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Child advocate salary
Average child advocate salary
$37,885
Understanding Child Advocate Salaries
Child Advocates play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable children, often working within legal, educational, or social service systems. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Child Advocate stands at $37,885 per year. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, the specific organization, and the advocate's level of experience.
In states like California and New York, Child Advocates tend to earn higher salaries due to the increased cost of living and demand for services. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or specialized training often command better compensation. For instance, Child Advocates with a Master's in Social Work may find opportunities that offer salaries exceeding $50,000.
Moreover, experience plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may offer around $30,000 annually, while seasoned professionals with years of experience can earn upwards of $45,000 or more. Understanding these salary dynamics is essential for prospective Child Advocates as they navigate their career paths.
Where to Find Opportunities
Job seekers can explore job boards like Zippia to find various Child Advocate positions tailored to their skills and experiences.
Let Zippi find your next child advocate job
Let Zippi find your next child advocate job
Where can a Child Advocate earn more?
Child advocate salaries by experience level
Child advocate salary estimates from across the web
Average child advocate salary by state
The highest-paying states for child advocates are New Jersey, Maryland, and Minnesota. The lowest average child advocate salary states are Utah, Arkansas, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for child advocates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,412 | $29.04 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $48,572 | $23.35 |
| 3 | Texas | $47,466 | $22.82 |
| 4 | Nevada | $42,794 | $20.57 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $44,437 | $21.36 |
| 6 | Maryland | $49,451 | $23.77 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $45,042 | $21.65 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $44,151 | $21.23 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $48,959 | $23.54 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $41,715 | $20.06 |
| 11 | New York | $42,258 | $20.32 |
| 12 | Maine | $41,297 | $19.85 |
| 13 | Virginia | $43,203 | $20.77 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $39,982 | $19.22 |
| 15 | Kansas | $40,534 | $19.49 |
| 16 | Colorado | $42,659 | $20.51 |
| 17 | Illinois | $41,138 | $19.78 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $38,686 | $18.60 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $39,323 | $18.91 |
| 20 | Ohio | $37,383 | $17.97 |
| 21 | California | $41,827 | $20.11 |
| 22 | Vermont | $39,397 | $18.94 |
| 23 | Iowa | $37,851 | $18.20 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $37,913 | $18.23 |
| 25 | Alaska | $38,922 | $18.71 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $36,824 | $17.70 |
| 27 | Idaho | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| 28 | Washington | $39,625 | $19.05 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $36,412 | $17.51 |
| 30 | Oregon | $38,476 | $18.50 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 32 | Michigan | $36,212 | $17.41 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $35,264 | $16.95 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $35,985 | $17.30 |
| 35 | Georgia | $36,656 | $17.62 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $34,911 | $16.78 |
| 37 | Florida | $36,529 | $17.56 |
| 38 | Arizona | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $33,845 | $16.27 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $36,680 | $17.63 |
| 41 | Montana | $34,464 | $16.57 |
| 42 | Alabama | $33,439 | $16.08 |
| 43 | Utah | $32,374 | $15.56 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $32,938 | $15.84 |
| 45 | Delaware | $34,574 | $16.62 |
| 46 | Missouri | $33,009 | $15.87 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $29,747 | $14.30 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $31,348 | $15.07 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $31,148 | $14.97 |
| 50 | Indiana | $31,268 | $15.03 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $27,852 | $13.39 |
Highest paying cities for child advocates
The highest-paying cities for child advocates are Pasadena, TX, Alexandria, VA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena, TX | $47,859 | $23.01 |
| 2 | Alexandria, VA | $43,832 | $21.07 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $42,256 | $20.32 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $41,234 | $19.82 |
| 5 | Lawrence, MA | $39,204 | $18.85 |
| 6 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $38,809 | $18.66 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $37,066 | $17.82 |
| 8 | Goodyear, AZ | $35,792 | $17.21 |
| 9 | Lincoln, NE | $33,863 | $16.28 |
| 10 | Springfield, MO | $33,035 | $15.88 |
Child advocate salary details
A child advocate's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a child advocate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $37,885 | $3,157 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying child advocate jobs
The highest paying types of child advocates are school social worker, child welfare specialist, and social worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Development Professional | $43,758 | $3,647 | $21.04 | 91,372 |
| Foster Care Worker | $46,037 | $3,836 | $22.13 | 151,625 |
| Student Worker | $25,735 | $2,145 | $12.37 | 82,353 |
| Social Worker | $50,102 | $4,175 | $24.09 | 77,340 |
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Case Worker | $41,459 | $3,455 | $19.93 | 107,329 |
Top companies hiring child advocates now:
Which companies pay child advocates the most?
Child advocate salaries at Suncoast Center and Bridge Over Troubled Waters are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average child advocate salary at companies like The Spring of Tampa Bay and S A F E Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suncoast Center | $40,610 | $19.52 |
| 2 | Bridge Over Troubled Waters | $40,335 | $19.39 |
| 3 | The Spring of Tampa Bay | $39,633 | $19.05 |
| 4 | S A F E Inc | $38,529 | $18.52 |
| 5 | Scan Inc | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| 6 | Metropolitan Ministries | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| 7 | New Life Center | $37,804 | $18.18 |
| 8 | Centene | $35,824 | $17.22 |
| 9 | State Of Florida | $35,308 | $16.98 |
| 10 | Child Advocacy Ctr | $35,295 | $16.97 |
| 11 | GLCAC | $33,718 | $16.21 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Child advocate salary trends
The average child advocate salary has risen by $6,063 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average child advocate earned $31,822 annually, but today, they earn $37,885 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for child advocates over the last decade.
Compare child advocate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average child advocate salary over time
Compare child advocate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Child advocate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,900 | $18.21 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $37,100 | $17.82 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $36,200 | $17.40 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $34,700 | $16.69 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $33,800 | $16.27 | +2.1% |
Recently added child advocate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake | Assistant Indian Child Welfare Advocate | Upper Lake, CA | 06/21/2025 | $45,017 |
| Safenest | Children's Program Advocate | Las Vegas, NV | 06/19/2025 | $28,175 |
| Children's Council of San Francisco | Family and Children Service Advocate | San Francisco, CA | 06/07/2025 | $57,059 |
| Sanford | Child's Voice Advocate | Sioux Falls, SD | 05/25/2025 | $34,436 |
| State of Florida | Guardian Ad Literm Office, 13Th Circuit-Child Advocate Manager | Tampa, FL | 04/13/2025 | $43,179 |
| Asian Women's Shelter | Children's Advocate | San Francisco, CA | 03/24/2025 | $58,436 |
| The Road Home | Housing Advocate-Family Interim Non-Congregate Children Housing | Salt Lake City, UT | 03/15/2025 | $35,062 |
| State of Florida | Guardian Ad Litme Office, 1St. Circuit-Child Advocate Manager | Milton, FL | 03/06/2025 | $21,306 |
| The Resource Connection of Amador & Calaveras Counties, Inc. | Support Counselor/Child Advocate | Valley Springs, CA | 02/24/2025 | $36,523 |
| The Family Tree | Child Advocate Specialist | Baltimore, MD | 02/19/2025 | $62,610 |
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