |
| 19 | Nevada profile | $26.52 | $55,160 | $42,330 | $74,550 | ** | ** | ** |
| 20 | Hawaii profile | $26.43 | $54,970 | $43,440 | $72,360 | 610 | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| 21 | Alabama profile | $25.98 | $54,040 | $37,430 | $66,390 | 2,720 | 1.29 | 1.29 |
| 22 | New York profile | $25.69 | $53,430 | $47,250 | $78,230 | 10,220 | 1.06 | 1.06 |
| 23 | New Mexico profile | $25.48 | $53,000 | $40,410 | $70,840 | 790 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
| 24 | Utah profile | $25.38 | $52,790 | $40,330 | $67,200 | 1,960 | 1.13 | 1.14 |
| 25 | Idaho profile | $25.32 | $52,670 | $43,310 | $64,440 | 240 | 0.28 | 0.28 |
| 26 | South Dakota profile | $25.17 | $52,350 | $33,210 | $62,540 | 470 | 1.02 | 1.03 |
| 27 | Kentucky profile | $25.01 | $52,020 | $42,000 | $74,260 | 1,710 | 0.85 | 0.86 |
| 28 | North Dakota profile | $24.91 | $51,810 | $43,230 | $63,910 | 410 | 0.96 | 0.97 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $24.75 | $51,480 | $45,120 | $74,290 | 1,610 | 0.55 | 0.55 |
| 30 | New Jersey profile | $24.70 | $51,380 | $40,570 | $71,120 | 920 | 0.22 | 0.22 |
| 31 | Virginia profile | $24.50 | $50,960 | $37,990 | $73,960 | 4,290 | 1.04 | 1.05 |
| 32 | Maine profile | $24.45 | $50,860 | $40,930 | $57,180 | 620 | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| 33 | Nebraska profile | $24.19 | $50,320 | $40,640 | $71,930 | 220 | 0.22 | 0.22 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $24.07 | $50,070 | $39,590 | $71,860 | 4,300 | 0.78 | 0.78 |
| 35 | Kansas profile | $23.87 | $49,650 | $37,980 | $67,200 | 810 | 0.56 | 0.57 |
| 36 | Tennessee profile | $23.67 | $49,230 | $40,260 | $65,170 | 4,060 | 1.24 | 1.24 |
| 37 | Oklahoma profile | $23.60 | $49,090 | $35,360 | $73,940 | 520 | 0.31 | 0.31 |
| 38 | Louisiana profile | $23.20 | $48,260 | $34,140 | $65,900 | 740 | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $22.76 | $47,350 | $38,330 | $58,800 | 7,740 | 1.57 | 1.57 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $22.53 | $46,860 | $38,680 | $63,790 | 12,020 | 0.85 | 0.86 |
| 41 | Arkansas profile | $21.80 | $45,340 | $37,230 | $55,150 | 610 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| 42 | Georgia profile | $21.45 | $44,620 | $36,990 | $64,360 | 6,120 | 1.25 | 1.26 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $21.22 | $44,150 | $35,220 | $60,960 | 250 | 0.36 | 0.36 |
| 44 | Delaware profile | $20.63 | $42,900 | $34,360 | $59,950 | 120 | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | $20.60 | $42,850 | $38,900 | $69,350 | 4,130 | 1.41 | 1.41 |
| 46 | Arizona profile | $20.05 | $41,690 | $38,720 | $59,190 | 3,440 | 1.06 | 1.07 |
| 47 | Indiana profile | $19.31 | $40,160 | $31,960 | $52,940 | 3,000 | 0.94 | 0.94 |
| 48 | South Carolina profile | $18.59 | $38,670 | $34,590 | $55,330 | 1,750 | 0.76 | 0.76 |
| 49 | Florida profile | $17.90 | $37,230 | $35,030 | $62,570 | 5,880 | 0.59 | 0.60 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $17.71 | $36,840 | $28,410 | $55,310 | 1,760 | 1.51 | 1.52 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-4061 Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-4061, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-4061.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.