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How to hire a child support specialist

Child support specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring child support specialists in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a child support specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per child support specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 7,242 child support specialists in the US, and there are currently 143,623 job openings in this field.
  • Los Angeles, CA, has the highest demand for child support specialists, with 2 job openings.

How to hire a child support specialist, step by step

To hire a child support specialist, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a child support specialist:

Here's a step-by-step child support specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a child support specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new child support specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a child support specialist do?

A child support specialist is primarily in charge of monitoring child support payments, ensuring individuals with financial obligations comply with the legal settlement terms. They mainly work in the legal industry, where their responsibilities include assessing the clients' financial situations, gathering and analyzing financial statements, performing interviews and follow-up calls, and producing regular progress reports. Furthermore, as a child support specialist, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions and procedures, resolving issues and concerns should there be any.

Learn more about the specifics of what a child support specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The child support specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A child support specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, child support specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of child support specialists.

    Type of Child Support SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Child Support SpecialistSocial workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.$13-23
    Intensive In-Home CounselorAn Intensive In-Home Counselor conducts individual counseling sessions for parents and deals with delicate issues like sexual addiction. They also prepare progress reports for clients.$19-31
    Residence CounselorResidence counselors are professionals who are responsible for providing services such as one-to-one therapy and crisis support to clients who are living in group homes or assisted-living facilities. These counselors must assist adults with moderate intellectual disabilities to find employment while monitoring their work performance... Show more$13-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Social Work
    • Child Support Cases
    • Court Orders
    • Child Support Orders
    • Child Support Enforcement
    • State Agencies
    • Health Insurance
    • Non-Custodial Parents
    • State Laws
    • Subpoenas
    • Criminal Justice
    • Child Support
    • Mediation
    Check all skills
    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.
    • Change diapers, clean and disinfect center to meet DHS standars.
    • Used mediation skills to dissolve disputes between custodial and non custodial parents.
    More child support specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your child support specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A child support specialist can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, child support specialists' average salary in mississippi is 55% less than in new jersey.
    • Seniority. Entry-level child support specialists 41% less than senior-level child support specialists.
    • Certifications. A child support specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a child support specialist's salary.

    Average child support specialist salary

    $38,271yearly

    $18.40 hourly rate

    Entry-level child support specialist salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average child support specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Maryland$50,364$24
    2Minnesota$50,073$24
    3New York$48,868$23
    4Illinois$46,640$22
    5Texas$45,363$22
    6Virginia$43,748$21
    7Colorado$42,278$20
    8California$40,722$20
    9Ohio$39,251$19
    10Wisconsin$39,250$19
    11Connecticut$37,701$18
    12Massachusetts$37,107$18
    13Nebraska$34,922$17
    14Utah$34,907$17
    15Arizona$34,618$17
    16Oklahoma$32,391$16
    17Kentucky$31,539$15
    18Arkansas$30,903$15
    19Florida$28,732$14

    Average child support specialist salary by company

  4. Writing a child support specialist job description

    A child support specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a child support specialist job description:

    Child support specialist job description example

    ALM Hopewell Center provides comprehensive mental health services to children and adults in the northern and central parts of the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis City. A professional mental health staff serves a growing caseload of 2,800 patients, of which greater than ninety-five percent are chronically mentally ill and suffering from major psychiatric disorders. Hopewell Center operates a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center and a Comprehensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center for adults and youth. Many services are provided at schools. Emergency services, including a crisis bed and mobile outreach, are available twenty-four hours per day. A multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, counselors, social workers, educators, and support staff work diligently to carry out the mission of providing comprehensive care to patients and their families.

    Summary:

    At ALM-Hopewell Center, the Peer Specialist is who is responsible for assisting and empowering peer consumers by identifying a main concern, developing strength based independent living plans that includes a measurable goal and objectives, and carrying out the independent living plans with the peer consumers. The Peer Specialist helps fellow peers cultivate their independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem in a residential setting. The specialist empowers other people with disabilities to explore new options, resources, relationships, feelings, attitudes, and rights. The Peer Specialist is a companion, educator, advocate and friend to consumers.

    Summary of Job Duties:

    • Inform Peer Consumers of available programs and services and assist in referrals to other agencies/community partners that will assist the consumer in meeting his/her goal of independent living
    • Meet with consumers in their own homes, at designated offices and by phone as need to ensure continued consumer satisfaction and progress towards the independent living plan goal
    • Ensure that consumers have full and unbiased access to a variety of services and service providers to meet their specific needs
    • Assist Peer Consumer in carrying out each objective of the residential treatment plan
    • Abide by 9 CSR 30-4.039 (13) providing services that are person centered and recovery focused

    Minimum Requirements:

    High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma

    Participant in recovery support services

    Strong desire for employment and strong desire to help others

    Self starter who enjoys working independently

    Experience that demonstrates organization and planning abilities.

    Certified Peer Specialist (Preferred)

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right child support specialist for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your child support specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit child support specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with child support specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new child support specialist

    Once you've selected the best child support specialist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new child support specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a child support specialist?

Recruiting child support specialists involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for child support specialists is $38,271 in the US. However, the cost of child support specialist hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a child support specialist for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $23 an hour.

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