Jobs Similar to Child, Family, and School Social Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to child, family, and school social workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Healthcare Social Workers, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers: $59,550 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Child, Family, and School Social Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthcare Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $67,880+14% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $60,280+1% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsSame group | 85% | $64,330+8% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Rehabilitation CounselorsSame group | 85% | $46,850−21% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Social and Human Service AssistantsSame group | 84% | $45,930−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | School Psychologists | 83% | $95,990+61% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Community Health WorkersSame group | 83% | $51,850−13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Marriage and Family TherapistsSame group | 83% | $66,940+12% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsSame group | 82% | $66,270+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 82% | $100,580+69% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Patient Representatives | 82% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 81% | $74,260+25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Recreational Therapists | 81% | $61,960+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 80% | $64,830+9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Health Education SpecialistsSame group | 80% | $64,070+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Psychiatric Technicians | 79% | $45,130−24% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $77,570+30% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 79% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 79% | $63,970+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Speech-Language Pathologists | 79% | $97,870+64% | Graduate degree |
- 1Healthcare Social Workers
85% similar · $67,880 (+14%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
85% similar · $60,280 (+1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
85% similar · $64,330 (+8%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Rehabilitation Counselors
85% similar · $46,850 (−21%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Social and Human Service Assistants
84% similar · $45,930 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6School Psychologists
83% similar · $95,990 (+61%) · Graduate degree
- 7Community Health Workers
83% similar · $51,850 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Marriage and Family Therapists
83% similar · $66,940 (+12%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
82% similar · $66,270 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
82% similar · $100,580 (+69%) · Graduate degree
- 11Patient Representatives
82% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 12Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
81% similar · $74,260 (+25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Recreational Therapists
81% similar · $61,960 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Special Education Teachers, Preschool
80% similar · $64,830 (+9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Health Education Specialists
80% similar · $64,070 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Psychiatric Technicians
79% similar · $45,130 (−24%) · Training or associate
- 17Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $77,570 (+30%) · Graduate degree
- 18Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
79% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 19Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
79% similar · $63,970 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Speech-Language Pathologists
79% similar · $97,870 (+64%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than child, family, and school social workers.
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School81% similar · $74,260 (+25%)
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists82% similar · $66,270 (+11%)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool80% similar · $64,830 (+9%)
- Health Education Specialists80% similar · $64,070 (+8%)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education79% similar · $63,970 (+7%)
- Recreational Therapists81% similar · $61,960 (+4%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for child, family, and school social workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where child, family, and school social workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education (86)
- Clergy (83)
- Residential Advisors (83)
- Patient Representatives (81)
- Recreational Therapists (81)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool (80)
- Credit Counselors (79)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (79)
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (78)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (78)
Questions about jobs like child, family, and school social workers
What jobs are most similar to child, family, and school social workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Healthcare Social Workers (85% similar), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (85% similar), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (85% similar), Rehabilitation Counselors (85% similar) and Social and Human Service Assistants (84% similar).
Which jobs like child, family, and school social workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($100,580, +69%; usually a graduate degree), Speech-Language Pathologists ($97,870, +64%; usually a graduate degree) and School Psychologists ($95,990, +61%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with child, family, and school social workers ($59,550). Without more preparation than child, family, and school social workers usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School), Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists and Special Education Teachers (Preschool).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.