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Career

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $59,550 Median per year · $28.63/hr Most earn $42,280–$95,530

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
  • Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
  • Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care.
  • Refer clients to community resources for services, such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.
  • Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
  • Maintain case history records and prepare reports.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 33,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals20.3%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals19.7%
  • Elementary and secondary schools16.0%
  • Community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services3.5%
  • Child daycare services2.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

On-siteExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This career usually isn't a straight-out-of-school job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree first, then typically spend about 1 to 2 years in related work with children or families before taking this role. Plan on roughly 5 to 7 years total from starting college.

  1. Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or human services

    4 years

    You build the basics of human behavior, family systems, and social services, and you often complete a supervised field placement. This gives you the knowledge employers look for and prepares you for entry-level helping jobs.

  2. Social and Human Service Assistant

    1-2 years

    You help clients connect with services like housing, food, and school supports while working under social workers. This hands-on experience with families and children is what most employers want to see before hiring you into a social worker role.

  3. Child, Family, and School Social Worker

    Ongoing

    You work with students, children, and families on school attendance, behavior, family stress, and safety, and you advise teachers. Some states require a license or certification for this work, so check the rules where you plan to live.

Where it can lead

  1. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move into counseling adults and families with mental health or substance use concerns, which usually requires a master's degree and clinical supervised experience. Expect more independent therapy work and more licensing steps.

  2. Social and Community Service Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You shift from direct client work to leading programs, supervising staff, managing budgets, and writing grants. Strong organizing, communication, and leadership skills matter more here than casework.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take psychology, sociology, or child development classesThese courses introduce how families, children, and schools work, which helps you decide if this field fits you.
  • Volunteer with kids or familiesHelping at a youth center, library program, or after-school activity shows you how you respond to children and families facing challenges.
  • Join a peer support or tutoring programHelping classmates with problems builds listening and problem-solving skills that social workers use every day.
  • Get a part-time job working with peopleJobs in childcare, customer service, or a camp counselor role build patience, communication, and trust with others.
  • Strengthen your writing and speakingSocial workers write case notes and talk with parents, teachers, and officials, so English and public speaking classes are useful.

In college

  • Major in social work or a related fieldA social work or human services major gives you the core training and often leads to a required supervised field placement.
  • Complete a field placement or internshipWorking at a school, family services agency, or youth program gives you real experience and helps you learn whether this work suits you.
  • Get a job or volunteer role in human servicesWorking at a shelter, group home, or after-school program builds the 1 to 2 years of related experience employers usually want.
  • Join a student organizationClubs focused on social justice, psychology, or service build leadership skills and connect you with professionals in the field.
  • Learn about licensing requirementsLooking up your state's rules early helps you plan courses and supervised hours so you do not lose time later.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on experience early. Volunteering or working with kids, families, or in schools shows employers you can handle the real demands of this job.
  • Ask about field placements and internships when choosing a college program. Supervised practice is often a required part of social work training.
  • Check your state's licensing and certification rules now, since they vary and can affect which jobs you can take after college.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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