Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Youth advocate salary
Average youth advocate salary
$16.31
Understanding Youth Advocate Salaries
The role of a youth advocate is vital in supporting and guiding young individuals through challenging situations. As of October 2025, the average salary for a youth advocate stands at $33,924 annually, equivalent to about $16 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience and geographical location.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level youth advocates generally earn less, while those with more experience can see substantial increases in their salaries. For instance, advocates with several years of experience may earn upwards of $45,000 annually, reflecting their enhanced skills and responsibilities.
Highest Paying States
Location also plays a crucial role in salary variance. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for youth services. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective youth advocates make informed decisions about their career paths.
Exploring Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a youth advocate, it's essential to consider various job settings, including non-profit organizations, schools, and government agencies. Each offers unique experiences and compensation levels, providing a diverse landscape for career growth.
Let Zippi find your next youth advocate job
Let Zippi find your next youth advocate job
Where can a Youth Advocate earn more?
Youth advocate salaries by experience level
Youth advocate salary estimates from across the web
Average youth advocate salary by state
The highest-paying states for youth advocates are New Jersey, Maryland, and Minnesota. The lowest average youth advocate salary states are Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for youth advocates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $52,559 | $25.27 |
| 2 | Maryland | $43,011 | $20.68 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $42,841 | $20.60 |
| 4 | New York | $42,208 | $20.29 |
| 5 | Illinois | $38,928 | $18.72 |
| 6 | Maine | $36,101 | $17.36 |
| 7 | Washington | $37,632 | $18.09 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $38,955 | $18.73 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 10 | Nevada | $37,026 | $17.80 |
| 11 | Texas | $38,363 | $18.44 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $38,045 | $18.29 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $42,544 | $20.45 |
| 15 | California | $36,092 | $17.35 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $36,221 | $17.41 |
| 17 | Colorado | $34,182 | $16.43 |
| 18 | Michigan | $32,244 | $15.50 |
| 19 | Virginia | $37,243 | $17.91 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $33,608 | $16.16 |
| 21 | Ohio | $32,931 | $15.83 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $33,126 | $15.93 |
| 23 | Alaska | $31,879 | $15.33 |
| 24 | Oregon | $33,282 | $16.00 |
| 25 | Vermont | $34,551 | $16.61 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $33,491 | $16.10 |
| 27 | Kansas | $33,398 | $16.06 |
| 28 | Idaho | $32,386 | $15.57 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $30,741 | $14.78 |
| 30 | Iowa | $31,859 | $15.32 |
| 31 | Arizona | $30,236 | $14.54 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $31,086 | $14.95 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $32,098 | $15.43 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $30,302 | $14.57 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $29,149 | $14.01 |
| 36 | Montana | $28,138 | $13.53 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $30,308 | $14.57 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $27,825 | $13.38 |
| 39 | Georgia | $30,089 | $14.47 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $28,892 | $13.89 |
| 41 | Delaware | $30,029 | $14.44 |
| 42 | Indiana | $26,889 | $12.93 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $25,692 | $12.35 |
| 44 | Utah | $27,667 | $13.30 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $26,838 | $12.90 |
| 46 | Missouri | $27,213 | $13.08 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $26,243 | $12.62 |
| 48 | Alabama | $27,265 | $13.11 |
| 49 | Florida | $23,701 | $11.39 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $26,268 | $12.63 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,655 | $10.89 |
Highest paying cities for youth advocates
The highest-paying cities for youth advocates are Syracuse, NY, Washington, DC, and Fargo, ND.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse, NY | $42,595 | $20.48 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $42,499 | $20.43 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $39,498 | $18.99 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $39,154 | $18.82 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $38,487 | $18.50 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $37,588 | $18.07 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $36,469 | $17.53 |
| 8 | Plymouth, MA | $33,954 | $16.32 |
| 9 | Eugene, OR | $33,691 | $16.20 |
| 10 | Meriden, CT | $33,673 | $16.19 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,541 | $16.13 |
| 12 | Kansas City, KS | $33,360 | $16.04 |
| 13 | Port Huron, MI | $32,721 | $15.73 |
| 14 | Goodyear, AZ | $30,356 | $14.59 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,058 | $14.45 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $27,879 | $13.40 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $27,574 | $13.26 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $27,411 | $13.18 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $26,253 | $12.62 |
Youth advocate salary details
A youth advocate's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a youth advocate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $33,924 | $2,827 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying youth advocate jobs
The highest paying types of youth advocates are treatment specialist, intensive in-home counselor, and counselor internship.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Therapist | $37,881 | $3,157 | $18.21 | 91,976 |
| Behavior Therapist | $36,864 | $3,072 | $17.72 | 90,578 |
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Residence Counselor | $34,931 | $2,911 | $16.79 | 78,872 |
| Family Counselor | $41,510 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 93,253 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for youth advocates, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Jennifer Kukis
Professor/Coordinate, Lorain County Community College
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/social-worker/salary/ohio/
In Ohio, Starting level social worker earnings begin at:
$15.23
per hour
$31,670
per year with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, and around $13.00 for a Social Work Assistant with a two year degree in Human Services.
Top companies hiring youth advocates now:
Which companies pay youth advocates the most?
Youth advocate salaries at First Place for Youth and Southern Indian Health Council are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth advocate salary at companies like Astor Services and University of Nevada, Reno are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Place for Youth | $36,851 | $17.72 |
| 2 | Southern Indian Health Council | $35,008 | $16.83 |
| 3 | Astor Services | $34,620 | $16.64 |
| 4 | University of Nevada, Reno | $34,249 | $16.47 |
| 5 | The Women's Center | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| 6 | University of Tennessee | $33,581 | $16.14 |
| 7 | Hillside Family of Agencies | $33,325 | $16.02 |
| 8 | Howard Brown Health | $32,847 | $15.79 |
| 9 | Professional | $32,776 | $15.76 |
| 10 | Gwen's Girls | $32,665 | $15.70 |
| 11 | Covenant House California | $32,414 | $15.58 |
| 12 | Spectrum Health | $32,303 | $15.53 |
| 13 | Family & Children Assoc | $32,151 | $15.46 |
| 14 | ICL | $31,928 | $15.35 |
| 15 | Child Saving Institute | $31,794 | $15.29 |
| 16 | Seneca Companies | $31,604 | $15.19 |
| 17 | Dynamic Workforce Solutions | $31,395 | $15.09 |
| 18 | COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH SERVICES | $31,150 | $14.98 |
| 19 | Wisconsin Community Services | $31,143 | $14.97 |
| 20 | Looking Glass Factory | $31,142 | $14.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Youth advocate salary trends
The average youth advocate salary has risen by $5,428 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth advocate earned $28,496 annually, but today, they earn $33,924 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for youth advocates over the last decade.
Compare youth advocate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average youth advocate salary over time
Compare youth advocate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Youth advocate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,900 | $16.31 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $33,200 | $15.96 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $32,400 | $15.58 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $31,100 | $14.95 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $30,300 | $14.57 | +2.1% |
Recently added youth advocate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 Degrees Inc. | Youth Advocate-Weekends | Saint Paul, MN | 06/28/2025 | $38,610 |
| Kennedy-Donovan Center | Youth Support Advocate-Overnights | Uxbridge, MA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Bethany Christian Services | Youth Education Advocate | Paw Paw, MI | 06/22/2025 | $45,914 |
| Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Family | Youth Advocate | Camarillo, CA | 06/21/2025 | $37,566 |
| New Directions Youth & Family Services | Youth Peer Advocate | Lockport, NY | 06/21/2025 | $36,168 |
| Boys & Girls Aid | Relief Youth Care Advocate-Step | Portland, OR | 06/19/2025 | $40,697 |
| The New York Foundling | Youth Advocate | New York, NY | 06/18/2025 | $54,220 |
| Roy Maas Youth Alternatives | Youth Engagement Advocate | Boerne, TX | 06/18/2025 | $35,479 |
| Community Solutions | Youth Advocate (PER Diem) | Meriden, CT | 06/17/2025 | $39,131 |
| Mercy Home for Boys and | Youth Advocate | Chicago, IL | 06/16/2025 | $48,001 |
Youth advocate salary FAQs
Search for youth advocate jobs