Social Service Specialist Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
There are numerous colleges and universities that provide programs in social work, social welfare, counseling and guidance, and related subjects.
Training and Education
Expect to get a bachelor's degree for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 58%. About 26% of social service specialists got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 16% of workers.
Job Overview
Social service specialists make arrangements for needed treatments and services for people, usually for those socially and economically disadvantaged. Social service specialists create and implement specialized treatment programs within a community.
Some of the major areas social service specialists work in are public welfare, family services and child protective services. Some social service workers specialize in specific areas and other deal with a wide variety of services. In addition, social service specialists work with other professionals to determine the overall treatment for individuals.
Job Requirements
Many employers prefer to hire those who have a bachelor's degree in a subject such as social work, social welfare, sociology, psychology, counseling and guidance, consumer/community services, family and child development or gerontology.
Nature of Work
- Develop clients' service plans
- Investigate, evaluate and follow up on complaints of abuse or neglect
- Write and maintain social case histories, case records and case summaries
- Serve as a liaison between community groups and departments to develop and coordinate programs
Area Job Conditions
Santa Fe (New Mexico), Lewiston (Idaho), and Pocatello (Idaho) boast the most employees for their size population. Greenville (South Carolina), Scranton (Pennsylvania), and Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for social service specialists are in and around Springfield (Illinois), Trenton (New Jersey), and Santa Ana (California). The lowest-paying areas are Salisbury (Maryland), Jackson (Michigan), and Alexandria (Louisiana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 12% of social service specialists work less than full time.
Social Service Specialists by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $30,000 | 30 | -16% |
| Mobile | $35,000 | 50 | -62% |
| Montgomery | $45,000 | 50 | -59% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $42,000 | 160 | +38% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $37,000 | 870 | -38% |
| Tucson | $43,000 | 210 | -23% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | $34,000 | 30 | +28% |
| Little Rock | $43,000 | 220 | -12% |
| Pine Bluff | $38,000 | 30 | +43% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $40,000 | 280 | +44% |
| Fresno | $42,000 | 310 | +26% |
| Modesto | $39,000 | 80 | -32% |
| Napa | $42,000 | 30 | -30% |
| Oakland | $54,000 | 870 | +12% |
| Oxnard | 200 | -9% | |
| Riverside | $44,000 | 1,090 | +13% |
| Sacramento | $44,000 | 1,380 | +107% |
| San Diego | $46,000 | 1,520 | +51% |
| San Francisco | $44,000 | 960 | +27% |
| San Jose | $49,000 | 370 | -47% |
| San Luis Obispo | $32,000 | 40 | -42% |
| Santa Ana | $52,000 | 1,710 | +48% |
| Santa Barbara | $47,000 | 110 | -9% |
| Santa Rosa | $52,000 | 180 | +35% |
| Vallejo | $51,000 | 130 | +51% |
| Visalia | $33,000 | 70 | -27% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $45,000 | 170 | +47% |
| Colorado Springs | $40,000 | 150 | -18% |
| Denver | $39,000 | 1,400 | +48% |
| Fort Collins | $44,000 | 50 | -41% |
| Greeley | $40,000 | 110 | +116% |
| Pueblo | $27,000 | 110 | +212% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $44,000 | 480 | +47% |
| Hartford | $48,000 | 280 | -35% |
| New Haven | $41,000 | 280 | +36% |
| Norwich | $45,000 | 150 | +71% |
| Waterbury | $38,000 | 150 | +226% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $37,000 | 280 | +15% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $44,000 | 1,130 | -35% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $45,000 | 140 | -8% |
| Deltona | $42,000 | 110 | -1% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $45,000 | 530 | -4% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $35,000 | 40 | -22% |
| Gainesville | $37,000 | 240 | +198% |
| Jacksonville | $40,000 | 620 | +37% |
| Lakeland | $36,000 | 170 | +21% |
| Miami | $44,000 | 1,290 | +73% |
| Naples | $37,000 | 60 | -29% |
| Ocala | $41,000 | 80 | +22% |
| Orlando | $39,000 | 600 | -24% |
| Palm Bay | $39,000 | 170 | +20% |
| Panama City | $33,000 | 70 | +51% |
| Pensacola | $39,000 | 240 | +125% |
| Port St Lucie | $42,000 | 170 | +90% |
| Punta Gorda | $38,000 | 30 | +19% |
| Sarasota | $40,000 | 160 | -17% |
| Sebastian | $48,000 | 30 | -4% |
| Tallahassee | $44,000 | 330 | +183% |
| Tampa | $39,000 | 1,020 | +11% |
| West Palm Beach | $41,000 | 570 | +42% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $34,000 | 80 | +97% |
| Athens | $33,000 | 100 | +96% |
| Atlanta | $33,000 | 1,950 | +9% |
| Augusta | $26,000 | 240 | +61% |
| Macon | $31,000 | 110 | +59% |
| Savannah | $29,000 | 170 | +59% |
| Valdosta | $31,000 | 60 | +63% |
| Warner Robins | $31,000 | 60 | +84% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $47,000 | 1,070 | +229% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $42,000 | 460 | +133% |
| Coeur Dalene | $44,000 | 80 | +121% |
| Idaho Falls | $40,000 | 120 | +289% |
| Lewiston | $37,000 | 80 | +481% |
| Pocatello | $47,000 | 100 | +434% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $27,000 | 100 | +110% |
| Champaign | $31,000 | 290 | +346% |
| Chicago | $39,000 | 3,170 | +10% |
| Danville | 30 | +92% | |
| Decatur | $35,000 | 30 | -1% |
| Peoria | $33,000 | 190 | +55% |
| Springfield | $52,000 | 160 | +123% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $36,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Evansville | 30 | -76% | |
| Fort Wayne | $39,000 | 50 | -68% |
| Gary | $38,000 | 60 | -71% |
| Indianapolis | $47,000 | 400 | -41% |
| Kokomo | $36,000 | 60 | +168% |
| Lafayette | $30,000 | 110 | +114% |
| South Bend | $41,000 | 60 | -38% |
| Terre Haute | $23,000 | 110 | +134% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $33,000 | 60 | +149% |
| Cedar Rapids | $30,000 | 210 | +120% |
| Davenport | $30,000 | 190 | +43% |
| Des Moines | $34,000 | 240 | -1% |
| Dubuque | $28,000 | 30 | -11% |
| Iowa City | $45,000 | 80 | +65% |
| Sioux City | $37,000 | 50 | +4% |
| Waterloo | $26,000 | 110 | +87% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $38,000 | 80 | +3% |
| Wichita | $31,000 | 360 | +60% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $34,000 | 230 | -50% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $26,000 | 160 | +303% |
| Baton Rouge | $33,000 | 580 | +112% |
| Lafayette | $32,000 | 160 | +55% |
| Lake Charles | $27,000 | 100 | +68% |
| Monroe | $37,000 | 180 | +237% |
| New Orleans | $32,000 | 720 | +89% |
| Shreveport | $42,000 | 230 | +82% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $42,000 | 40 | -73% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $38,000 | 1,140 | +16% |
| Bethesda | $41,000 | 380 | -11% |
| Hagerstown | $33,000 | 40 | -42% |
| Salisbury | $26,000 | 30 | -13% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $35,000 | 1,400 | +8% |
| Framingham | $35,000 | 140 | +20% |
| Haverhill | $42,000 | 100 | +90% |
| Leominster | $36,000 | 30 | -8% |
| Pittsfield | $33,000 | 60 | +190% |
| Springfield | $39,000 | 270 | +22% |
| Worcester | $34,000 | 140 | -23% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $40,000 | 190 | +60% |
| Battle Creek | $41,000 | 50 | +58% |
| Flint | $42,000 | 90 | -7% |
| Grand Rapids | $35,000 | 340 | +21% |
| Jackson | $26,000 | 40 | +17% |
| Kalamazoo | $35,000 | 240 | +148% |
| Lansing | $48,000 | 270 | +93% |
| Muskegon | $34,000 | 40 | 0% |
| Niles | $35,000 | 60 | +45% |
| Saginaw | $29,000 | 90 | +74% |
| Warren | $36,000 | 670 | -23% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $41,000 | 410 | +355% |
| Minneapolis | $42,000 | 4,130 | +205% |
| Rochester | $42,000 | 120 | +87% |
| St Cloud | $39,000 | 180 | +153% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $36,000 | 640 | -18% |
| St Joseph | $31,000 | 40 | +22% |
| St Louis | $33,000 | 960 | -6% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $41,000 | 190 | +62% |
| Omaha | $35,000 | 240 | -31% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $42,000 | 230 | -67% |
| Reno | $47,000 | 60 | -60% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $44,000 | 100 | +37% |
| Portsmouth | $34,000 | 100 | +168% |
| Rochester | $44,000 | 50 | +33% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $40,000 | 120 | +14% |
| Camden | $41,000 | 600 | +51% |
| Edison | $40,000 | 1,060 | +36% |
| Newark | $41,000 | 1,370 | +80% |
| Ocean City | $46,000 | 40 | +51% |
| Trenton | $57,000 | 530 | +239% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $32,000 | 330 | +14% |
| Farmington | $31,000 | 60 | +75% |
| Las Cruces | $29,000 | 100 | +145% |
| Santa Fe | $39,000 | 420 | +892% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $49,000 | 520 | +59% |
| Binghamton | $50,000 | 90 | +21% |
| Buffalo | $43,000 | 730 | +82% |
| Glens Falls | $46,000 | 50 | +45% |
| Ithaca | $46,000 | 40 | +47% |
| Kingston | $41,000 | 60 | +52% |
| Nassau | $51,000 | 610 | -36% |
| New York | $44,000 | 9,770 | +152% |
| Poughkeepsie | $54,000 | 340 | +95% |
| Syracuse | $40,000 | 230 | +0% |
| Utica | $47,000 | 140 | +55% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $37,000 | 130 | +1% |
| Burlington | $38,000 | 30 | -23% |
| Charlotte | $43,000 | 260 | -61% |
| Durham | $37,000 | 100 | -50% |
| Fayetteville | $41,000 | 50 | -42% |
| Goldsboro | $37,000 | 30 | +26% |
| Greensboro | $38,000 | 200 | -28% |
| Hickory | $38,000 | 120 | +3% |
| Raleigh | $41,000 | 360 | -6% |
| Rocky Mount | $38,000 | 30 | -23% |
| Wilmington | $51,000 | 90 | -13% |
| Winston Salem | $41,000 | 90 | -43% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | 40 | +8% | |
| Fargo | $35,000 | 180 | +121% |
| Grand Forks | $43,000 | 60 | +91% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | $31,000 | 80 | -36% |
| Cincinnati | $37,000 | 800 | +2% |
| Cleveland | $43,000 | 640 | -20% |
| Columbus | $41,000 | 810 | +15% |
| Dayton | $33,000 | 290 | 0% |
| Mansfield | $39,000 | 50 | +47% |
| Toledo | $38,000 | 280 | +21% |
| Youngstown | $36,000 | 310 | +81% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | $26,000 | 50 | +114% |
| Oklahoma City | 60 | -86% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $32,000 | 50 | +8% |
| Eugene | $41,000 | 80 | -25% |
| Medford | $32,000 | 70 | +21% |
| Portland | $37,000 | 540 | -31% |
| Salem | $39,000 | 180 | +68% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $36,000 | 260 | +4% |
| Philadelphia | $46,000 | 670 | -53% |
| Scranton | $39,000 | 30 | -84% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $38,000 | 440 | +4% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $26,000 | 120 | -44% |
| Columbia | $27,000 | 160 | -39% |
| Florence | $28,000 | 40 | -30% |
| Greenville | $30,000 | 40 | -82% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $31,000 | 110 | -35% |
| Johnson City | $32,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Kingsport | $43,000 | 50 | -38% |
| Knoxville | $30,000 | 100 | -60% |
| Memphis | $35,000 | 190 | -59% |
| Nashville | $36,000 | 410 | -29% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $36,000 | 130 | -77% |
| Brownsville | $30,000 | 30 | -66% |
| Corpus Christi | $36,000 | 30 | -76% |
| Dallas | $40,000 | 440 | -72% |
| El Paso | $33,000 | 120 | -38% |
| Fort Worth | $41,000 | 150 | -77% |
| Houston | $39,000 | 540 | -72% |
| San Antonio | $36,000 | 180 | -72% |
| Texarkana | $30,000 | 50 | +40% |
| Tyler | $35,000 | 90 | +44% |
| Waco | $29,000 | 100 | +50% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo | $33,000 | 40 | -66% |
| Salt Lake City | $34,000 | 340 | -28% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $39,000 | 30 | -53% |
| Danville | $35,000 | 60 | +176% |
| Lynchburg | $50,000 | 70 | +0% |
| Richmond | $53,000 | 1,030 | +130% |
| Roanoke | $37,000 | 110 | -3% |
| Virginia Beach | $38,000 | 340 | -40% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $36,000 | 40 | -26% |
| Bremerton | $32,000 | 80 | +41% |
| Seattle | $43,000 | 1,260 | +16% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $37,000 | 80 | 0% |
| Eau Claire | $34,000 | 50 | -4% |
| Fond | $39,000 | 30 | +7% |
| La Crosse | $31,000 | 120 | +160% |
| Madison | $36,000 | 260 | +5% |
| Milwaukee | $37,000 | 410 | -36% |
| Oshkosh | $30,000 | 80 | +39% |
| Sheboygan | $34,000 | 30 | -20% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $32,000 | 40 | +66% |
| Cheyenne | $28,000 | 50 | +81% |