Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $59,550/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$42,280$95,530

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +3.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 35,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingService OrientationMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingWriting

Top knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingPsychologyEnglish LanguageAdministrativeSociology and AnthropologyEducation and TrainingLaw and Government

Core tasks

• 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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

The median pay for Child, Family, and School Social Workers is $59,550 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

Employment for Child, Family, and School Social Workers is projected to change +3.4% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

About 35,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.