How much does a child, family, and school social worker make?
The median child, family, and school social worker in the United States earns $59,550 per year, about $28.63 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all child, family, and school social workers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 21-1021.
Child, family, and school social worker salary range
Pay for child, family, and school social workers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $42,280 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $95,530. The average (mean) wage of $64,000 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,280 | $20.33 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $48,270 | $23.21 | |
| Median (50th) | $59,550 | $28.63 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $76,070 | $36.57 | |
| 90th percentile | $95,530 | $45.93 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for child, family, and school social workers (SOC 21-1021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Child, family, and school social worker salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Child, family, and school social workers earn the most in Connecticut at $78,970 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $43,330. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $78,970 | 5,230 |
| Maryland | $76,390 | 4,710 |
| New Jersey | $76,280 | 7,360 |
| Massachusetts | $75,570 | 10,900 |
| Washington | $74,480 | 10,720 |
| District of Columbia | $73,550 | 2,430 |
| New Hampshire | $71,010 | 1,700 |
| Rhode Island | $69,870 | 2,450 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | 1,170 |
| Minnesota | $67,450 | 6,540 |
| Vermont | $67,340 | 640 |
| California | $65,200 | 60,310 |
| New York | $65,100 | 30,170 |
| North Dakota | $64,560 | 870 |
| Oregon | $64,130 | 6,630 |
| Colorado | $63,720 | 8,200 |
| Maine | $63,290 | 2,000 |
| Illinois | $63,220 | 19,860 |
| Alaska | $62,630 | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $61,330 | 9,410 |
| Nevada | $61,080 | 4,030 |
| Idaho | $59,840 | 810 |
| North Carolina | $59,610 | 13,010 |
| Wisconsin | $59,280 | 5,710 |
| Michigan | $59,270 | 15,760 |
| Kentucky | $59,100 | 8,470 |
| Louisiana | $56,800 | 1,110 |
| Montana | $56,780 | 1,250 |
| Florida | $56,550 | 14,000 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 | 710 |
| Tennessee | $56,310 | 7,870 |
| New Mexico | $56,160 | 2,990 |
| Texas | $55,680 | 21,670 |
| Kansas | $54,300 | 3,190 |
| Iowa | $52,250 | 3,410 |
| West Virginia | $52,220 | 2,380 |
| Utah | $52,000 | 1,930 |
| South Carolina | $51,800 | 5,520 |
| Ohio | $51,520 | 16,050 |
| South Dakota | $51,100 | 2,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,820 | 16,200 |
| Indiana | $50,470 | 6,690 |
| Arizona | $50,150 | 7,560 |
| Delaware | $48,520 | 910 |
| Missouri | $48,520 | 9,620 |
| Nebraska | $47,770 | 4,830 |
| Georgia | $47,510 | 7,110 |
| Alabama | $46,660 | 4,220 |
| Mississippi | $46,530 | 3,310 |
| Oklahoma | $43,950 | 6,500 |
| Arkansas | $43,330 | 1,150 |
State median wages for child, family, and school social workers (SOC 21-1021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for child, family, and school social workers
The BLS projects employment of child, family, and school social workers to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 405,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 422,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 33,900 openings a year for child, family, and school social workers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a child, family, and school social worker
The typical entry-level education for child, family, and school social workers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a child, family, and school social worker earns
Employer, license or certification, caseload, and region shape pay. Government agencies and clinical settings tend to pay above nonprofit and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Connecticut, $78,970) and the lowest (Arkansas, $43,330) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 392,550 people work as child, family, and school social workers in the United States. At $59,550 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Child, family, and school social worker salary FAQ
How much does a child, family, and school social worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a child, family, and school social worker is $28.63. The middle half of child, family, and school social workers earn between $23.21 and $36.57 per hour.
What is the highest child, family, and school social worker salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of child, family, and school social workers earn more than $95,530 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a child, family, and school social worker make a year?
The median annual salary for a child, family, and school social worker is $59,550. The average (mean) wage of $64,000 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a child, family, and school social worker a well paid job?
At $59,550 a year, a child, family, and school social worker earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 392,550 people work as child, family, and school social workers in the United States.
Which state pays child, family, and school social workers the most?
Connecticut has the highest median salary for child, family, and school social workers at $78,970 a year. Maryland ($76,390) and New Jersey ($76,280) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a child, family, and school social worker a good career?
Employment of child, family, and school social workers is projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 33,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a child, family, and school social worker?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for child, family, and school social workers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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