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Youth worker salary
Average youth worker salary
$15.5
Understanding Youth Worker Salaries
The average youth worker salary in the U.S. is approximately $32,242 annually or about $16 per hour. Salaries can differ based on various factors including location, experience level, and the specific field of employment. For instance, youth workers in urban areas often earn higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living adjustments.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start at around $25,000, while experienced youth workers can earn upwards of $45,000 depending on their roles and responsibilities. Specialized roles, such as those in mental health or educational settings, may offer even higher salaries.
Where Youth Workers Earn More
States like California and New York consistently report higher average salaries for youth workers. Additionally, urban centers may provide more job opportunities, leading to competitive salaries. Always consider the overall job market and location when exploring youth work opportunities.
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Where can a Youth Worker earn more?
Youth worker salaries by experience level
Youth worker salary estimates from across the web
Average youth worker salary by state
The highest-paying states for youth workers are New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average youth worker salary states are Kentucky, Alabama, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for youth workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $35,085 | $16.87 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $38,365 | $18.44 |
| 3 | New York | $36,875 | $17.73 |
| 4 | Washington | $35,357 | $17.00 |
| 5 | Maine | $37,007 | $17.79 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $34,759 | $16.71 |
| 7 | Vermont | $33,504 | $16.11 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $38,867 | $18.69 |
| 9 | Delaware | $35,373 | $17.01 |
| 10 | Illinois | $35,925 | $17.27 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $37,606 | $18.08 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $35,045 | $16.85 |
| 13 | Ohio | $35,305 | $16.97 |
| 14 | Oregon | $33,108 | $15.92 |
| 15 | Idaho | $32,028 | $15.40 |
| 16 | Kansas | $32,908 | $15.82 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $34,035 | $16.36 |
| 18 | California | $32,676 | $15.71 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $29,357 | $14.11 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $32,990 | $15.86 |
| 21 | Alaska | $32,647 | $15.70 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $32,328 | $15.54 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $30,677 | $14.75 |
| 24 | Iowa | $31,932 | $15.35 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $29,282 | $14.08 |
| 26 | Colorado | $30,357 | $14.59 |
| 27 | Indiana | $31,492 | $15.14 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $33,121 | $15.92 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $30,005 | $14.43 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $28,451 | $13.68 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $30,433 | $14.63 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $29,504 | $14.18 |
| 33 | Utah | $28,542 | $13.72 |
| 34 | Nevada | $30,547 | $14.69 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 36 | Virginia | $29,935 | $14.39 |
| 37 | Georgia | $28,157 | $13.54 |
| 38 | Texas | $28,649 | $13.77 |
| 39 | Montana | $29,183 | $14.03 |
| 40 | Maryland | $30,236 | $14.54 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $26,651 | $12.81 |
| 42 | Missouri | $27,420 | $13.18 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $28,552 | $13.73 |
| 44 | Michigan | $27,957 | $13.44 |
| 45 | Florida | $24,010 | $11.54 |
| 46 | Alabama | $25,464 | $12.24 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $24,511 | $11.78 |
| 48 | Arizona | $25,560 | $12.29 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $25,549 | $12.28 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $23,470 | $11.28 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $21,124 | $10.16 |
Highest paying cities for youth workers
The highest-paying cities for youth workers are Freehold, NJ, South Portland, ME, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freehold, NJ | $38,798 | $18.65 |
| 2 | South Portland, ME | $37,109 | $17.84 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $36,877 | $17.73 |
| 4 | Evanston, IL | $36,082 | $17.35 |
| 5 | Fall River, MA | $35,142 | $16.90 |
| 6 | Duluth, MN | $34,750 | $16.71 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,229 | $16.46 |
| 8 | Kenosha, WI | $32,880 | $15.81 |
| 9 | Wichita, KS | $32,645 | $15.69 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $32,611 | $15.68 |
| 11 | Ames, IA | $31,926 | $15.35 |
| 12 | Lafayette, IN | $31,519 | $15.15 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $30,353 | $14.59 |
| 14 | Pueblo, CO | $30,183 | $14.51 |
| 15 | Lynchburg, VA | $29,438 | $14.15 |
| 16 | Clarksville, TN | $28,723 | $13.81 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| 18 | South Salt Lake, UT | $28,507 | $13.71 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $28,378 | $13.64 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $28,204 | $13.56 |
Youth worker salary details
A youth worker's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a youth worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $32,242 | $2,687 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying youth worker jobs
The highest paying types of youth workers are school social worker, treatment specialist, and foster care worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Child Care Counselor | $36,843 | $3,070 | $17.71 | 100,538 |
| School Social Worker | $54,856 | $4,571 | $26.37 | 122,376 |
| Service Worker | $30,045 | $2,504 | $14.44 | 103,584 |
| Family Support Worker | $38,207 | $3,184 | $18.37 | 159,875 |
| Child Care Worker | $31,284 | $2,607 | $15.04 | 136,963 |
Top companies hiring youth workers now:
Which companies pay youth workers the most?
Youth worker salaries at Salt Lake County and Fort Bend County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth worker salary at companies like Albany Community Charter School and BronxWorks are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake County | $35,893 | $17.26 |
| 2 | Fort Bend County | $35,278 | $16.96 |
| 3 | Albany Community Charter School | $34,362 | $16.52 |
| 4 | BronxWorks | $32,329 | $15.54 |
| 5 | Roseville Area Schools | $32,302 | $15.53 |
| 6 | Council Bluffs Community School District | $32,292 | $15.53 |
| 7 | FHI 360 | $32,247 | $15.50 |
| 8 | The Children's Village | $32,230 | $15.50 |
| 9 | City of Worcester | $32,164 | $15.46 |
| 10 | Department of Public Social Services | $31,960 | $15.37 |
| 11 | Homes for the Homeless | $31,809 | $15.29 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $31,615 | $15.20 |
| 13 | Children's Square USA | $31,509 | $15.15 |
| 14 | Bauer Family Resources | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| 15 | Methodist Children's Home Society | $31,494 | $15.14 |
| 16 | City of Glendale, CA | $31,487 | $15.14 |
| 17 | Depelchin Children's Center | $31,404 | $15.10 |
| 18 | HANAC | $31,221 | $15.01 |
| 19 | County Of Los Angeles Public Library | $31,164 | $14.98 |
| 20 | Professional Services Group | $31,039 | $14.92 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Youth Worker salary by industry
The average youth worker salary varies across industries:
- The average youth worker salary in the education industry is $32,651, the highest of any industry.
- The average youth worker salary in the finance industry is $32,622.
- Youth workers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $30,335, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for youth workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $32,651 | $15.70 |
| 2 | Government | $32,622 | $15.68 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $30,656 | $14.74 |
| 4 | Health Care | $30,374 | $14.60 |
| 5 | Professional | $30,335 | $14.58 |
High paying youth worker jobs
Youth worker salary trends
The average youth worker salary has risen by $5,159 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth worker earned $27,083 annually, but today, they earn $32,242 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for youth workers over the last decade.
Compare youth worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average youth worker salary over time
Compare youth worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Youth worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,200 | $15.50 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $31,600 | $15.17 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $30,800 | $14.81 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $29,500 | $14.20 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $28,800 | $13.84 | +2.1% |
Recently added youth worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreams Retail | ] After School Youth Worker (Aspiring Educators Encouraged To Apply!) | Fine, NY | 06/29/2025 | $36,523 |
| Holy Cross Services | Youth Recovery Worker (Temporary)-Corcoran-MT. Morris | Montrose, MI | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas | Transition Leader: Youth Worker | Wichita, KS | 06/28/2025 | $20,870 |
| Behavioral Framework | Youth Worker-Bilingual Spanish Speaking | Baltimore, MD | 06/28/2025 | $48,001 |
| Indiana Youth Institute | Youth Worker Well-Being Coordinator (Fixed-Term Position) | Indianapolis, IN | 06/27/2025 | $36,000 |
| State of Kentucky | Youth Worker I | Frankfort, KY | 06/27/2025 | $37,778 |
| Careers | By The Hand Club for Kids | After School Youth Worker: K-8Th Grade With Benefits) | Chicago, IL | 06/25/2025 | $39,653 |
| Goddard Riverside Community Center | Youth Worker-Summer Camp | New York, NY | 06/24/2025 | $37,566 |
| Circuit Court of Jackson County | Youth Worker-Field Services | Kansas City, MO | 06/22/2025 | $39,695 |
| Linn County, Ia | Youth Worker | Centerville, IA | 06/22/2025 | $49,566 |
Youth worker salary FAQs
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