How much does child, family, and child-welfare caseworker make?
The exact figures below come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) for Child, Family, and School Social Workers (SOC 21-1021), the category this role is reported under. The spread is wide because most jobs are government or nonprofit, so pay is driven by state budgets and cost of living.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,280 | Entry-level; lower-wage states and small nonprofits |
| 25th | $48,270 | Early-career, smaller agencies |
| 50th (median) | $59,550 | BLS OEWS May 2025 national median |
| 75th | $76,070 | Experienced workers, higher-wage states |
| 90th | $95,530 | Supervisors, managers, and high-cost metros |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, national figures, via O*NET 21-1021.00. All percentile figures are exact BLS values.
How much do Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworkers make by setting type?
The ranges below are estimates grounded in the BLS distribution for this category and vary with location and employer.
| Setting | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State / county child protective services | $44,000-$66,000 | Highly variable by state; CA, NY, and NJ counties pay well above this |
| Private child-welfare nonprofits | $42,000-$58,000 | Foster care, adoption, and family preservation; typically below CPS scales |
| Family-service agencies | $44,000-$62,000 | In-home services and parenting programs on government contracts |
| Title IV-E and Head Start programs | $48,000-$70,000 | Federal funding channels; many BSW programs offer IV-E tuition stipends |
Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker salary by state
Geographic variation is among the widest factors in this field. Per BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates, the highest median wages cluster in the Northeast and on the West Coast, while the lowest are in the rural South and Mountain West.
Highest-paying states (median)
- Connecticut $78,970
- Maryland $76,390
- New Jersey $76,280
- Massachusetts $75,570
- Washington $74,480
- District of Columbia $73,550
- New Hampshire $71,010
Lowest-paying states (median)
- Nebraska $47,770
- Georgia $47,510
- Alabama $46,660
- Mississippi $46,530
- Oklahoma $43,950
- Arkansas $43,330
Find accredited programs in each state on our state-by-state BSW rankings.
Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker salary by experience
| Career stage | Typical tenure | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caseworker I (BSW) | 0-2 years | $40,000-$50,000 | Many states explicitly hire BSW graduates into intake and case roles |
| Caseworker II / case manager | 2-4 years | $48,000-$60,000 | Full caseload, court testimony, independent case decisions |
| Senior caseworker | 4-7 years | $56,000-$70,000 | Complex cases and mentoring; advancement often expects an MSW |
| Unit supervisor / manager | 7+ years | $66,000-$92,000 | Supervising caseworkers and budgets, toward the 90th percentile |
What affects Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker pay most?
State and county budgets
Child welfare funding flows through state and county budgets, so a CPS caseworker in Los Angeles County far outearns the same role in a rural county.
Public vs. nonprofit
Government roles usually pay more and add pensions and PSLF; nonprofits may pay less but can still qualify for PSLF.
Title IV-E stipends
Many BSW programs partner with public child welfare through IV-E stipends that pay tuition in exchange for a work commitment.
BSW vs. MSW
Most agencies place MSW holders on a higher classification, a difference that compounds across a career.
PSLF
Ten years in a government or 501(c)(3) agency forgives the remaining federal loan balance, often the single largest compensation factor.
See where bachelor-level licensure raises your pay classification on our credentials page.
How Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker salary compares to other BSW careers
| Career | BLS category (SOC) | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Medical or Hospital Social Worker | 21-1022 | $67,880 |
| Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist | 21-1023 | $60,280 |
| Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| School Social Worker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker ← you are here | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Case Manager and Care Coordinator | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Community and Social-Service Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Aging, Disability, and Veterans' Services Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Social and Human-Service Assistant | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Several roles share a BLS occupation, so their reported medians match.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025)
- O*NET OnLine 21-1021.00
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Community and Social Service
Last refreshed 2026-06-08. Exact wages reflect the BLS OEWS May 2025 release; setting and experience ranges are estimates grounded in that distribution.