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The role of a Youth Services Specialist is vital in fostering the development and well-being of young individuals. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $38,160 per year. Salaries vary significantly based on factors such as experience level, with entry-level positions earning less than seasoned professionals. For instance, those with over five years of experience can expect to earn upwards of $45,000.
Geographical location also plays a crucial role in salary determination. States like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries compared to others. For example, in California, a Youth Services Specialist might earn around $45,000, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, positions in urban areas generally pay more than those in rural settings.
To explore salary estimates from various sources, visit Zippia for up-to-date information and insights. Whether you're entering the field or advancing your career, understanding these salary dynamics can help you make informed decisions about your future.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level youth services specialist | $26,500 | $12.73 |
| Mid-level youth services specialist | $37,600 | $18.07 |
| Senior-level youth services specialist | $43,200 | $20.75 |
The average youth services specialist salary in California, New Mexico, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average youth services specialist salary states are Missouri, South Dakota, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $48,309 | $23.23 |
| 2 | Iowa | $37,287 | $17.93 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $39,861 | $19.16 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $37,042 | $17.81 |
| 5 | New York | $39,772 | $19.12 |
| 6 | Arkansas | $35,943 | $17.28 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $39,801 | $19.14 |
| 8 | Florida | $36,831 | $17.71 |
| 9 | Virginia | $38,402 | $18.46 |
| 10 | Illinois | $37,459 | $18.01 |
| 11 | Washington | $36,766 | $17.68 |
| 12 | Delaware | $36,442 | $17.52 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $34,905 | $16.78 |
| 14 | Maine | $34,598 | $16.63 |
| 15 | California | $42,314 | $20.34 |
| 16 | Nevada | $35,478 | $17.06 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $37,362 | $17.96 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $35,844 | $17.23 |
| 19 | Texas | $35,622 | $17.13 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $35,064 | $16.86 |
| 21 | Colorado | $35,687 | $17.16 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| 23 | Maryland | $37,113 | $17.84 |
| 24 | Arizona | $33,258 | $15.99 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $33,671 | $16.19 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $34,293 | $16.49 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $34,171 | $16.43 |
| 28 | Kansas | $34,341 | $16.51 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $35,127 | $16.89 |
| 30 | Oregon | $31,905 | $15.34 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $32,355 | $15.56 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $33,878 | $16.29 |
| 33 | Indiana | $32,172 | $15.47 |
| 34 | Idaho | $30,338 | $14.59 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $30,927 | $14.87 |
| 36 | Vermont | $30,356 | $14.59 |
| 37 | Ohio | $31,817 | $15.30 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $28,577 | $13.74 |
| 39 | Georgia | $32,526 | $15.64 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $31,438 | $15.11 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $29,892 | $14.37 |
| 42 | Alaska | $25,303 | $12.16 |
| 43 | Alabama | $31,096 | $14.95 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $29,333 | $14.10 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $29,369 | $14.12 |
| 46 | Montana | $26,045 | $12.52 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $26,371 | $12.68 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $28,856 | $13.87 |
| 49 | Missouri | $27,773 | $13.35 |
| 50 | Utah | $24,469 | $11.76 |
| 51 | Michigan | $25,843 | $12.42 |
The highest-paying cities for youth services specialists are Pleasant Hill, CA, Leesburg, VA, and Syracuse, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Hill, CA | $42,649 | $20.50 |
| 2 | Leesburg, VA | $38,468 | $18.49 |
| 3 | Syracuse, NY | $37,667 | $18.11 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $37,229 | $17.90 |
| 5 | Hollywood, FL | $37,155 | $17.86 |
| 6 | Redmond, WA | $36,823 | $17.70 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $36,092 | $17.35 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,962 | $17.29 |
| 9 | Bergenfield, NJ | $33,591 | $16.15 |
| 10 | Peoria, AZ | $33,268 | $15.99 |
| 11 | Salem, OR | $32,006 | $15.39 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $31,599 | $15.19 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $28,804 | $13.85 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $28,046 | $13.48 |
| 15 | Canton, MI | $25,838 | $12.42 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $24,361 | $11.71 |
A youth services specialist's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $51,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $38,160 | $3,180 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of youth services specialists are specialist, programming specialist, and child life specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Counselor | $36,754 | $3,063 | $17.67 | 78,461 |
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Student Support Services | $40,195 | $3,350 | $19.32 | 140,448 |
Top companies hiring youth services specialists now:
Youth services specialist salaries at City of Baltimore and Contra Costa College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth services specialist salary at companies like Colorado Department of Transportation and Memorial Healthcare System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Baltimore | $60,415 | $29.05 |
| 2 | Contra Costa College | $57,938 | $27.85 |
| 3 | Colorado Department of Transportation | $44,059 | $21.18 |
| 4 | Memorial Healthcare System | $42,836 | $20.59 |
| 5 | Lincoln Holdings LLC | $41,988 | $20.19 |
| 6 | Loudoun County Social Svc | $41,807 | $20.10 |
| 7 | City of Peoria | $38,606 | $18.56 |
| 8 | City of Dallas Employees | $38,544 | $18.53 |
| 9 | State of Colorado | $37,742 | $18.15 |
| 10 | The Home For Little Wanderers | $37,685 | $18.12 |
| 11 | NC.gov | $36,401 | $17.50 |
| 12 | Community Mental Health Center | $35,684 | $17.16 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $35,435 | $17.04 |
| 14 | Friends of Youth | $34,839 | $16.75 |
| 15 | Liberty Healthcare | $34,022 | $16.36 |
| 16 | City of Greeley | $33,923 | $16.31 |
| 17 | Epworth | $32,928 | $15.83 |
| 18 | Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency | $32,197 | $15.48 |
| 19 | Prince George’s County Trap & Skeet Center | $32,130 | $15.45 |
| 20 | Colorado State Express | $32,121 | $15.44 |
The average youth services specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $51,318 | $24.67 |
| 2 | Government | $40,627 | $19.53 |
| 3 | Education | $35,515 | $17.07 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $34,182 | $16.43 |
| 5 | Health Care | $33,379 | $16.05 |
| 6 | Professional | $32,997 | $15.86 |
The average youth services specialist salary has risen by $7,662 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth services specialist earned $30,498 annually, but today, they earn $38,160 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for youth services specialists over the last decade.
Compare youth services specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare youth services specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,200 | $18.35 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $37,200 | $17.89 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $35,800 | $17.22 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $35,100 | $16.90 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $33,800 | $16.23 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easter Seals New Hampshire | Youth Transitional Services Youth Support Specialist-Float | Manchester, NH | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Northern Rivers Family of Services | Clinical Support Staff, Youth ACT | Troy, NY | 06/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Columbus Metropolitan Library | Youth Services Specialist (Martin Luther King Branch | Columbus, OH | 06/26/2025 | $37,232 |
| Chestnut Health Systems | Youth and Family Support Services Clinician | Belleville, IL | 06/18/2025 | $44,400 |
| Elkhart County, In | Youth Specialist I-Juvenile Detention-Court Services | Elkhart, IN | 06/18/2025 | $46,185 |
| State of Colorado | Youth Services Specialist I-Platte Valley Youth SC | Boone, CO | 06/14/2025 | $56,364 |
| Clermont County Public Library | Youth Services Specialist or Youth Services Librarian-Amelia Branch | Amelia, OH | 06/13/2025 | $33,392 |
| Canton Township | Youth Services Staff-Block Youth and Teen Center | Canton, MI | 06/12/2025 | $34,039 |
| Live Oak Public Libraries | Youth Services Specialist | Savannah, GA | 06/10/2025 | $35,479 |
| City of Greeley | Youth Service Specialist-Rodarte Community Center | Greeley, CO | 06/10/2025 | $31,597 |
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