Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists

How to become a Child, Family, and School Social Worker

Official title: Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Also called: Adoption Social Worker, Case Manager, Case Worker, Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker), Family Protection Specialist, Family Resource Coordinator, Family Service Worker, Foster Care Social Worker, School Social Worker, Youth Services Specialist

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.

Main tasks

Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.

How to become one

Social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work. They also may need a license; specific requirements vary by state. Clinical social workers need a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and a license from the state in which they practice.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 11 universities in the US
College: Psychology degrees, Offered by 33 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 35 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $59,550 a year The middle half earn $48,270 to $76,070.
About 405,100 people work in this job now, and about 422,900 are projected by 2035. (+4.4%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Child, Family, and School Social Worker?

How much does a Child, Family, and School Social Worker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $59,550 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,270 to $76,070.

Is a Child, Family, and School Social Worker a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 405,100 to about 422,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Child, Family, and School Social Worker?

Usually. 74% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Child, Family, and School Social Worker?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.