Child, family, and school social workers
SOC Code: 21-1021
Child, family, and school social workers carries a 26% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $58,570 and +3.4% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 399,900 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 26% AI exposure, Child, family, and school social workers sits 11 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 17% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Child, family, and school social workers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Child, family, and school social workers has ai exposure of 26%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Child, family, and school social workers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Child, family, and school social workers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Child, family, and school social workers (SOC 21-1021) carries an AI exposure score of 26%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 399,900 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +3.4% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $58,570, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Child, family, and school social workers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.
- 2. Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- 3. Recommend temporary foster care and advise foster or adoptive parents.
- 4. Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- 5. 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.
- 6. Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services.
- 7. Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- 8. Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
- 9. Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
- 10. Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Administrative
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Child, family, and school social workers?
Child, family, and school social workers has an AI exposure score of 26%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Child, family, and school social workers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Child, family, and school social workers is projected to grow by 3.4% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 399,900 workers.
What skills are needed for Child, family, and school social workers?
Key skills for Child, family, and school social workers include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Child, family, and school social workers earn?
The median annual wage for Child, family, and school social workers is $58,570, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Child, family, and school social workers?
The typical entry-level education for Child, family, and school social workers is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Child, family, and school social workers?
Child, family, and school social workers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).