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Salary comparison

Social and Human Service Assistants vs. Child, Family, and School Social Workers: Who Earns More?

Child, Family, and School Social Workers out-earn Social and Human Service Assistants by $14K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Social and Human Service Assistants land at $45,930 and Child, Family, and School Social Workers at $59,550. The education gap is real: social and human service assistant programs typically require master's degree, while child, family, and school social worker programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Social and Human Service Assistants is District of Columbia ($59,460); for Child, Family, and School Social Workers it's Connecticut ($78,970).

Social and Human Service Assistants
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Median salary
$45,930
$59,550
Hourly rate
$22.08/hr
$28.63/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$34,200
$42,280
Senior level (90th %)
$63,290
$95,530
Education required
Master's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
437,860
392,550
Job growth (10-year)
6.4%
3.4%
Category
Community & Social
Community & Social
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Connecticut

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Social and Human Service Assistants median pay.

State
Social and Human Service Assistants
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
District of Columbia
$59,460
$73,550
Washington
$54,770
$74,480
Oregon
$51,230
$64,130
California
$51,090
$65,200
Minnesota
$49,940
$67,450
New Jersey
$48,420
$76,280
Rhode Island
$47,720
$69,870
Maryland
$47,210
$76,390
New York
$47,190
$65,100
Massachusetts
$47,130
$75,570
New Hampshire
$46,950
$71,010
Vermont
$46,640
$67,340
North Dakota
$46,260
$64,560
Connecticut
$44,730
$78,970
Hawaii
$42,400
$68,270

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Social and Human Service Assistants or Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

Child, Family, and School Social Workers earn more nationally. The median is $45,930 for Social and Human Service Assistants versus $59,550 for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, a difference of $14K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Social and Human Service Assistants or Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

Social and Human Service Assistants has the better 10-year outlook at 6.4% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Social and Human Service Assistants or Child, Family, and School Social Workers?

Social and Human Service Assistants typically requires master's degree. Child, Family, and School Social Workers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Social and Human Service Assistants get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Social and Human Service Assistants at $59,460/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Social and Human Service Assistants vs. Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Social and Human Service Assistants earn $59,460 vs. $73,550 for Child, Family, and School Social Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Social and Human Service Assistants salary breakdownView →Full Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Social and Human Service Assistants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Child, Family, and School Social Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a social and human service assistantsGuide →How to become a child, family, and school social workersGuide →