Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs: Career Profile
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Do?
Typical responsibilities of eligibility interviewers, government programs span:
- 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
Successful 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:
Knowledge Areas
Related 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
How Many Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Are There?
The U.S. employs around 653,202 eligibility interviewers, government programs working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for eligibility interviewers, government programs differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field 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)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for eligibility interviewers, government programs is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level eligibility interviewers, government programs positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
About the Data
This profile draws on 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).