Salary of a Foster Care Social Worker

Foster care social workers earn a living helping abused, abandoned or neglected children.

Social workers can specialize in a variety of areas, including helping abandoned or abused children find foster care or arranging adoptions. These workers are also referenced to as child welfare social workers and child protective social workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The salary of a foster care social worker will vary depending on her level of experience, employer and location.

Average Salary

The average salary of social workers who deal with children, families and foster care in the U.S. is $43,540 per year as of 2009, according to the BLS. On the salary scale, the median salary is $39,960. Those social workers in the 10th percentile earn $26,050, while those in the 90th percentile earn $67,360.

Employer

The state government employs the highest number of foster care social workers, offering an above average salary of $43,380 annually, according to the BLS. Nearly as many of these workers are employed in the industry of individual and family services, where they earn lower than average wages of $36,690. Those working for the local government earn $48,320, and workers employed at elementary and secondary schools earn $56,660. The highest wages for foster care social workers are found in the offices of dentists at $86,840, followed by those employed by junior colleges, who earn an average annual salary of $57,510.

Location

Salaries for foster care social workers vary from state to state. Those in Connecticut earn the highest wages in the country, at an average annual salary of $61,690, followed by workers in Minnesota at $54,820 and Rhode Island at $54,170. Foster care social workers in New Jersey and Illinois also earn higher than average wages at $53,610 and $53,230 respectively.

Advancement

Advancement and higher wages for foster care social workers typically come from experience and earning certification. The BLS states that social workers who wish to advance may go into private practice, which typically requires a master's degree. Other options include going into teaching, researching or consulting.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Workers, 2010-11
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Child, Family, and School Social Workers, May 2009