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How to hire a family specialist

Family specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring family specialists in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a family 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 family 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 48,821 family specialists in the US, and there are currently 81,148 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for family specialists, with 20 job openings.

How to hire a family specialist, step by step

To hire a family 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 family specialist:

Here's a step-by-step family 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 family specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new family specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a family specialist do?

A Family Specialist performs social work for families in need. They are focused on helping individuals and families to improve their lives.

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

    Before you post your family specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a family specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

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

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a family specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a family specialist that fits the bill.

    This list presents family specialist salaries for various positions.

    Type of Family SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Family 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.$14-24
    Case WorkerCaseworkers are social workers who watch over the welfare of underprivileged individuals and at-risk families by counseling and providing them with assistance. Usually employed under the government or a local non-profit organization, a caseworker must conduct a thorough interview and house visits to determine the needs of the family... Show more$14-26
    Family Support WorkerA family service worker is a social service agent who assesses the needs of family and promotes wellbeing, social justice, and human rights through governmental and social service agencies. Family service workers offer services that can include counseling and mediation to families that will help them navigate the protocols of the social system... Show more$12-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Social Work
    • Foster Care
    • Substance Abuse
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Child Abuse
    • Community Resources
    • Social Services
    • Child Development
    • Family Support
    • Family Therapy
    • at-Risk Youth
    • Family Engagement
    • Mental Health
    • Support Services
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
    • Complete family assessments and supervise visit documentation for family DHS worker and also for court hearing purposes.
    • Co-Facilitate state require GPS: MAPP training for prospective adoptive parents.
    • Do MAPP trainings with potential foster and adoptive parents to assist them to make an inform decision.
    • Assess the families' capacity to protect their children, and ensure compliance with the DHS safety plan.
    • Develop deep trust and credibility through empathy, integrity, compassion and consistently providing sound advice and helpful support.
    More family specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your family specialist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A family specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a family specialist in Missouri may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level family specialist usually earns less than a senior-level family specialist. Additionally, a family specialist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average family specialist salary

    $40,115yearly

    $19.29 hourly rate

    Entry-level family specialist salary
    $31,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average family specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$52,826$25
    2District of Columbia$51,985$25
    3Maryland$47,557$23
    4New York$46,448$22
    5Illinois$43,913$21
    6Oregon$43,021$21
    7Michigan$42,980$21
    8New Mexico$42,871$21
    9California$42,711$21
    10Iowa$41,509$20
    11Massachusetts$41,393$20
    12Colorado$40,560$20
    13North Carolina$39,427$19
    14Tennessee$38,584$19
    15Wisconsin$38,118$18
    16Arizona$37,729$18
    17Pennsylvania$37,416$18
    18Texas$36,520$18
    19Rhode Island$36,458$18
    20Florida$35,410$17

    Average family specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Brigham and Women's Hospital$51,757$24.8843
    2Wells Fargo$51,506$24.76
    3King County$50,354$24.211
    4Clark County$49,660$23.88
    5University of Rochester$47,827$22.9946
    6Rocketship Education$47,263$22.729
    7Chicago Public Schools$46,609$22.4112
    8Kootenai Health$45,921$22.084
    9Telecare$45,493$21.8793
    10Masada Home Care$45,490$21.871
    11SAFY$45,451$21.852
    12International Rescue Committee$45,404$21.83
    13ICF$45,088$21.68
    14Spirit AeroSystems$45,084$21.68
    15KIPP Austin Public Schools$44,490$21.3932
    16The Philadelphia Coalition$44,265$21.2829
    17Child & Family Services of Erie County$44,111$21.214
    18University Settlement$44,102$21.205
    19Homework$44,061$21.18
    20Tarzana Treatment Centers$43,976$21.1425
  4. Writing a family specialist job description

    A family 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a family specialist job description:

    Family specialist job description example

    Salary Band: 1

    Reporting to: Youth Program Site Manager

    Department: Whole Family Services - 21st Century

    Scope:

    To work as a member of a team with program staff, families and the community to achieve student success. Responsible for fostering partnerships in student development and the implementation of varied activities including educational and social and emotional learning.

    Essential Functions:

    · Maintains a healthy team dynamic by embodying honesty and empathy in all interactions. Approaches new challenges with enthusiasm, tenacity and openness.

    · Implement a program curriculum designed to meet program objectives by creating a safe environment where students can build SEL skills to help them succeed in school.

    · Engage parents in identifying needs, act as an advocate by connecting families to Wayne Metro resources and assisting with the coordination of support services.

    · Ensure no child is left unsupervised at any time and ensure the health and safety of children, families and staff, per agency, federal, state and local policies.

    · Assist with data collection and compliance of the grant.

    · Evaluate youth progress in predetermined measurable terms at program intervals and communicate with parents to engage them as partners in their students' growth.

    · Builds and maintains relationships with school day staff with the purpose of partnering in building student success.

    · Facilitate and maintain a family advisory committee.

    · Other duties as assigned.

    Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk, sit, see, talk and hear, and use hands to manipulate. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, climb steps, stoop, bend, kneel, or crouch. The employee is required to supervise students, requiring the employee to match walking speed that matches the student and may at times require the ability to run to safeguard students. The employee must occasionally lift (up to 50 pounds), carry, and move students. Employees must occasionally move equipment and/or supplies. The job is performed for the most part in a school setting with occasional outside weather conditions. The noise level is that of a typical school setting.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    · Minimum of a High School Diploma, Associate’s Degree or credits toward an associates in child related fields preferred. Child related fields include early childhood, secondary education, elementary education, special education, physical education, child guidance, child counseling, child psychology, family studies, social work, human services, and youth development.

    · Minimum of two years of experience in youth education/programming: elementary/secondary education, youth development, out of school time programming, pre-social work, or child related field.

    · Ability to implement program plans appropriate for meeting the educational and personal development needs of at-risk youth.

    · Ability to implement evaluation tools to accurately measure the results achieved by youth participation in the program.

    · Ability to interact with parents, teachers, and other professionals to identify, and provide for the needs of youth with regards to social services, recreational/cultural activities, and education.

    · Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

    · Ability to work with a minimum of supervision.

    Minimum Competencies:

    · Working knowledge of basic internet applications and programs including Google technology and Microsoft Office Word and Excel. The ability to learn and utilize the necessary programs for this position.

    · Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in written form.

    · Good interpersonal and professional skills including but not limited to professional appearance, tact, punctuality, and dependability.

    · Ability to provide services for those persons facing economic, social, health, age, and educational barriers.

    · Ability to work independently or in a team environment (as deemed necessary).

    · Perform work in a manner that upholds Wayne Metro policies and procedures.

    Travel Requirements:

    · Ability to travel to various sites as needed.

    Licensing and Other Requirements:

    · Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

    · Ability to pass licensing required background check

    · Must be COVID-19 vaccinated, or partially, with the ability to complete within 30-days of employment. Circumstances preventing vaccination, and corresponding accommodations will be reviewed and considered.

    Work Hours:

    Work to be scheduled Monday through Friday with specific hours to be determined by program needs.

    Other Duties:

    Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job- duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

    Various Open locations throughout Wayne County:

    These locations may change, including the addition of more cities: Detroit, Highland Park, Ecorse, River Rouge, Taylor, Dearborn Heights, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Inkster


    Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

    EOE/M/F/D/V

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right family 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 family specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit family specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting family specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 family specialist

    Once you've selected the best family 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.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new family specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a family specialist?

Recruiting family 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 family specialists is $40,115 in the US. However, the cost of family specialist hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a family specialist for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $14 and $24 an hour.

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