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Child protective specialist salary
Average child protective specialist salary
$52,032
Understanding the Salary of Child Protective Specialists
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Child Protective Specialist stands at $52,032 per year, or about $25 per hour. This role is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of children, which is reflected in the salary ranges across different states.
In states like California, the average salary can exceed $60,000, while in Texas, it may be closer to $50,000. These differences are influenced by the cost of living, state budgets, and the demand for protective services professionals.
Experience Matters
Entry-level positions typically start at around $40,000, but specialists with 5-10 years of experience can earn upwards of $55,000. Those in supervisory roles or specialized areas often see even higher salaries, reflecting their added responsibilities.
Job Opportunities
Child Protective Specialists work in various settings, including government agencies, non-profits, and community organizations. With the increasing focus on child welfare, opportunities for advancement and specialization are growing, offering paths to leadership roles and higher salaries.
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Where can a Child Protective Specialist earn more?
Child protective specialist salaries by experience level
Average child protective specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for child protective specialists are New Jersey, Hawaii, and Minnesota. The lowest average child protective specialist salary states are Kentucky, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for child protective specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $79,622 | $38.28 |
| 2 | Maryland | $65,891 | $31.68 |
| 3 | Alaska | $65,182 | $31.34 |
| 4 | Washington | $65,672 | $31.57 |
| 5 | Idaho | $61,245 | $29.44 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $67,222 | $32.32 |
| 7 | Nevada | $63,009 | $30.29 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $62,668 | $30.13 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $67,086 | $32.25 |
| 10 | New York | $58,130 | $27.95 |
| 11 | Montana | $52,909 | $25.44 |
| 12 | Oregon | $61,354 | $29.50 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $53,599 | $25.77 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $56,489 | $27.16 |
| 15 | California | $59,301 | $28.51 |
| 16 | Texas | $58,480 | $28.12 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $54,989 | $26.44 |
| 18 | Illinois | $54,054 | $25.99 |
| 19 | Maine | $51,086 | $24.56 |
| 20 | Iowa | $51,050 | $24.54 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $65,087 | $31.29 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $55,779 | $26.82 |
| 23 | Kansas | $52,613 | $25.29 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $51,536 | $24.78 |
| 25 | Virginia | $56,497 | $27.16 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $49,728 | $23.91 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $50,466 | $24.26 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $50,511 | $24.28 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $46,907 | $22.55 |
| 31 | Ohio | $50,054 | $24.06 |
| 32 | Vermont | $49,362 | $23.73 |
| 33 | Michigan | $45,424 | $21.84 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $45,442 | $21.85 |
| 35 | Utah | $47,736 | $22.95 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $46,099 | $22.16 |
| 37 | Delaware | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| 38 | Florida | $43,649 | $20.99 |
| 39 | Arizona | $41,051 | $19.74 |
| 40 | Colorado | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $47,556 | $22.86 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $39,055 | $18.78 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $45,768 | $22.00 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $39,835 | $19.15 |
| 45 | Indiana | $41,404 | $19.91 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,782 | $17.68 |
| 47 | Missouri | $42,661 | $20.51 |
| 48 | Alabama | $40,806 | $19.62 |
| 49 | Georgia | $35,148 | $16.90 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $39,967 | $19.21 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $33,985 | $16.34 |
Highest paying cities for child protective specialists
The highest-paying cities for child protective specialists are Seattle, WA, Washington, DC, and Grants Pass, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $66,095 | $31.78 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $65,132 | $31.31 |
| 3 | Grants Pass, OR | $61,063 | $29.36 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,555 | $27.67 |
| 5 | Missoula, MT | $55,233 | $26.55 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $54,238 | $26.08 |
| 7 | Framingham, MA | $53,669 | $25.80 |
| 8 | Des Moines, IA | $50,781 | $24.41 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $42,615 | $20.49 |
Child protective specialist salary details
A child protective specialist's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a child protective specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $52,032 | $4,336 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying child protective specialist jobs
The highest paying types of child protective specialists are specialist, child life specialist, and crisis intervention specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Counselor | $41,510 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 93,253 |
| Case Planner | $43,496 | $3,625 | $20.91 | 36,065 |
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Case Worker | $41,459 | $3,455 | $19.93 | 107,329 |
| Family Worker | $36,992 | $3,083 | $17.78 | 101,552 |
| Family Support Worker | $38,207 | $3,184 | $18.37 | 159,875 |
Top companies hiring child protective specialists now:
Which companies pay child protective specialists the most?
Child protective specialist salaries at Children's National Medical Center and Washington State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average child protective specialist salary at companies like Peoples Health and Action in Community Through Service are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Children's National Medical Center | $61,356 | $29.50 |
| 2 | Washington State University | $59,045 | $28.39 |
| 3 | Peoples Health | $52,029 | $25.01 |
| 4 | Action in Community Through Service | $51,464 | $24.74 |
| 5 | State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission | $49,890 | $23.99 |
| 6 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $49,448 | $23.77 |
| 7 | The State of Oregon | $49,366 | $23.73 |
| 8 | Maine | $43,922 | $21.12 |
| 9 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| 10 | State Of Montana | $42,829 | $20.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Child protective specialist salary trends
The average child protective specialist salary has risen by $8,326 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average child protective specialist earned $43,706 annually, but today, they earn $52,032 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for child protective specialists over the last decade.
Compare child protective specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average child protective specialist salary over time
Compare child protective specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Child protective specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,000 | $25.02 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $50,900 | $24.48 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $49,700 | $23.90 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $47,700 | $22.92 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $46,500 | $22.34 | +2.1% |
Recently added child protective specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Ranch | Child Protective Specialist | Whitehall, OH | 06/25/2025 | $46,164 |
| State of Kansas | Child Protection Specialist | Shawnee, KS | 06/18/2025 | $51,728 |
| State of Maine | Child Protective Services Caseworker | Hope, ME | 06/07/2025 | $67,514 |
| State of Kansas | Child Protection Specialist | Leavenworth, KS | 05/23/2025 | $51,728 |
| City of New York | Child Protective Specialist | New York, NY | 05/02/2025 | $57,127 |
| State of Kansas | Child Protection Specialist | Shawnee, KS | 04/19/2025 | $51,728 |
| McLeod | Social Worker-Child Protection Specialist | Glencoe, MN | 03/25/2025 | $53,803 |
| Cuyahoga County, Oh | Child Protection Specialist/Social Services Worker 3 | Cleveland, OH | 03/25/2025 | $57,017 |
| City of New York | Child Protective Specialist | New York, NY | 03/24/2025 | $57,127 |
| State of Kansas | Child Protection Specialist* | Sedgwick, KS | 03/18/2025 | $51,728 |
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