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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $58,570 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $35,350 and $82,930 and is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.34 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
A day in the life
You begin the day reviewing case files and preparing for a home visit to check on a family you have been supporting through a housing crisis. By mid-morning you are at a school meeting with teachers and a guidance counselor, developing an intervention plan for a student struggling with behavioral challenges. Afternoons might include leading a group therapy session for teens, filing court reports for child welfare cases, or connecting a single parent with community resources like food banks and job training programs. The emotional weight is real, but watching a family stabilize and a child start thriving makes every difficult conversation worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
What does Child, Family, and School Social Workers do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
You begin the day reviewing case files and preparing for a home visit to check on a family you have been supporting through a housing crisis. By mid-morning you are at a school meeting with teachers and a guidance counselor, developing an intervention plan for a student struggling with behavioral challenges.
How much does Child, Family, and School Social Workers earn?
The median annual salary for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the US is $58,570. The middle 80% of workers earn between $35,350 and $82,930 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $42,210 and $67,030.
What is the job outlook for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
The role is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 399,900 workers.
How do I become child, family, and school social workers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Child, Family, and School Social Workers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
Our AI-durability model gives Child, Family, and School Social Workers a score of 0.34 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Child, Family, and School Social Workers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
Is Child, Family, and School Social Workers right for you?
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