How much do child protection workers make

Child Welfare Social Work Guide

Weeks before a mother and her two children who have been placed in foster care are set to reunite, she’s arrested for getting into a physical altercation. Based on her history, there’s a good chance she could face jail time, making the reunification impossible. The situation will be heartbreaking for her children but will ultimately ensure that they remain in the most stable home possible. How do you break the news to them?

These are the kinds of dilemmas child welfare social workers encounter every day. While decisions can be tough, the fulfillment from ensuring that children are safe and given the best possible opportunity to succeed outweighs the challenges of this demanding field of social work.

Table of Contents

Child welfare social workers protect vulnerable youth and help disadvantaged families meet the needs of their children. As the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) explains, they “specialize in building upon the strengths within a family and their community to help provide a safe and loving environment for their children,” but also “intervene to protect children from harm” when necessary.

Due to the complexity and emotionally charged nature of their work (separating families by necessity, sometimes permanently, and balancing the at times conflicting interests of the child, his/her parents, and the child dependency court), child welfare social workers may find their daily responsibilities to be challenging. Despite these difficulties, professionals in this field often find their ability to provide compassionate support to parents while protecting children in need to be rewarding due to its profound impact, on an individual and societal level.

Job Description at a Glance

Some of the child welfare social worker’s core responsibilities include responding to cases of child abuse and neglect; removing children from home settings that are dangerous or do not meet certain standards; working with children and their families on a reunification plan in collaboration with child dependency courts; helping parents meet the needs of their children by connecting them with resources and helping them navigate programs, therapy and advising; and arranging for short- and long-term care of children whose families cannot take care of them.

Education Requirements

While child welfare social workers can work in entry level agency positions after receiving their bachelor’s in social work, many employers prefer individuals who wish to progress to higher or more involved roles to have a master’s in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution, with a focus on children and families, according to the NASW Standards for Social Work Practice in Child Welfare (PDF, 138 KB). During their MSW program, students interested in child welfare should seek internships in relevant settings (such as a family welfare agency), and take courses in clinical social work methods, family dynamics, child development, poverty, and/or disadvantaged populations. Social workers who want graduate level training for child welfare social work positions should explore state-funded scholarships for MSW students focusing on child welfare.

Salary

The mean annual wage for child, family and school social workers is $52,370, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The typical salary range for professionals in this field is $32,300 to $80,290. Social workers who work for local governments earn a mean annual wage of $58,350 while state government employees earn $52,000 and social workers in individual and family services earn $45,360. Top paying states for this occupation include the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maryland.

According to NASW standards for practice, the requirements for professionals who want to work in child welfare vary by state, but can include:

Complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited college or university.
Gain experience through a child welfare-related internship or field placement.
Pass the appropriate licensing exams and apply for state licensure.
Complete continuing education requirements to retain licensure.

Sasha Chelsea McGowan, MSW, who works as a continuing services social worker in Contra Costa County, California, advised social work students to take classes that help them understand the populations involved in the child welfare system and how to address their needs. “I highly recommend that MSW students take an elective class on the history of social work in the United States, as the history of racial and socioeconomic oppression still runs strong in many of our impoverished and marginalized communities,” she said. “I also recommend taking any child welfare-specific classes offered that will go over safety planning, risk assessment, and the convoluted court system. A good basis in risk assessment, defining harm and danger to children, and how to make impartial decisions on extremely inflammatory subjects is key. We hire many individuals without specific child welfare training if they are able to master these tools.”

Field internships in settings that serve vulnerable children and families are also important. “I do recommend that students do an internship at a foster family agency if they are considering this field, because this job is not for everyone. […] If it is not possible to get an internship in the field, I would recommend getting experience at a group home, and/or shelter,” she said.

“A person interested in the position also needs to understand that they might have to wear different hats at times,” she added. “The responsibilities of this job vary from sometimes being an admin (answering phones and filing paperwork), to being a transporter, supervising visits, counseling clients and families, and writing reports and progress notes.”

For MSW students who are not placed in child welfare agencies during their internships, or for social work professionals who want to transition to this field, volunteer work can provide useful skills and experience. “There are many opportunities to volunteer with foster youth, and many job opportunities at lower levels enable people to work with these youth directly,” McGowan said. “Group homes are a good look into the intensity of trauma and reactivity that foster children can experience when deprived of stability. Additionally, there are critical county programs that are often looking for volunteers – the most significant of which is the CASA program (court appointed special advocate). ”

An important benefit of pursuing child welfare social work during an MSW program is the opportunity to apply for government scholarships for people wishing to enter the helping professions. For example, the Title IV E Stipend Program is a federally funded program composed of a national consortium of social work and public service schools that offer financial support to students and working professionals who pursue degrees or training in public child welfare. The amount that students can receive through this program depends on the degree they are pursuing (BSW vs. MSW vs. professional training or continuing education) and their state of residence, but several of the social work students we interviewed highly recommend applying for benefits through this program.

“I would recommend that people be admitted under Title IVE concentration,” noted Katie Krause, MSW, who works for Contra Costa County Children and Family Services in California. “This concentration specifically prepares you for work in child welfare. I felt very prepared for my job as a result of my classes and internships. My 2nd-year internship was basically like a trial job. A lot of things are the same in each county, so it is pretty easy to transition between counties and units. In the title IVE concentration you are required to intern in child welfare.”

Through solid academic preparation, internships, and volunteer work, child welfare social workers can build a rewarding career devoted to protecting the safety and well-being of children while also giving their parents the support and compassion they need to make positive changes. Furthermore, by building strong social and collegial support systems at the beginning of their profession, practicing self-care on a regular basis, and maintaining an appreciation for the positive impact they have on families at the individual and larger systemic level, child welfare social workers can sustain energy and derive deep gratification from their accomplishments.

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Child welfare social workers can work for Child Protective Services and/or child welfare agencies at the county and state levels. There are often several different types of child welfare social workers on a given team that collaborate to identify and respond to cases of child abuse and neglect. Some of these are “front-end” social workers (also known as emergency response social workers), meaning they investigate incidents of child abuse and neglect at the site (often the child’s home), and will also return to remove children from abusive or insufficient care.

In contrast, “back-end” social workers (also known as continuing services social workers) work with children and their families after the child has been removed from his/her original home, to address the barriers the parents (or caretakers) are experiencing to provide their child(ren) with a minimum standard of care at home. Back-end social workers interact with child dependency courts to arrange for alternative living situations (foster families, adoption, and/or living with family members) for children whose parents are unable to properly care for them, and also set goals, benchmarks and deadlines for parents to meet before their children can be returned to them. Back-end social workers also work with foster families, adoptive parents and community organizations and resources to create and maintain a support system for vulnerable children.

Due to limited resources and staffing, some child welfare social workers may move between emergency/first response duties and continuing services, or fulfill both types of responsibilities simultaneously, depending on their availability and the needs of the agency.

Emergency First Responder (“Front-End”) Social Workers

First responder social workers, as their title indicates, are often the first individuals to respond to cases of child abuse and/or neglect. Child welfare agencies will often receive notifications from concerned members of the public about households with children who may not be receiving sufficient care. First responder social workers investigate these allegations of abuse or neglect and evaluate the situation. If maltreatment is discovered, emergency first responder social workers typically open a child welfare case, contact Child Protective Services to have a child removed and placed in the care of the Child Dependency Court, and document the evidence of maltreatment in reports for the courts and for back-end social workers who take on the case after the child’s removal from his/her home.

McGowan explained the general standards for adequate parental care in the context of child welfare services. “In the child welfare field, we are focused on one thing – minimum sufficient level of care,” she explained, “This is the community based (and judicially supported) standard of care that we require families to provide for their children in regards to their physical, emotional and developmental needs. ”

McGowan noted that “minimum sufficient” is distinct from “ideal” or even “good” parenting – the child welfare social worker’s main concern is to ensure that children are reasonably safe, provided for in all essential areas (food, hygiene, schooling, medical and dental care, emotional well-being, etc.). In addition, the definition of minimum sufficient level of care can differ from community to community, as different counties will have different regulations around child care and neglect, expectations for school attendance, etc.

“To determine if a family is meeting this minimum standard [of care], we ask three questions,” she said. “Is the family providing for their child’s basic needs? Is the parent’s parenting practice, such as with physical discipline, within our community standard or outside of it? Does the parent’s behavior fall within reasonable limits, as judged by that same community?” If the response to these questions is no, then first responder social workers typically begin the process of opening a case and seeking to remove the abused or neglected children from their parents’ care.

Continuing Services (‘Back-End’) Social Worker

Once a child is placed in the care of the Child Dependency Court, back-end social workers take over the case. “[Continuing services social workers continue] to investigate to clarify the allegations of maltreatment and develop a case plan composed of services and behavioral change necessary to return a child to the care of a parent,” McGowan told OnlineMSWPrograms.com. Types of behavioral changes social workers might include in a family’s case plan could include parents’ cessation of physical and/or verbal abuse; elimination of substance abuse behaviors; addressing of physical, medical/dental, emotional, or academic neglect, and proper supervision behaviors.

After the development of a case plan that incorporates behavioral changes for the parents and ways to support the parents in making these changes, continuing services social workers monitor the family’s case and provide emotional support, advising, and resource connections throughout the process. Services and support that social workers might recruit to assist children and their parents include counseling and psychotherapy; guidance on how to apply for health care benefits, food stamps, etc.; and connections to supportive groups within the community (substance abuse therapy groups, educational resources, etc.). Continuing services social workers also report on the family’s progress to the Dependency Court, and update families on the status of their case in relation to the court.

Damoun Bozorgzadarbab, MSW, who worked as a family services social worker and an emergency response children social worker at Los Angeles County Child Protective Services, explained that, while social workers are invested in parents’ progress, and in the reunification of the original family, their first and foremost priority is the safety of children. “The roles and responsibilities of child welfare social workers is first to keep children safe, then to assure their well-being and do both of those things while making sure they have a chance at permanent families,” she said, “So while child welfare social workers link parents to all the providers who help address their issues to mitigate safety and risk (therapists, day care providers, substance use treatment program) they are also reporting to the courts on the progress of the parents. ” If, after a period of time, parents are unable to meet the standards outlined in the case plan, continuing services social workers also start working on a plan for long-term foster care or adoption.

Due to the many responsibilities that back-end social workers have upon the opening of a child welfare case (i.e. in-depth investigation of child maltreatment allegations, development of case plan with behavioral changes for parents, continued monitoring of parents’ progress, and development of a long-term foster care or adoption plan if necessary), some child welfare agencies have different units of back-end social workers that focus on a specific area of continuing services. “[There] are specialized units that address the needs of children who are not able to reunite with their family of origin,” McGowan said. “In continuing services, I work with children younger than the age of 16 who were not able to reunify with their parents, and at age 16 they transfer to ‘transitions to permanency’ where a social worker with special training will work with them on skills for independence and transitioning to adulthood. ”

As mentioned previously, child welfare social workers’ specific responsibilities depend on whether they are working front-end or back-end roles at their agency. However, in general, the core responsibilities of child welfare social workers are:

Investigative Work (in Collaboration with CPS and Dependency Court)

Both first responder and continuing services social workers investigate instances of child maltreatment and evaluate children’s situations against an established minimum standard. The minimum sufficient level of care (MSLC) (PDF, 85 KB) is typically determined through a combination of state, federal, and community standards, as well as each family’s unique circumstances. Specific items that child welfare social workers look at include whether children are safe; provided for in terms of food, clothing, and shelter; are able to attend school; are not being subjected to physical, emotional/verbal, or sexual abuse; and are not suffering from neglect.

When investigating cases of child maltreatment, child welfare social workers collaborate with Child Protective Services and the Juvenile Dependency Court, which is a specialized court that handles solely child welfare cases. “Child welfare has its own court system, the Juvenile Dependency Court,” said Krause. “This is completely separate from criminal court. … Social workers in all units will interact with dependency court judges as we frequently write reports. Social workers can be called to testify when parents contest the allegations or judge’s decision. Each party (parents, kids, social worker) is represented by an attorney in court. Our attorneys are called county counsel and they represent all social workers in the county.”

Case Plan Development

Once a child maltreatment is confirmed, child welfare social workers collaborate with Child Protective Services, behavioral therapists, case managers, agency staff, school administrators and teachers, and other relevant members of the community to develop an individualized case plan for the child and his/her parents. The case plan mainly focuses on the changes that parents need to make to regain custody of their children and can have several different elements.

“A case plan could include things such as: anger management, domestic violence support group and education, counseling, couple’s counseling, family counseling, parenting classes, drug testing, and in patient or outpatient drug programs,” Krause noted, “I refer parents to all of these services. I [also] really try to explain to families what is going on as best as I can since the attorneys don’t really do that. I try to encourage them and draw on their strengths rather than only seeing the problems. I like to see the big picture and really get to know the family.”

Case plans usually have certain deadlines for behavioral changes that parents must meet, and these deadlines can be stringent. “A huge barrier for our families is the court timelines. If your child is under 3 years old, parents have only six months to address the issues leading to CPS involvement before we move towards an alternative permanency option for the child such as adoption. This is also why we concurrently plan, and place infants primarily with family members or potentially adoptive parents,” McGowan explained. “This is based on the negative outcomes of children spending years in foster care without consistent caregivers in early childhood. With children over 3, parents have 12 months.”

Counseling and Psychotherapy

Child welfare social workers can provide emotional counseling and, in some cases, targeted but often short-term psychotherapy to children and their parents. The separation of a family is a traumatic experience for both child and parent, and child welfare social workers help both parties manage the difficult emotions around the separation, and to move toward a plan of action for reunification. For children in foster homes or adopted children who experience mental, emotional and behavioral issues as a result of their separation from their family, child welfare social workers can offer emotional support and therapy. They might also help parents address the mental and emotional reasons behind the behavioral problems that lead to the maltreatment of their child (substance abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, etc. ).

“Every child that comes into contact with our system is assessed for therapy and additional mental health services,” Krause noted, “Almost all of the children who are removed from their parents participate in some sort of therapy. We also have a number of children with diagnoses that range from PTSD and depression to more complex diagnoses such as schizophrenia and bipolar.”

Coordination of Support Services for Child and Parents

In addition to providing individualized advising and therapy to children and their parents, child welfare social workers communicate with other parties that are concerned about and/or involved in a child’s well-being, including but not limited to school administrators and teachers, behavioral therapists, doctors and nurses, and staff at community centers. Maggie Olivares, ASW, who works as an agency social worker at EMQFamiliesFirst in Stockton, California, explained to OnlineMSWPrograms.com the many different people and organizations she collaborates with to help clients. “[Agency social workers at EMQFF] work with other individuals such as child protective services social workers, probation officers, teachers, therapists, mental health resources specialists, family specialists, TBS and WRAP, and mental health workers,” she said.

The aforementioned service providers meet periodically with the family and independent of the family to create, evaluate, and modify the reunification plan. “When a client has various services from different agencies, we hold meetings to discuss the services and treatment goals and objectives,” Olivares explained. “These meetings included Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), child and family team (CFT) meetings, WRAP meetings, and/or team decision meetings (TDMs). During these meetings we discuss each person’s role and task. Each individual meets the needs of the client and family in different ways depending on what role they have.” Below is a more detailed description of some of the collaborative services, programs, and meetings that child welfare social workers participate in with other human service providers.

Wraparound Services (WRAP): Wraparound services are defined as community based, individualized, and comprehensive mental, emotional, behavioral and social services and support for people in need, such as vulnerable children and their parents. Wraparound services encompass an individual’s social, emotional, health, academic, and (where relevant) occupational needs, and recruit multiple providers from within the community (teachers, behavioral therapists, social workers, medical professionals, etc.).
Child and Family Team (CFT) Meetings: CFT meetings are between children, parents, and human service providers, during which both parents and their children set goals for making the necessary changes to successfully reunify, and providers work with the family to construct a plan for meeting these goals. Providers also offer resources and support to assist the family in meeting their goals by established deadlines.
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): IEPs are developed primarily by school personnel (such as teachers, counselors and school social workers) in response to the needs of specific children who are not performing well at school for mental, emotional, behavioral, familial and/or social reasons. Child welfare social workers may participate in the development or maintenance of these plans in cases when child abuse or neglect are factors in a child not meeting certain academic standards.
Team Decision Meetings (TDMs): These meetings are held between different social service providers before every key decision in a child’s case (placing a child in a foster home or with an adopted family, reuniting children with their families, etc.). During these meetings, providers develop an appropriate course of action given the family’s circumstances and progress (if applicable), evaluate the benefits and risks of this course of action, and update one another on the progress of a family.

Resource Connections and Navigation Services

While child welfare social workers can provide mental health counseling and therapy, their main role is as a care coordinator and an evaluator of children’s mental, emotional, academic, and social needs. Furthermore, though they work closely with families in need, child welfare social workers’ interactions with their clients is necessarily limited, and thus part of their job is creating as comprehensive a support system as possible for children and parents by coordinating services from various community resources.

In her interview with OnlineMSWPrograms.com, Krause explained how one of her core responsibilities is assessing and then meeting the needs of children and families through resource coordination. “As a social worker, I assess each child [in the areas of emotional, mental, developmental, and social well-being]. We refer for mental health services, behavior support services, tutoring, extracurricular activities to work on social skills, and developmental assessments through the regional center,” she said. “I also act as the ‘broker’ and make sure that all service providers are communicating.”

Examples of such resources include but are not limited to after-school programs and tutoring, parent support groups, centers that provide subsidized food and clothing, individual counseling, community health clinics, emotional regulation and stress reduction groups, and substance abuse support groups.

Child welfare social work is a very challenging field that can be physically draining and emotionally taxing. Child welfare social workers cite limited resources, grueling schedules, the emotional ramifications of witnessing and supporting people through trauma, and the pressure of families’ well-being resting on their shoulders as being definite challenges in their line of work.

As simultaneous investigators, counselors, child and parent advocates, and care coordinators, child welfare social workers may find themselves being pulled in many different directions. Olivares described the varied and intensive responsibilities that child welfare social workers must balance on a daily basis. “This job is not an 8 a.m.-5 p.m. type of job and many times we work after hours and need to be flexible with our schedule. As a social worker there are a lot of responsibilities from completing reports and progress notes, transporting clients, coordinating and supervising visits, and collecting and filing all paperwork. We are responsible for keeping family and client files up to date, and completing walk-throughs and home visits,” she explained. “We also have to respond to crises and attend and coordinate meetings and assure services are being completed.”

Managing the interests and feelings of both child(ren) and parents and connecting emotionally with both parties can also prove difficult for social workers when children are unable to return to their parents. “It is heartbreaking to have to recommend that a child not be returned to their parents. I hate having to tell parents that they are not making enough changes and that I do not feel their child is safe with them. It is also tough to see what being torn apart does to families,” Krause said. “I firmly believe that most children belong with their parents in the long run. We regularly deal with challenges related to complicated court timelines, large caseloads, having to communicate with many service providers, and traveling out of county/state to see kids who are placed elsewhere.”

Bozorgzadarbab explained how the child welfare system’s prioritization of children’s safety and well-being is important, but also means that parents’ interests and background do not take precedence when deciding where their child is ultimately placed. “Parents who already have trauma in their history, mental illness and/or substance use and feel disempowered/marginalized, will now have to prove their ability to safely parent to a seemingly impersonal and all-powerful system,” she said. “The failures of the parents may be clinically understandable given the complex issues they have to face, but in a system where children have to be protected above all, these failures are not easily forgiven. Children could be well on their way to adoption before their parents can successfully remove safety concerns.”

Olivares told OnlineMSWPrograms.com how her clients’ past and present hardships can be challenging to witness. “As a social worker we work with clients who come from unfortunate and sad circumstances. All the clients have been taken away from their birth families and most have a lot of needs. Learning about their stories is always difficult to hear,” she said. Olivares also noted that placing children in foster homes and/or with adopted families can lead to complicated and at times emotionally difficult situations for all parties involved. “The hardest part of this job is when clients sabotage good homes because they test limits and can’t trust,” she said. “It is also hard to see young children build bonds and healthy attachments with foster families and then they are reunified with their birth family. Even though reunification is a positive thing, it’s also hard.”

To manage the aforementioned challenges, child welfare social workers urge social work students and professionals interested in this field to commit to self-care early and consistently. “[You] HAVE TO respect your limitations and engage in self-care,” Bozorgzadarbab said. “I can’t emphasize enough that you need ways to increase your emotional capacity for your own sake, for the sake of your loved ones and even for the sake of your clients. If your emotional and empathic abilities are depleted, unhappiness and isolation is a likely result and eventually making poor decisions at work follows–which in the case of CPS work can be devastatingly costly to a child. ”

Bozorgzadarbab also explained how professionals in this field should work to build and maintain a strong support system of colleagues across the different disciplines that collaborate on a given family’s case (i.e. school staff, health care professionals, behavioral therapists, attorneys, etc.). “An attitude of appreciation for teamwork and respect for other professionals outside child welfare can go a long way,” she said. “The stressed out nurse at the hospital who’s short with you will also be your savior when the time comes. The police officer you may have just offended is the person you’ll need to rely on another day to safely transport your suicidal minor client. … I can give countless examples of why teamwork can save your career, but the bottom line is you can’t do good work by yourself so cultivate relationships to help positively impact the outcome for your minor clients and help your own sanity too.”

McGowan similarly emphasized the importance of a positive outlook and building a strong community of colleagues in staying motivated and fulfilled at work. “We set our own tone for our work, and with a supportive supervisor and a county aimed towards the future, we have the ability to do an enormous amount of good for our community.”

Though their work is often stressful, demanding, and fast-paced, many child welfare social workers feel that the challenges are equally balanced with the rewards, and that the gratification they receive from their daily work is in fact inseparable from the difficulties of their work.

“Overall, my work is incredibly rewarding, Krause said. “Although it is an uphill battle, I develop pretty good relationships with my families. I get to see the progress they make and see how their lives change for the better. … I also try to be timely, responsive and compassionate, as I understand that my job is incredibly important. We are dealing with real people and make important recommendations about whether or not children can safely be with their parents. That is huge.”

Olivares explained to OnlineMSWPrograms. com how seeing the positive progress her clients make has helped her maintain energy in her role. “I’ve been in my position for over 15 years and although I have had other job opportunities to move up in my position and leave foster care. I’ve chosen to remain in foster care and stay in my current position,” she said. “Although the job has many challenges, I overall enjoy doing what I do. This job does not get boring and every day I am doing something different. My favorite part has been seeing the potential of the clients with whom I work. It is also rewarding to see them thrive and overcome challenges. I have emancipated several youths from foster care, and it is very exciting to see them leave the system, go on to college and become successful. I especially enjoy working closely with the clients; assisting them in life-long goals and helping them meet their goals.”

Child welfare social workers may also find deep rewards in being advocates for parents, regardless of whether or not they succeed in their goal of reunification. Bozorgzadarbab explained how her job has given her many opportunities to empower parents and provide them with support, dignity and compassion during a very difficult time. “There are too many examples to list when I felt honored and humbled, be it by my coworkers or my clients. Two that stand out are: when a mother who had originally fought me on the removal of her five children thanked me for ‘saving’ them and told every social worker who came after me about the respect and dignity that I had shown her family,” she recalled. “I also felt rewarded when I stood up for cultural differences in an immigrant family and advocated hard for them to receive the agency’s educational resources instead of having to experience the removal of their child from their care.”

Types of Jobs in Child Protective Services

Abuse and neglect is a huge problem that affects the lives of tens of thousands of children in Texas each year. Every day in communities across Texas, thousands of CPS employees work to protect the safety and well-being of our state's children.

CPS is a rewarding career that gives you the opportunity to work with children and their families to make their homes safe and a place where children can thrive. In the small percentage of cases where that's not possible, CPS finds other safe places for children to live. This can be with relatives, in foster care or adoptive homes.

What jobs are available at CPS?

Investigator Specialist
Family-Based Safety Services Specialist
Conservatorship Specialist
Special Investigator
Foster Adoptive Home Development
Preparation for Adult Living
Human Services Technician

In this first video, CPS caseworkers tell us why they love their jobs:

Job Preview Video: Working for Child Protective Services

Working for CPS - Watch caseworkers in action in this in-depth look at the jobs of the five types CPS caseworkers, and what it takes to be successful. You'll learn about the challenges and rewards of these important jobs directly from real caseworkers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have a degree?

No. Entry level Child Protective Services Specialist can have one of the following:

A Bachelor's degree OR an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant work experience.
60 college credit hours plus 2 years of relevant work experience.
90 college credit hours plus 1 year of relevant work experience.

Relevant work experience includes:

Social, human, or protective services.
Paid or volunteer work with social service agencies or communities that provide services to families or at-risk populations.

I think I could do this job, but will I be trained?

Yes! You will get lots of great training before beginning your job, including on the job training. While you will be visiting clients on your own, you will have the support of your co-workers and supervisor any time you need it.

Are there opportunities for career advancement?

Yes! You will receive ongoing training to prepare you to advance in your career with CPS. Caseworkers have a career ladder based on levels of certification.

How the rights of working parents are protected in Russia

Transfer to another job

Women with children under the age of one and a half years, if it is impossible to perform their previous work, they are transferred at their request to another job. At the same time, wages must not be lower than the average earnings for the previous job until the child reaches one and a half years.

Additional breaks

Few people know that the legislation provides for so-called feeding breaks. Working women with children under one and a half years of age, in addition to the lunch break, are provided with additional breaks at least every three hours and at least 30 minutes each. And if there are two or more such children in the family, then this break cannot be less than an hour. Upon request, they can be added to the lunch break or summarized and transferred to the beginning or end of the working day.

Also, these breaks are included in working hours and are subject to payment.

Business trips and overtime work

A mother with a child under three years old can be sent on a business trip or involved in overtime work, work at night, on holidays or weekends only with her written consent and if this is not prohibited by a medical certificate. She has the right to refuse.

Mothers or fathers raising children under the age of five without a spouse have the same right; workers with disabled children; workers caring for sick family members in accordance with a medical report.

Guarantees upon dismissal

It is not allowed to terminate the employment contract at the initiative of the employer:

with a woman who has a child under the age of three;
with a single mother with a child under 14 or a disabled child under 18;
employees who are raising a child under 14 or a disabled child under 18 without a mother;
with a parent who is the sole breadwinner of a disabled child under the age of 18;
with the sole breadwinner of a child under the age of three in a family raising three or more young children, if the other parent does not work.

Exception - liquidation of the organization or gross violation of labor duties.

In the event of a reduction in staff

In the event of a reduction in the number or staff of the organization's employees, with equal labor productivity and qualifications, preference in remaining at work is given to employees with a family and children, if there are two or more dependents.

Additional leave

A collective agreement may establish additional annual leave without pay at a convenient time:

an employee with two or more children under 14;
an employee with a disabled child under 18;
single parent raising a child under the age of 14.

The duration of such leave is up to 14 calendar days.

Leave at a convenient time for large families

Employees with three or more children under 18 years of age will be able to take annual paid leave at a convenient time for them. At the same time, the employer will not be able to refuse them. This means that parents with many children receive priority when choosing a time for rest.

There are two conditions: there must be at least three children in the family, and the youngest child must not be more than 14 years old.

how much Americans earn in 2022

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Average salary in the USA 2022

Residents of Russia often have a desire to know what is the average salary in the United States? Thinking about immigration, looking for work abroad, or just an interest in comparing living standards in different countries can cause such a question. At the same time, it is important to understand that incomes are always formed on the basis of the state of the economy of a particular region and even a city. A noticeable difference is due to the number of inhabitants, solvency, supply and demand of services. As an example, you can take any region of the Russian Federation and compare earnings for the same professions or positions among residents of Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod or any other city.

Content:

Average earnings by profession 2022
Salary by individual states (regions)
How much can a migrant earn and how to get a job?
US minimum wage in 2022
US taxes in 2022
How are taxes calculated in the USA?
US unemployment in 2022
US cost of living

In the article, we will figure out how wages are formed in the United States, taking into account taxation, consider popular professions, incomes and unemployment rates in individual regions. This will be useful not only for those who want to change their place of residence, but also for those who want to learn something new, understand what kind of earnings Americans have and what is the difference between the wage system in the Russian Federation and the United States.

Average earnings by profession 2022

For American citizens, it is not customary to “measure” wages by a monthly salary. Usually, they immediately indicate the annual amount or the hourly rate. This approach allows you to better understand the prospects or more easily account for income based on hours worked, rather than days or months. This is convenient, since most of the working conditions provide for a “floating” work schedule, extra pay for overtime, which also applies to civil servants. Consider, using the example of a table, what is the average salary in the United States per year. We will pay attention to the professions and positions that foreigners can get.

Profession/Position	Average annual income in USD
Barista	24000
landscape designer	37000
Cook	40000
Nanny	45000
A carpenter	46000
Real estate agent	50000
Driver	50000
Trucker	70000
Photographer	52000
Graphic Designer	55000
Police officer	58 000
computer technician	66000
Travel agent	62000
Architect	65000
Clinical Research Officer	75000
Business Development Manager	85000
civil engineer	86000
Programmer
Cyber Security Specialist	95000
health care workers	50000–350000

Importance of the position

The amount of income determines the position. Even with identical education and experience, different “money” may be offered for specialists, taking into account the vacancy. For example, the average salary of a programmer in the USA is listed in the table at 90 thousand dollars a year. However, in practice, most of the representatives of this profession earn within 60 thousand, taking into account the deduction of taxes.

Getting the best position "just because", especially for an immigrant or temporary worker, will not work. As in any other system, you need to work hard, take the initiative. But in some cases, even this may not be enough due to competition. The American dream, when an immigrant with "empty pockets" becomes successful, is achievable only by a few. Most have been in the same positions for decades. But sometimes, conscientious performance of work for a long period of time is enough. For example, the salary of a doctor in the United States with a specialized specialty exceeds $150,000 per year.

The danger of the profession

Income is also determined by the "danger" of the profession. Here we are talking not so much about the dangers of production, but as about the possibility of violent death in the service. Of course, unhealthy working conditions are taken into account. An increased rate is provided, means of protection, additional benefits are provided. One of the most dangerous jobs in America is law enforcement. This is due to the permission to carry weapons, which often causes street shootings. Given the risks, the salary of a police officer in the United States is twice the average. Plus, social protection is provided, including a lifetime pension for the family of the deceased.

Monthly income, USD

The wage system in the United States of America differs significantly from the scheme that exists in our country. Therefore, income for one calendar month must be calculated by yourself. Divide your annual salary by 12. Hourly pay is even more difficult. Standard working hours per week are 35-47 hours. At the same time, you need to take into account that the rate for different shifts and days is different. It is also impossible to guarantee that all days will be worked.

Monthly wages in the US are based on hours worked. In factories and in the service sector, weekly output can reach 60 hours. Such schedules are available both in lower positions that do not require technical or higher education, and in leadership positions. For some, this is an opportunity to get "extra money", and for others - to climb one more step in the career ladder.

According to statistics, in the first half of 2022, residents of the United States earned an average of $4,300 per month. Importantly, the average salary in the US per month in dollars increases by 5-6% every year.

Salary by individual states (regions)

The level of income of Americans differs markedly from the region in which they work and live. The key factor in this matter is the supply and demand for jobs, as well as for services and goods. The difference in some cases is so palpable that many commute to work in neighboring states, and the costs and time spent on the road more than compensate for the "big money". Large cities with well-developed infrastructure and tourism are richer by 75%. Consider the example of a table that shows the average salary in the United States per month, taking into account a specific region.

State	Monthly income in USD
Illinois	5850
Colorado	5950
Maryland	6050
New Jersey	6250
New Hampshire	6350
Connecticut	6450
Washington	6750
California	7100
New York	7250
Massachusetts	7350

Lowest median income states

An average income of over $5,000 a month is common, but not for every state. The region with the lowest wages at the beginning of 2022 was the state of Mississippi with an average monthly salary of $3,750. In second place is Arkansas with an income of $4,250. West Virginia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mossad, Missouri and Maine also differ slightly in statistical income. In other states, this figure exceeds $4,300.

Minimum rate, $/hour

According to official data, the minimum rate in USD per hour in 2022 is $7.25. There is also a lower bar, set separately by each state. Unlike the rate set at the federal level, it can change not only up, but also down. Pay for one hour of work is tracked everywhere, even by those who work on a stable daily schedule - 5/2 and have a fixed annual salary.

Despite the presence of a minimum wage fixed by federal law, there are a number of positions where payment is allowed less than the established limit. Low salaries receive:

Nurses and nannies.
Students on a part-time job that does not provide for a full-time job.
Agricultural workers.
Couriers, packers, seasonal "advertisers" and animators.
Positions outside the US.

To a greater extent, this is due to simple requirements and responsibilities, as well as the presence of tips, which make up the bulk of earnings. In the case of work outside the territory of America, everything depends on the economy of the region and the specifics of the work, for example, seafarers on foreign ships.

How much can a migrant earn and how to get a job?

The average salary in the US in rubles for the average resident of Russia seems huge. And this is so, if you do not take into account the cost of living, the price of food, services, clothing, household items, entertainment, etc. Despite this, every year millions of foreigners come to America with the illusion of getting rich quick. As a result, the standard of living for many “does not reach” the average, and the accumulated funds become tangible capital only upon returning home. Even in the best scenario, savings are not enough to start a carefree life.

How to find a job?

Finding a job in America is easy. Since the country's economy is largely built on hired labor and immigrants, there are several ways to get a job. The easiest is to contact special agencies. They will "charge" an additional fee on top of the cost of documents, but will help with everything, including accommodation. In such cases, they usually earn more from you than you do yourself. It's easier for those who know the language. They can get a job through the exchange or directly to the employer, so they will get better conditions. To search for vacancies, there are employment exchanges and company websites.

How can I get a job?

Officially . It is better to always choose formal employment, which provides for basic social and medical guarantees. Plus, you will also receive a “white” income, have protection from fraud.
Illegal . Illegal employment attracts many because of the higher wages. But few people realize that it rises due to the lack of insurance payments, the exclusion of part of the tax collection. As a result, in case of an injury, you will have to pay for everything yourself, and medicine in America is quite expensive. In addition, they often initially promise one income, but you get a completely different one. It will also not be possible to object without a formal contract and social guarantees.

How much can you earn?

The average salary in the United States, after taxes, for migrants is lower than what citizens of the country can expect. The only exceptions are in-demand professions or specialists. If we take available positions, then the income is $ 2000-3000. Here you need to take into account that rates and output are different, but in general terms, minus mandatory expenses, the free amount does not exceed $ 1000.

Who can get a job?

More often, immigrants apply for the simplest vacancies that are uninteresting to most local residents:

Pickers . For such a specialty, they may not even require knowledge of the language. The essence of the work is the assembly of goods in production, in logistics centers.
Loaders . In America, moving is a frequent occurrence, so a loader is considered one of the most common vacancies among migrants.
Babysitters and nurses . It all depends on the qualifications of experience and luck. Generous families pay good tips for quality work.
Cleaners . The minimum rate is more often offered, due to too much competition and the simplicity of duties.
Waiters . Earnings are "tied" to tips. Usually, the official rate is several times less than the "minimum wage". But qualifications, language, experience and attractive appearance can help you get a good job.
Deliveries . Courier delivery of various goods both on foot and by transport. More often it is correspondence, parcels, orders. The main income is tips.

US Minimum Wage 2022

In America, there is a "minimum wage rate (MSW)", which implies hourly wages. In terms of annual fees, the lowest full-time income would be $10,000 or more. If you take into account the rate of $ 7.25 per hour, then the amount should be higher, but in the USA there is another lower limit for low-skilled workers:

$4.25/hour - interns and teenagers under 20 years old.
$2.13/hour - jobs where the main income comes from tips: waiters, bartenders, couriers.

Against this background, you can consider what is the salary of a teacher in the United States. A teacher receives from 42,000 dollars a year. Income begins to increase after 5 years of experience by 1.5–4% annually. This example shows the attitude towards civil servants and laborers. This problem is created by increased demand and hundreds of thousands of migrants from neighboring poor countries, Asia and Africa.

US taxes in 2022

The taxation system in America is very different from the scheme used in Russia. They do not have a fixed income tax. Taxes are paid on a scale of increase in % of earned funds. It is also important that most Americans need to pay their own taxes by filing income declarations. On the one hand, such a system is simpler and allows you to “take” less from those who earn less. At the same time, the absence of a “minimum bar” does not improve the lives of those who already lack funds. Consider taxes on average salaries in the United States using the example of a table:

Rate in %	Income per person in US$	Household income in US$ 90,004
ten	Up to 10275	Up to 20550
12	10276–41775	20551–83550
22	41776–89075	83550–178150
24	89076–170050	178151–340100
32	170051–215950	340101–431900
35	215951–539900	431901–647850
37	From 539901	From 647851

It seems that after taxes, the average salary in the US does not change much, but this is not the case. The value of every dollar is felt, especially if the standard of living is average or lower. With the exception of mandatory expenses, many people do not have money for savings.

How are taxes calculated in the USA?

Everyone, including migrants, is required to pay taxes on their earned income in America. The status of a tax resident is received by all citizens and living in the country for more than 180 days. The exceptions are diplomats, medical patients and students. You can study in the United States for up to 5 years with a tax-free status. At the same time, there is a non-taxable minimum - $ 12,950 for singles and $ 25,900 for married couples. It implies the first income that can be received in different parts and at different times, the whole amount is considered.

Who collects taxes?

The funds are collected by the IRS. The completed application must be submitted by April 18th. Usually, the employer is responsible for withholding and paying, but you can do it yourself. If you pay by yourself, you have a chance to save. If the voluntary contribution option is selected, it immediately includes all mandatory contributions. Let's look at them in a table:

Federal Income Tax	10-37% depending on income level.
State Income Tax	0-10% as fixed or contingent income, as well as federal tax for each state.
Social Security	6.2% of the salary with a voluntary contribution by the employer, who also pays 6.2%. 12.4% for entrepreneurs.
Medical assistance	1.45% basic medical fee, not including insurance that can "expand" the treatment budget.
Local taxes	Additional deductions by decision of the county, city or district.

There are also gift and inheritance taxes, customs duties, excise duties and corporate tax.

US unemployment in 2022

Despite the reforms, there are many people in the States who do not have the opportunity, and sometimes the desire, to work. At the same time, in 2022 their number decreased from 4.8% to 3.6%. Both reforms and the redirection of significant resources to production, the military-industrial complex in order to upgrade and increase weapons, caused by recent events, made it possible to improve the indicator.

US cost of living

The average salary in the US in dollars is 4300 per month. At the same time, this is not an indicator of the prosperity of the entire nation. About 100 million people in the country do not have housing or even bank accounts. Many live on borrowed funds, which are “covered” by the salary, and the new month has to be started again with credit debts. The problem lies in the high prices of accommodation, as well as the need to pay for everything. At the same time, food items, including food, are inexpensive. A used car in relatively good condition can be bought for a "ridiculous" price, by Russian standards. This is due to a glut of offers in the car market.

How much do you need to earn for a good life in the US?

The “good life” should be understood not only as the ability to provide for one’s existence – mandatory daily expenses, but also spending on recreation, as well as savings that will be used for investments or retirement savings. If we take into account these factors, then the minimum figure will be $ 100,000 per year for a family. Here it is also important to take into account the place of residence, since this amount will be felt differently in specific states. For example, for Oklahoma, 100 thousand dollars is a high level of salaries, and for Washington it is quite low, just right for a modest life with an average income.

Basic costs

Quality medicine is very expensive. It feels good in the US. Insurance payments from a salary often do not cover all needs, which is why you have to purchase more expensive insurance in order to underpay tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for the treatment of serious illnesses and operations. You will have to take care of small children yourself, hire a nanny or send them to kindergartens, and they are private. The school is free, but only children from 5 years old are accepted into it.

Consider the main costs of the average family as a list:

Payment for housing . Most spend around $1,000 on rent. For many, this money is spent on mortgages.
Utility payments . On average, the total check does not exceed $ 200, but again, it all depends on the state, locality, area of \u200b\u200bthe house.
Power supply . Families of three spend about 1000 on food, not limited to fruits, vegetables or other foods necessary for a balanced and healthy diet.
Medical insurance . "Good insurance" from $500.
Kindergarten or nanny . The nannies are not paid much, and the kindergarten will cost about $500 a month.
Eating out . Many Americans often eat out, visiting the well-known McDonald's, cafes and restaurants. It costs about $100 per person per day. The exact number depends on where you live.

Average cost of food and clothing

The above figures may seem too "blurry". Therefore, it makes sense to indicate the average cost of ordinary products and everyday clothes.

Products . Bread costs $2.5, eggs - $2.3, 1 liter of milk - up to $1, potatoes - $2.5. Meat is more expensive, in particular, the price of chicken breast: $ 8–9. Alcoholic drinks: wine - from $10. Fruits and vegetables are more affordable: apples - up to $5, tomatoes - up to $4.
Clothing . A set of casual clothes for warm weather will require up to $150. Shoes are expensive. If we talk about good quality, prices start at $70. Branded items are more expensive.

Thinking about the fact that it is better to live somewhere, you should always remember - "it's good where we are not." In conditions of good earnings, there are always many migrants and high competition. Therefore, even for the sake of a minimum, you will have to work hard. America, despite high salaries, does not "give" a good life just like that.

Philip Globa

Real estate expert of the portal AllNews of Moscow.rf

Article published: July 18, 2022

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