Description
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.
Interests
Work Values
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Independence
Work Styles
- Concern for Others
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
- Adaptability/Flexibility
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.
Work Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Detailed Work Activities
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Computer based training software
- Spreadsheet software
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
Abilities
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Judgment and Decision Making
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Administrative
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Nationally Endorsed Co-Occuring Disorders ProfessionalCertifying Organization
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certified School Social Work SpecialistCertifying Organization
National Association of Social Workers
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social WorkerCertifying Organization
National Association of Social Workers
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certified Master Forensic Social WorkerCertifying Organization
American College of Forensic Examiners
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Qualified Clinical Social Worker CredentialCertifying Organization
National Association of Social Workers
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $43,029 |
| Median (50%) | $55,379 |
| High (90%) | $78,244 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $58,262 |
| Mid Level | $59,360 |
| Senior Level | $62,838 |
| Expert Level | $68,399 |
Employability
There are currently 365,900 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 383,800 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 5%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 5%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
Career Resources
Search All Careers
Compare Careers
Income Outlook
Career Pathways
Career Clusters
Job Suite Home
CV Templates
Resume Templates
Cover Letter Templates
All Templates
Job Resources
Blog Articles
Podcast