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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Child, Family, and School Social Workers Salary

Child, Family, and School Social Workers earn a median $59,550 a year nationally. Community and Social Service Occupations

U.S. median
$59,550
$28.63 per hour
Range
$42,280 – $95,530
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
392,550
across the U.S.
▲1.7%
Pay trend: The median for child, family, and school social workers in the U.S. rose from $58,570 (May 2024) to $59,550 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.7%.

What 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. 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.

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+4.4% (about average)
Openings per year
33,900

Employment of child, family, and school social workers is projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 33,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$50,028
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,169Monthly
$2,085Twice a month
$1,924Every 2 weeks
$24.05Hourly
  • Federal income tax$4,966
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,692
  • Medicare (1.45%)$863
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$50,028

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$42,280$20.33$36,152
25th percentile$48,270$23.21$40,965
Median (50th)$59,550$28.63$50,028
75th percentile$76,070$36.57$62,345
90th percentile (top earners)$95,530$45.93$76,035

Best cities for child, family, and school social workers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Baltimore, MD$74,960$58,367$55,8612,790
2Providence, RI$70,900$56,666$55,6793,520
3Seattle, WA$75,280$61,789$55,6005,540
4Boston, MA$77,420$59,644$55,0907,070
5Washington, DC$75,550$58,515$53,7416,490
6Minneapolis, MN$70,530$55,175$52,6374,150
7Las Vegas, NV$61,480$51,579$51,4693,010
8Denver, CO$67,560$54,094$51,1374,240
9Cleveland, OH$57,860$47,862$50,9583,840
10Columbus, OH$58,460$48,327$50,6213,200
11Charlotte, NC$60,950$49,230$50,5713,020
12San Antonio, TX$56,670$47,714$50,3762,520
13Chicago, IL$64,790$51,176$49,40013,550
14Los Angeles, CA$71,250$55,540$48,90626,220
15San Francisco, CA$72,020$56,010$48,4465,840
16Houston, TX$56,670$47,714$48,3784,080
17Portland, OR$66,910$50,876$48,2604,330
18Cincinnati, OH$55,080$45,704$47,9232,580
19Detroit, MI$59,270$47,535$47,3946,540
20Riverside, CA$63,230$50,317$47,2725,810
21Sacramento, CA$63,270$50,345$47,1973,550
22New York, NY$66,540$52,645$46,76924,350
23Dallas, TX$57,080$48,044$46,6044,480
24Philadelphia, PA$55,930$45,403$44,2726,850
25Kansas City, MO$49,880$40,852$44,1432,620

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Connecticut $78,970+0.0%$61,617 $48,660 – $109,9805,230
Maryland $76,390+7.8%$59,305 $41,240 – $105,5704,710
New Jersey $76,280−2.4%$59,824 $47,830 – $109,4207,360
Massachusetts $75,570+11.3%$58,435 $48,140 – $104,06010,900
Washington $74,480+3.0%$61,227 $48,750 – $98,10010,720
District of Columbia $73,550−6.8%$57,238 $53,020 – $113,4402,430
New Hampshire $71,010+9.9%$58,786 $41,150 – $101,5701,700
Rhode Island $69,870+4.1%$55,980 $42,560 – $97,7302,450
Hawaii $68,270+2.7%$53,200 $46,840 – $93,4301,170
Minnesota $67,450+3.8%$53,218 $47,890 – $99,3206,540
Vermont $67,340+3.0%$54,219 $47,270 – $84,140640
California $65,200−5.8%$51,717 $45,360 – $103,05060,310
New York $65,100−0.5%$51,569 $48,400 – $100,10030,170
North Dakota $64,560−3.5%$54,054 $47,130 – $81,160870
Oregon $64,130+2.2%$48,927 $47,760 – $89,2206,630
Colorado $63,720+0.3%$51,284 $45,980 – $102,9908,200
Maine $63,290+1.1%$49,943 $50,110 – $84,0902,000
Illinois $63,220+1.5%$49,993 $47,120 – $105,66019,860
Alaska $62,630+4.0%$52,503 $45,330 – $91,2401,260
Virginia $61,330+1.7%$48,746 $45,060 – $95,3609,410
Nevada $61,080+1.1%$51,258 $45,960 – $98,0104,030
Idaho $59,840−3.7%$48,198 $37,990 – $81,650810
North Carolina $59,610+3.4%$48,207 $42,870 – $76,95013,010
Wisconsin $59,280+1.0%$47,984 $44,400 – $80,9005,710
Michigan $59,270+0.4%$47,535 $41,260 – $81,10015,760
Kentucky $59,100+3.0%$47,716 $39,210 – $78,6608,470
Louisiana $56,800−1.9%$46,501 $35,260 – $75,1101,110
Montana $56,780+14.4%$45,891 $39,250 – $72,0001,250
Florida $56,550+8.0%$47,618 $39,760 – $79,58014,000
Wyoming $56,420−0.0%$47,513 $34,280 – $74,870710
Tennessee $56,310−0.1%$47,425 $39,650 – $77,2307,870
New Mexico $56,160+13.4%$45,831 $36,920 – $101,6002,990
Texas $55,680+11.5%$46,919 $37,230 – $73,67021,670
Kansas $54,300+3.1%$43,580 $43,690 – $69,9703,190
Iowa $52,250+3.0%$42,829 $39,240 – $81,1703,410
West Virginia $52,220+8.3%$42,520 $38,410 – $66,9802,380
Utah $52,000+6.0%$42,588 $36,040 – $98,8001,930
South Carolina $51,800+8.9%$41,850 $38,530 – $77,3905,520
Ohio $51,520+1.9%$42,942 $39,810 – $75,85016,050
South Dakota $51,100−3.8%$43,239 $39,150 – $67,3102,050
Pennsylvania $50,820−0.4%$41,454 $38,430 – $78,47016,200
Indiana $50,470−1.8%$41,273 $38,270 – $72,1406,690
Arizona $50,150+0.0%$41,431 $40,420 – $65,9007,560
Delaware $48,520+5.1%$39,150 $44,440 – $73,580910
Missouri $48,520+2.8%$39,823 $37,200 – $65,2309,620
Nebraska $47,770+0.8%$39,269 $41,620 – $64,7504,830
Georgia $47,510−0.5%$38,511 $35,690 – $83,3807,110
Alabama $46,660−0.5%$37,603 $37,780 – $72,4904,220
Mississippi $46,530+4.1%$38,438 $33,590 – $62,1303,310
Oklahoma $43,950+0.0%$36,062 $37,560 – $59,5406,500
Arkansas $43,330+0.9%$35,519 $36,070 – $59,4701,150

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$60,280Master's degree+10.3%
Healthcare Social Worker$67,880Master's degree+8.5%
Social Workers, All Other$71,900Bachelor's degree+2.3%
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$59,350Master's degree+18.4%
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$56,730Bachelor's degree+5.5%
Health Education Specialist$64,070Bachelor's degree+5.6%
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$64,330Master's degree+2.9%
Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$66,270Bachelor's degree+3.0%
Marriage and Family Therapist$66,940Master's degree+13.5%
Community Health Worker$51,850High school diploma or equivalent+12.7%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a child, family, and school social workers make?

The national median salary for child, family, and school social workers is $59,550 a year ($28.63 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,280 and the top 10% earn over $95,530. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays child, family, and school social workers the most?

Connecticut has the highest median pay at $78,970. After taxes and local prices, Baltimore, MD offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many child, family, and school social workers are there in the U.S.?

About 392,550 people work as child, family, and school social workers nationwide.

All 31 cities