CFChooseField
Community and Social Service

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. 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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Download graphic

Median pay

$58,570
Median annual pay for Child, Family, and School Social Workers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗

10-year growth

3.4%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Annual openings

35,100
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Employment

399,900
Estimated U.S. employment for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗

Jobs added or lost

+13,400
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Child, Family, and School Social Workers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
View source ↗
O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Monitoring
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2Psychology
  3. 3Therapy and Counseling
  4. 4English Language
  5. 5Administrative
  6. 6Sociology and Anthropology

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Problem Sensitivity
  4. 4Written Comprehension
  5. 5Written Expression
  6. 6Speech Clarity

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Investigative
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Cooperation
  2. 2Empathy
  3. 3Sincerity
  4. 4Dependability
  5. 5Integrity
  6. 6Social Orientation

Work activities

  1. 1Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  2. 2Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  3. 3Documenting/Recording Information
  4. 4Getting Information
  5. 5Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  6. 6Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Contact With Others
  3. 3Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  4. 4Telephone Conversations
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Conflict Situations

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Access · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyEasyCBMPatient electronic medical record EMR softwareStudent information systems SIS softwareWeb browser software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.