Child, Family, and School Social Workers: Career Profile
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
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The Daily Work of Child, Family, and School Social Workers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of child, family, and school social workers cover:
- Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
- Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
- Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
- Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
- Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective child, family, and school social workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Child, Family, and School Social Workers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adolescent Counselor
- Adoption Agent
- Adoption Coordinator
- Adoption Counselor
- Adoption Social Worker
- Adoption Specialist
- Adoption Worker
- Case Manager
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 204,422 child, family, and school social workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.0% over the projection horizon.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $41,658 |
| Hourly median | $20.03 |
| 10th percentile | $23,033 |
| 25th percentile | $32,345 |
| 75th percentile | $50,970 |
| 90th percentile | $60,282 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $78,940 |
| District of Columbia | $78,920 |
| New Jersey | $78,150 |
| Washington | $72,290 |
| Maryland | $70,840 |
| California | $69,250 |
| Massachusetts | $67,880 |
| Rhode Island | $67,150 |
| North Dakota | $66,900 |
| Hawaii | $66,450 |
| New York | $65,430 |
| Vermont | $65,370 |
| Minnesota | $65,010 |
| New Hampshire | $64,630 |
| Colorado | $63,560 |
| Oregon | $62,770 |
| Maine | $62,620 |
| Illinois | $62,260 |
| Idaho | $62,150 |
| Nevada | $60,430 |
| Virginia | $60,280 |
| Alaska | $60,220 |
| Michigan | $59,030 |
| Wisconsin | $58,670 |
| Louisiana | $57,880 |
| North Carolina | $57,660 |
| Kentucky | $57,390 |
| Wyoming | $56,430 |
| Tennessee | $56,390 |
| South Dakota | $53,140 |
| Kansas | $52,690 |
| Florida | $52,350 |
| Indiana | $51,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,030 |
| Iowa | $50,710 |
| Ohio | $50,580 |
| Arizona | $50,140 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,030 |
| Texas | $49,940 |
| Montana | $49,630 |
| New Mexico | $49,530 |
| Utah | $49,070 |
| West Virginia | $48,220 |
| Georgia | $47,770 |
| South Carolina | $47,550 |
| Nebraska | $47,400 |
| Missouri | $47,200 |
| Alabama | $46,890 |
| Delaware | $46,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,500 |
| Mississippi | $44,690 |
| Oklahoma | $43,950 |
| Arkansas | $42,960 |
| Guam | $40,880 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for child, family, and school social workers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $69,895 | 5.5% | 1.21 |
| Far Western US | $68,508 | 20.3% | 1.22 |
| Middle Atlantic | $63,260 | 15.6% | 1.09 |
| Rocky Mountains | $59,596 | 3.2% | 0.92 |
| Great Lakes | $57,021 | 15.6% | 1.15 |
| Southeast | $53,449 | 20.1% | 0.94 |
| Plains States | $53,257 | 7.4% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $48,993 | 11.4% | 0.99 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $82,410 | 340 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $80,280 | 2,250 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $79,840 | 1,300 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $78,950 | 350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $78,700 | 2,090 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | CT | $78,700 | 440 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | CA | $78,250 | 130 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $77,650 | 100 |
Top Industries Employing Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Most child, family, and school social workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 151,640 | $50,160 |
| Educational Services | 68,720 | $67,880 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 8,360 | $49,950 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 4,200 | $55,610 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,610 | $62,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 590 | $66,260 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 200 | $56,580 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 120 | $31,880 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of child, family, and school social workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Typical child, family, and school social workers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Long)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- School Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Primary-Long)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for child, family, and school social workers commonly pursue programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
4 programs across 1 majors
Psychology
2 programs across 1 majors
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
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: 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers).
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