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What is a foster care worker and how to become one
These professionals help children in the foster care system to resolve behavioral, mental, and emotional issues. They also help children settle in foster homes after pairing them with suitable families. Their job revolves around ensuring that foster parents are licensed and conduct regular visits to foster homes. Also, they oversee a foster child's mental or physical care in collaboration with adoption caseworkers. Additionally, they interview the child and prospective foster parents. Asides from that, they conduct an extensive background check on the foster parents.
To work in foster care agencies, you need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field. You will need a state-issued license to work, and relevant certifications are a plus. You must possess communication, analytical, interpersonal, organization, and management skills. Foster care workers make an average salary of $43,939 per annum. This varies between $26,000 and $73,000.
What general advice would you give to a foster care worker?
Virginia Schwindt
MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University
Avg. Salary $46,037
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 79.87%
male 20.13%
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
Foster care worker career paths
Key steps to become a foster care worker
Explore foster care worker education requirements
Start to develop specific foster care worker skills
Skills Percentages Foster Care 26.46% Social Work 18.53% Child Abuse 7.30% Social Services 5.57% Foster Children 4.93% Complete relevant foster care worker training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New foster care workers 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 foster care worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real foster care worker resumes.Research foster care worker duties and responsibilities
- Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
- Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
- Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
- Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
Prepare your foster care worker resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your foster care worker 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 foster care worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable foster care worker resume templates
Build a professional foster care worker 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 foster care worker resume.
Apply for foster care worker jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a foster care worker 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 foster care worker job
Are you a foster care worker?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average foster care worker salary
The average foster care worker salary in the United States is $46,037 per year or $22 per hour. Foster care worker salaries range between $32,000 and $65,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do foster care workers rate their job?
Foster care worker reviews
Low pay
Working collaboratively with clients to help them understand themselves and experience their authentic selves. Learning from my clients.
Serving people, impacting change in communities, never boring
pay is low for what you need to do
It took me five years to get to a full-time caseload of clients, but my wife supported me with her full time job while my client load increased. Now I’m booked up 4 to five weeks in advance and making an excellent salary, living abroad in Switzerland.
I work for myself in my private practice as a Clinical Social Worker and Couples Therapist. I love the work that I do with teens and adults to help them overcome their issues in life.
Updated January 8, 2025
