Child, Family, and School Social Workers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Child, Family, and School Social Workers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$59,550
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$95,530
entry level starts ~$42,280
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 393,000 employed

How much do Child, Family, and School Social Workers make?

The median pay for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the United States is $59,550 per year — about $28.63 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $42,280, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $95,530.

That is $1,840 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary range by percentile

Half of all Child, Family, and School Social Workers earn between $48,270 and $76,070 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$42,280$20.33
25th percentile (early career)$48,270$23.21
50th percentile (median)$59,550$28.63
75th percentile (experienced)$76,070$36.57
90th percentile (top earners)$95,530$45.93

Highest-paying states for Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Connecticut leads the country for Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay at $78,970 a year, followed by Maryland ($76,390) and New Jersey ($76,280). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $43,330 — a gap of $35,640 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Connecticut$78,970$37.97+33%
2Maryland$76,390$36.73+28%
3New Jersey$76,280$36.67+28%
4Massachusetts$75,570$36.33+27%
5Washington$74,480$35.81+25%

Workforce and education

About 393,000 people work as Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $64,000 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Child, Family, and School Social Workers make in the United States?
The median Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in the United States is $59,550 per year, or about $28.63 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $42,280, while the top 10% of earners make $95,530 or more.
How does Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Child, Family, and School Social Workers median of $59,550 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Child, Family, and School Social Workers the most?
Connecticut is the highest-paying state for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, with a median salary of $78,970 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Child, Family, and School Social Workers need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Child, Family, and School Social Workers work in the United States?
About 393,000 people were employed as Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other social & community service roles with similar pay.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

$60,280
median pay · 133,000 employed

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

$52,100
median pay · 22,000 employed

Social and Human Service Assistants

$45,930
median pay · 438,000 employed

Religious Worker, All Other

$45,280
median pay · 16,000 employed

Counselor, All Other

$50,860
median pay · 29,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.