Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in Kentucky
Child, Family, and School Social Workers in Kentucky earn a median of $59,100 a year ($28.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,660 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $59,550. Kentucky ranks 26th of 51 states for child, family, and school social workers pay. There are 4.2 child, family, and school social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for child, family, and school social workers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| 25th percentile | $46,230 | $22.23 |
| Median | $59,100 | $28.42 |
| 75th percentile | $67,260 | $32.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,660 | $37.82 |
| Average (mean) | $59,270 | $28.49 |
Half of child, family, and school social workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,925 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,462.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,273.08 |
| Weekly | $1,136.54 |
| Hourly | $28.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | $64,050 | 320 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $63,780 | 1,030 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $62,130 | 210 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $59,230 | 330 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59,100 | 1,760 |
| Owensboro, KY | $58,920 | 260 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $57,280 | 170 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,080 | 2,580 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $52,220 | 620 |
Highest-paying states for child, family, and school social workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $78,970 |
| Maryland | $76,390 |
| New Jersey | $76,280 |
| Massachusetts | $75,570 |
| Washington | $74,480 |
| District of Columbia | $73,550 |
| New Hampshire | $71,010 |
| Rhode Island | $69,870 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 |
| Minnesota | $67,450 |
See Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $54,190 | $26.05 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $64,350 | $30.94 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $42,570 | $20.46 |
| Community Health Worker | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $58,540 | $28.15 |
| Health Education Specialist | $65,370 | $31.43 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $85,160 | $40.94 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $52,420 | $25.20 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,150 | $27.96 |
| Counselors, All Other | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Clergy | $58,920 | $28.33 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a child, family, and school social workers make in Kentucky?
The median salary for child, family, and school social workers in Kentucky is $59,100 a year, or $28.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid child, family, and school social workers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of child, family, and school social workers in Kentucky earn at least $78,660 a year. The top 25% earn $67,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for child, family, and school social workers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,210 a year, and a quarter of child, family, and school social workers earn $46,230 or less.
How many child, family, and school social workers work in Kentucky?
About 8,470 child, family, and school social workers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.