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Job outlook for youth advocates in the United States
Youth advocate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected youth advocate job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 64,000 new jobs for youth advocates are projected over the next decade.
Youth advocate salaries have increased 12% for youth advocates in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,039 youth advocates currently employed in the United States.
There are 78,437 active youth advocate job openings in the US.
The average youth advocate salary is $33,924.
Are youth advocate jobs in demand?
Youth advocate job and salary trends over time
Youth advocate jobs over time
Youth advocate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,039 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 24,161 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 24,131 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 23,575 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 22,559 | 0.01% |
Average youth advocate salary over time
Youth advocate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,924 | $16.31 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $33,196 | $15.96 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $32,411 | $15.58 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $31,088 | $14.95 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $30,296 | $14.57 | +2.1% |
Youth advocate jobs by state
Most common states for youth advocates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,518 | 37% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 158 | 21% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 215 | 16% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 920 | 15% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 101 | 15% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 717 | 13% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 139 | 13% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 123 | 12% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 825 | 11% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 613 | 11% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 213 | 11% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,284 | 10% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 900 | 10% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 697 | 10% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 372 | 10% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 133 | 10% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 87 | 10% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,849 | 9% |
| 19 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,155 | 9% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 69 | 9% |
Most common cities for youth advocates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meriden | 3 | 5% | $33,673 |
| 2 | Oshkosh | 1 | 2% | $33,974 |
| 3 | Santa Ana | 1 | 0% | $36,025 |
Youth Advocate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of youth advocate experts
Butler University
George Fox University
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Fairfield University
Radford University
Metropolitan State University
Chatham University
Idaho State University
Lewis University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
University of Nevada - Reno
University of Illinois-Springfield
Northern Kentucky University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Dr. Roxanne Ruiz-Adams
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Roxanne Ruiz-Adams: Embarking on a career in social work demands a commitment to embrace lifelong learning, as the field is constantly evolving with new challenges and methodologies. It's essential to continuously update your knowledge through workshops, conferences, and further education to remain relevant and effective. Equally important is the cultivation of empathy and resilience, which allows you to connect deeply with clients while navigating the emotional and psychological demands of the job, ensuring a balance between compassion and self-care. Networking and collaborating with other professionals, both within and outside the field of social work, opens up new perspectives, resources, and opportunities for professional growth. Advocacy for social justice is a cornerstone of social work, pushing for broader social changes and addressing systemic issues that affect clients. Lastly, regular reflection on your practice is crucial for personal and professional development, allowing you to seek feedback and be open to constructive criticism, thereby enhancing your skills and effectiveness
What general advice would you give to a Youth Advocate?
Nicole Willis Ph.D., LMSW: Maximizing your salary first starts with doing the groundwork in the junior and senior year of the Social Work program. You'll want to have a strong and competitive professional resume that show how you stand-out from the other job seekers. The second phase is during the entry-level job interview phase. Best advice I ever received about salary is to NOT accept the first salary offered right away. Let your potential employer know that you'd like a day or two to think about the offer. During those two days, do your homework. Find out what is the average pay for like positions there and in other organizations. Talk with mentors you have within your professional network to get their thoughts on your offer. Don't be afraid to negotiate salary or negotiate the possibility that the potential employer would include paying for you to participate in a conference every year so you can earn the CEUs you need to maintain your Social Work license. In Social Work, we utilize great humility when working with clients and client systems. However, when in the office interviewing and considering that salary offer, put that humility aside for a while and think like a business person.
Jeffrey Bryant MSW, LCSW
Associate Tenured Professor in the BSW Program for the Phylis Lan Lin School of Social Work and CounselingWhat general advice would you give to a Youth Advocate?
Jeffrey Bryant MSW, LCSW: Social Work is one of the fastest-growing professions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of social workers will grow 12% between now and 2030. In a Bachelor of Social Work program, we earn a generalist degree. Where the goal is to learn enough about everything in social work practice so we can make a competent referral. Therefore, being able to work with any population of people and being able to know and share all resources that this population would need. In addition, the more experience and training we receive and further education (Master of Social Work, MSW) the better we will be prepared to serve others.
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Bryant MSW, LCSW: The goal of social workers is to serve others. We need to do this with confidence and applying what we have learned from our schooling. Keep learning and growing in the field and make sure we take care of yourself as you move forward.
Dr. Stephen Barnard Ph.D.
Associate Professor and ChairButler University
Criminal Justice And Corrections
What Youth Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stephen Barnard Ph.D.: Salary isn't everything. Happiness and job satisfaction often come from being able to do meaningful work. But workers are likely to see higher salaries if they have practical experience, such as from internships and service-learning opportunities, a four-year degree--especially one with a broad liberal arts focus--and if they've developed strong communication and other soft skills. They might also and seek training in more specialized fields like law, advocacy, restorative justice, cyber security, or social services.
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephen Barnard Ph.D.: Practically all career pathways in this field imbue workers with some amount of power over others. That's a big responsibility to carry, and anyone vying for such a role should be mindful of how their work may contribute to and/or combat systemic inequalities and other disparities in the world. The better one is informed on these matters, the better equipped they will be to mitigate them in their work and in others'.
Rhonda Andrews LCSW, RPT-S (she/her/hers)
Field Education Director and Associate Professor of Social WorkGeorge Fox University
Social Work
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Rhonda Andrews LCSW, RPT-S (she/her/hers): A job right after graduating with a MSW: get a job that exposes you to a variety of duties/tasks/activities on the various micro-mezzo-macro levels. Also, pick an agency that has excellent supervision and a culture of self-care and support.
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.
Professor - Multicultural EducationUniversity of Houston - Clear Lake
Intercultural/Multicultural And Diversity Studies
What general advice would you give to a Youth Advocate?
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.: I believe that you should not go into any career to "make money". However, you can maximize your salary potential by: * Loving what you do and expressing it through your constant professionalism. Employees do notice the small gestures and commitment to the field. * Being your authentic self. For example, if you do not know something, say so. It's okay to not know and to be vulnerable. That is how we learn. * Improving upon your skill(s) set. Seek ways to get more training, credentials, certificates, or professional development. * Being patient....you will have "character building" experiences that you should not let define you, but help you grow in the field. * Seeking out a mentor to help you navigate the field in the beginning. Later on, help others in the same manner. While trying to maximize your salary potential is a very practical goal, be mindful to guard your mental health. In most cases, salary increases involve much more work and time. If getting that salary increase requires you to sacrifice your mental health, is it really worth it? Alex, I know that my last statement may not be germane to the topic of maximizing salary potential, but I think it is extremely important. You may choose to delete it.
What Youth Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.: The skill, I think is always needed, now and in the future, is active listening. This is listening that requires you to hear others' narratives, ideas, opinions, or thoughts, etc. more so with your heart than with your ears. All of us want to be heard and understood.
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.: The best advice that I would share is that at the beginning, for some, you will not make a tremendous amount of money. This field is about the graduate becoming more reflective of their own lived experiences and personal narratives and using their agency to empower those that are not seen or heard. So, in essence, it really is not about you, or the money, but rather about supporting others on their journeys.
Alan Burkard Ph.D.
Professor, ChairWhat general advice would you give to a Youth Advocate?
Alan Burkard Ph.D.: Attend to the basic employment skills likely being on time for work and meetings, being responsive to communication, develop strong oral and written communication skills, using diplomacy in communications, completing work in a timely manner, asking questions if you do not understand, and being interested in the organization. In addition to basic employment skills, learn the needs to the organization and their client populations, and then seek to contribute to addressing those needs. Finally, be open to learning from your colleagues, they typically have a wealth of knowledge, and they are often motivated to help you be successful.
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Alan Burkard Ph.D.: Do research on appropriate salary levels for the positions you are seeking. There are several websites that can help you will this research. Also be aware of regional differences. As you prepare for positions, consider developing skills that employers will value in social service areas. For instance, grant writing and program evaluation are often critical skills to this sector, so seek opportunities to develop these skills.
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Suzanne Marmo LCSW, PhD: I would advise new social workers to develop self-care practices and find a peer support network. Working in social work can be emotionally demanding. Make self-care a priority because you can't effectively support others if you're not taking care of yourself. Social work can also incredibly rewarding and new social workers should remember the positive impact they are making in people's lives.
Diane Hodge MSW, Ph.D., LCSW
Radford University
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Youth Advocate?
Diane Hodge MSW, Ph.D., LCSW: I tell students to start thinking about their social work career when they are looking at their practicums. Many of our students are offered jobs through their practicum experiences, often before they graduate! Practicums are the launching pad of their career but that doesn't mean they are stuck there either. Network with colleagues, look for additional training opportunities, talk to other social workers to see how they obtained their jobs.
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Devon Cozens: FIND A GOOD SUPERVISOR. Whether you are pursuing licensure or not, excellent professional mentoring is vital to your growth and confidence. Some jobs offer supervision as a benefit of employment and others do not. If supervision is not part of your job offer, reach out to your university and other networks with support in finding a strong fit outside of your job site. Most importantly, take a very active role in supervision. Make sure that you are asking for critical feedback about how to improve and grow your skills. Be brave and communicate your needs clearly and respectfully so that both you and your supervisor can get the absolute most out of the experience of working together. Ask hard questions! This relationship can be totally transformative, and you deserve that!
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
What Youth Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Melissa Bell: I advise new graduates to carefully consider their priorities when evaluating their first job opportunities. With numerous career paths and an abundance of job openings, it's essential for them to reflect on factors such as location preference, the social environment, and the support of peers in the workplace. Additionally, they should not overlook practical considerations like transportation and commuting. Articulating what matters most to them, as well as what holds less importance, can assist them in clarifying their career goals and making informed decisions. Moreover, It's crucial for new graduates to recognize the importance of being dependable, reliable, and skilled, and to thoroughly understand the job requirements of the positions they are considering. They should assess how they can achieve success in their careers by reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses. Recognizing areas for further skill development is paramount for professional growth and effectiveness in one's chosen career path. By addressing these areas, individuals can better serve the needs of their clients and communities, fostering success both personally and within their professional endeavors.
Ines Jindra
Associate Professor of Social Work, BASW Program DirectorIdaho State University
American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Youth Advocate?
Ines Jindra: With a BASW in social work, you are eligible for generalist, entry level positions. In order to maximize your salary potential, look out for training opportunities, and consider going back for an MSW degree in social work a few years down the line (since for many social work positions, you will need an MSW degree). We have an accredited MSW program at Idaho State University, along with an accredited BASW degree in social work
What Youth Advocate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ines Jindra: With a BASW in social work, you are eligible for generalist, entry-level positions. In order to maximize your salary potential, look out for training opportunities, and consider going back for an MSW degree in social work a few years down the line (since for many social work positions, you will need an MSW degree).
What will help Youth Advocates increase their earning potential?
Ines Jindra: I would say the skills that have already and will become more important are the following: Fluency in telecommunication, as due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a shift towards telehealth in many areas of social work (along with traditional service delivery). Other important skills are flexibility (which is an important aspect of any position in social work and is only becoming more important), and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Lisa Brown
Assistant ProfessorLewis University
School Counseling Program
What skills stand out on Youth Advocate resumes?
Lisa Brown: School counselors have always worked with issues beyond academic performance and college admission. School counselors may be the first to hear of child abuse in the home, deaths occurring in the family, parents struggling with a medical issue, and so forth. Today, school counselors address more social-emotional, mental health, and behavioral issues than ever before. Students are concerned about the socio-political climate, systemic racism, school shootings, bullying, and teen suicide. Therefore, a school counselor who has additional training in these areas would be an asset to a school. Our national professional organization, American School Counseling Association (ASCA), provides resources and training on these topics to ensure the school counselors remain competent to address these concerns. School counselors with knowledge and training on crisis and trauma response are especially helpful as many students have experienced various traumas due to COVID-19.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training and experiences are also highly sought after. School counselors are agents of change with an ethical obligation to serve as advocates and leaders in combatting systemic discrimination and education barriers. This is not restricted to race but does include other multicultural factors. During COVID-19, school counselors have seen an increase in the number of students identifying as non-binary. School counselors collaborate with parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators to ensure that these individuals are respected and a valued part of the school.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Youth Advocates?
Lisa Brown: Because of the prevalence of social/emotional issues within K-12, especially in the last few years, school counselors need to have assessment skills. School counselors need to identify any red flags in their students that may indicate the student is struggling. This goes beyond academics and includes aspects such as interpersonal skills and self-worth.
Similar to assessment is data analysis. The gathering of data does not stop after a student is assessed but rather is just beginning. School counselors are held accountable to demonstrate the interventions they are utilizing are working. Data is also used to secure future funds. If an intervention used within the fall resulted in little change, a school district might not allocate funds to continue to use the same program. School counselors utilize data to demonstrate how effective they are and advocate for additional resources to address social/emotional issues within their student body.
As we learned during COVID-19, school counselors need to be tech-savvy. Many students are still learning remotely or are utilizing a hybrid format. While this has been quite helpful for some students, others are falling through the cracks. School counselors have had to get creative in checking in with their students and are doing so through technology.
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.
Professor and Academic Chair Department of Social WorkThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Social Work
What skills stand out on Youth Advocate resumes?
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.: Social work is a profession rooted in professional ethics and requires a wide range of skills that vary depending upon the role a social worker holds in an organization. In general, social work skills that stand out on a resume are skills gained through specialized training and certifications, skills in culturally responsive practice, proficiency in languages, and skills in assessment and evaluation.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Youth Advocates?
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.: Social workers practice in various areas of practice and organizational auspices that may differ in the hard/technical skills that are most important. In general, the hard/technical skills most important can be categorized based on the level of education-BSW (Bachelors of Social Work) versus MSW (Masters of Social Work).
BSW's practice in a range of organizations providing various types of services; however, in general practice in the realm of case management that requires that ability to demonstrate cultural responsiveness, develop an alliance with clients, apply NASW and a state's ethics and professional standards of practice, conduct assessments, and to develop plans to meet a client's goals.
MSW's practice in many areas such as administration, clinical, public policy and advocacy, child welfare, public safety, and health care. Each of these practice areas requires specific technical skills; however, in general, MSW's are trained to assess individuals, families, groups, and communities. To that end, MSW's must understand the cultural context and how socio/economic local, state, federal policies impact social welfare problems such as poverty, intimate partner violence, and mental illness. MSW's must possess strong engagement skills/therapeutic alliance-building, diagnostic/evaluation skills, ethical application of interventions and therapeutic approaches, and advocacy skills.
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.
Associate DeanUniversity of Nevada - Reno
School of Social Work
What soft skills should all Youth Advocates possess?
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.: Social workers need to be prepared to work in integrated health and multidisciplinary settings and act as change agents across systems of care. They work with various communities and people, and therefore soft skills are very important to their success. Some of the most important soft skills include:
-Teamwork. ...
-Communication Skills
-Problem-Solving Skills
-Ethics
-Flexibility/Adaptability
-Leadership skills
What hard/technical skills are most important for Youth Advocates?
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.: Social workers often develop community-based partnerships, including partnerships with activist organizations to implement reform towards racial and social justice; advance equity policies for BIPOC and LGBTQ populations. The top technical skills that are required of a social worker to be successful include
-grant writing
-program evaluation
-writing skills
-project management
What soft skills should all Youth Advocates possess?
Youngjin Kang Ph.D.: I believe that interpersonal skills (e.g., communication) are the most important skills. Human services professionals work with people from diverse backgrounds. They play an important role in the lives of those in need, between parties (e.g., court systems and agency), and make positive changes in a broader context as an advocate. To be able to do so, communication skills are essential. These skills include but are not limited to active listening, responding with influence, showing empathy and respect, knowing how to say no when there are boundaries, expressing the needs of the client in a professional manner, sending and responding to emails in a professional manner, using various communication methods properly, and using both verbal and nonverbal languages appropriately.
What skills will help Youth Advocates earn the most?
Youngjin Kang Ph.D.: Self-care skills. It is imperative for human services professionals to practice self-care regularly. Human services jobs are emotionally and physically draining and challenging, although they are rewarding. If you do not know how to take care of yourself and your needs, how can you take care of others? If you do not practice self-care regularly, you are likely to experience burnout - no resilience to go back to your highest ability to help others. Many helping professionals put their client's needs first and neglect their needs, but in the long run, this is not a smart thing to do.
Katherina Nikzad-Terhune Ph.D.
Associate Professor, MSW Program Director, School of Social WorkNorthern Kentucky University
College of Health and Human Services
What soft skills should all Youth Advocates possess?
Katherina Nikzad-Terhune Ph.D.: Regarding soft skills, we look for skills that are essential foundational skills within the profession. These include empathy, active listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, to name a few. These are essential for effective alliance-building with our clients and for making unbiased and ethical decisions. As social workers, we are often in the business of communication. Rarely do we work in isolation, as much of our work involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and individuals in other professional domains. As such, effective communication, organization, time management, and collaborative skills are necessary.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Youth Advocates?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.
Dr. Tami James Moore
Professor of Family ScienceUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney
Department of Counseling, School Psychology & Family Science. College of Education
What skills will help Youth Advocates earn the most?
Dr. Tami James Moore: If money is truly the most important motivator to an individual, serving families is probably not the field they should consider. Entry-level jobs will pay less than those that students graduating from a strictly business-based program will probably face. The potential for earnings over time is quite good, however, for graduates in this field. Employment opportunities are strong in both private and public institutions. Governmental management positions (programs created and delivered to address family poverty, housing, and food security) have a high earning potential.