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What is a child support specialist and how to become one
A child support specialist works in the legal industry, ensuring people who must pay child support make consistent payments.
The job duties as a child support specialist include the assessment and review of the financial situations of the clients, making sure children are being provided for as stipulated in a legal settlement. They analyze financial statements, interview clients, make regular check-ups, and write reports to their superiors, noting any issues with clients. Additionally, they work closely with attorneys who work in the child support field and may also perform some functions similar to that of a paralegal.
There are many qualifications necessary to become a child support specialist. They need to have strong organizational and analytical skills, familiarity with the legal process surrounding child support laws, and the desire to help ensure children are taken care of. Many child support specialists have a bachelor's degree, but it is also possible to begin their career with an associate degree in paralegal study.
What general advice would you give to a child support specialist?
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Vanguard University
Avg. Salary $38,271
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.51%
Asian 2.67%
Black or African American 13.37%
Hispanic or Latino 15.12%
Unknown 4.19%
White 63.14%
Genderfemale 80.15%
male 19.85%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Child support specialist career paths
Key steps to become a child support specialist
Explore child support specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific child support specialist skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 9.06% Social Work 7.90% Child Support Cases 7.56% Court Orders 6.08% Child Support Orders 5.73% Complete relevant child support specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New child support specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a child support specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real child support specialist resumes.Research child support specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage project SharePoint site for the purpose of supporting ongoing collaboration
- Train in CPR and child restraint.
- Represent clients during mediation proceedings in court.
- Process summons, subpoenas, appeals and motions.
Prepare your child support specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your child support specialist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a child support specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable child support specialist resume templates
Build a professional child support specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your child support specialist resume.
Apply for child support specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a child support specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first child support specialist job
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Average child support specialist salary
The average child support specialist salary in the United States is $38,271 per year or $18 per hour. Child support specialist salaries range between $29,000 and $49,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do child support specialists rate their job?
Child support specialist reviews
Helping children have a better life. All children from broken families need a chance to survive no matter what.
Wages are incredibly low. The hours are great and I don't have to take my job home with me. It would be great for someone that just graduated 12th grade.
Change agent when people are stuck and need support in the process of restoration. One on one and group processing is powerful.
I enjoy working with the families to get to a middle ground. The reward of completing a case is and having broken families look to you for hope / help. In the end supportting single parents meet their family goals.
The stress of not finding absent parents or passing on information that a case is no longer enforceable.
Updated January 8, 2025
