Child, Family, and School Social Workers
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.
Also called: Adolescent Counselor, Adoption Agent, Adoption Coordinator, Adoption Counselor, Adoption Social Worker, Adoption Specialist
Median pay
$59,550
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$42,280 – $95,530
People employed
392,550
Holland code
SCI
Social · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 5.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 6.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in every state →
What child, family, and school social workers do
- 01Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.
- 02Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- 03Recommend temporary foster care and advise foster or adoptive parents.
- 04Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- 05Serve 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.
- 06Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Administrative
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from child, family, and school social workers
- Recreational Therapists85% · +4%
- Social and Community Service Managers83% · +35%
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School81% · +25%
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool80% · +9%
- Patient Representatives79% · group pay
Change into child, family, and school social workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education86% · $52,100
- Clergy83% · $60,810
- Residential Advisors83% · $42,240
- Patient Representatives81% · $50,290
- Recreational Therapists81% · $61,960
Majors that lead here
- Developmental and Child Psychology
- Developmental and Adolescent Psychology
- Juvenile Corrections
- Social Work
- Youth Services/Administration
- Forensic Social Work
- Social Work, Other
- Infant/Toddler Mental Health Services
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.