Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs: Career Overview
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
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The Daily Work of Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of eligibility interviewers, government programs cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top eligibility interviewers, government programs draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Authorization Specialist
- Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician)
- Business Employment Specialist
- Business and Employment Specialist
- Case Coordinator
- Case Manager
- Case Technician (Case Tech)
- Cash Application Clerk
Employment and Demand
There are about 653,202 eligibility interviewers, government programs working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.0% over the projection horizon.
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $34,061 |
| Hourly median | $16.38 |
| 10th percentile | $24,021 |
| 25th percentile | $29,041 |
| 75th percentile | $39,081 |
| 90th percentile | $44,101 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $75,050 |
| Michigan | $64,020 |
| Connecticut | $64,010 |
| Washington | $62,900 |
| Rhode Island | $62,680 |
| California | $61,680 |
| Minnesota | $60,330 |
| Iowa | $60,300 |
| Montana | $59,780 |
| Alaska | $58,570 |
| Massachusetts | $58,550 |
| Illinois | $57,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,600 |
| New Hampshire | $56,180 |
| Maryland | $55,910 |
| Colorado | $54,320 |
| Nevada | $53,560 |
| Vermont | $52,620 |
| Hawaii | $52,360 |
| New Jersey | $52,010 |
| New York | $51,810 |
| Alabama | $51,720 |
| Wyoming | $51,540 |
| Idaho | $50,980 |
| New Mexico | $50,960 |
| Virginia | $50,930 |
| Oregon | $50,780 |
| South Dakota | $50,650 |
| Wisconsin | $50,420 |
| North Dakota | $49,730 |
| Oklahoma | $49,610 |
| Utah | $49,000 |
| Kentucky | $49,000 |
| Ohio | $48,100 |
| West Virginia | $47,530 |
| Delaware | $47,000 |
| Maine | $46,590 |
| North Carolina | $46,330 |
| Kansas | $46,300 |
| Tennessee | $46,160 |
| Nebraska | $44,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,120 |
| Arkansas | $44,120 |
| Texas | $43,660 |
| Louisiana | $43,480 |
| Missouri | $42,310 |
| Georgia | $42,110 |
| Arizona | $41,690 |
| Guam | $40,440 |
| Indiana | $39,030 |
| Mississippi | $37,980 |
| South Carolina | $37,550 |
| Florida | $36,170 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for eligibility interviewers, government programs differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $60,970 | 23.6% | 1.53 |
| New England | $58,747 | 3.5% | 0.86 |
| Middle Atlantic | $54,889 | 15.8% | 1.30 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,814 | 4.1% | 1.12 |
| Great Lakes | $51,953 | 10.1% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $50,005 | 6.3% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $44,197 | 22.6% | 1.07 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $44,079 | 2.3% | 3.76 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $95,060 | 1,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $80,260 | 2,770 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $75,540 | 220 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $72,810 | 340 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $71,420 | 170 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $71,360 | 110 |
| Battle Creek, MI | MI | $67,290 | 50 |
| Bay City, MI | MI | $67,290 | 50 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of eligibility interviewers, government programs are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 6,990 | $46,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,140 | $49,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 740 | $53,250 |
| Educational Services | 530 | $50,670 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 420 | $47,810 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 390 | $43,970 |
| Finance and Insurance | 350 | $48,370 |
Below are examples of industries where eligibility interviewers, government programs work:
Tech Stack
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of eligibility interviewers, government programs is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Most eligibility interviewers, government programs positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Compensation and Benefits Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (Primary-Long)
- Compliance Officers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Credit Counselors (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring eligibility interviewers, government programs typically earn programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs).