Prevailing Wage for Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Prevailing wage floors for Child, Family, and School Social Workers are set by the DOL under SOC 21-1021, covering roles from Case Manager and Case Worker to Adoption Social Worker and Family Resource Coordinator. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the wage floor varies significantly by worksite city, so where an employer is located matters as much as the offer itself.
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Entry-level workers new to the field, typically with a bachelor's degree and no independent caseload history. Positions involve structured supervision, routine case documentation, and limited independent decision-making on family or child welfare matters.
Qualified workers with some supervised field experience who handle standard caseloads with moderate independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, covering the broad mid-range of the profession.
Experienced practitioners managing complex cases, often with an MSW or equivalent advanced credential. These workers exercise significant independent judgment, may supervise junior staff, and handle specialized populations such as child protective services or foster placement.
Fully competent senior practitioners or lead coordinators setting program standards, managing multidisciplinary teams, or overseeing policy implementation across a school district or agency. Roles at this level typically require extensive field experience and advanced credentials.
Prevailing Wage for Child, Family, and School Social Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Child, Family, and School Social Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Verify your title maps to SOC 21-1021
Job postings for Family Protection Specialist, CPS Social Worker, and similar titles sometimes get filed under adjacent SOC codes, missing the Child, Family, and School Social Workers prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm your offer letter and LCA cite SOC 21-1021 before signing.
Expect government agencies to file at Level 2
County child welfare departments and school districts typically sponsor at Level 2, reflecting structured caseloads with moderate supervision. Nonprofit direct-service employers often file at Level 1, which carries a materially lower prevailing wage floor for the same job title.
Watch the wage gap between Louisiana and Connecticut metros
For this occupation, the prevailing wage floor in top Connecticut metros is roughly double the floor in southern Louisiana markets. If your employer operates across multiple states, the LCA must list your actual worksite, not a higher-wage headquarters address.
Find employers sponsoring social workers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Child, Family, and School Social Workers on H-1B or green card petitions, so you can prioritize agencies and school districts with an actual sponsorship track record in this occupation before applying.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 21-1021.00 alongside Child, Family, and School Social Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Adoption Social Worker Prevailing Wage
Adoption Social Worker Prevailing Wage
Adoption Social Worker positions fall under SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Case Manager Prevailing Wage
Case Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Case Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Case Worker Prevailing Wage
Case Worker Prevailing Wage
Case Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker) Prevailing Wage
Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker) Prevailing Wage
Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker) positions fall under SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Family Protection Specialist Prevailing Wage
Family Protection Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Family Protection Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Family Resource Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Family Resource Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Family Resource Coordinator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Family Service Worker Prevailing Wage
Family Service Worker Prevailing Wage
Family Service Worker positions fall under SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Foster Care Social Worker Prevailing Wage
Foster Care Social Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Foster Care Social Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
School Social Worker Prevailing Wage
School Social Worker Prevailing Wage
School Social Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Youth Services Specialist Prevailing Wage
Youth Services Specialist Prevailing Wage
Youth Services Specialist positions fall under SOC 21-1021.00 (Child, Family, and School Social Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish prevailing wages for each SOC code by geographic area. For SOC 21-1021, OFLC assigns one of four wage levels based on the employer's job requirements, experience expectations, and degree of supervisory oversight. Employers file a Labor Condition Application certifying the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 applies to entry-level roles with close supervision and limited independent judgment. Level 2 covers qualified workers handling standard caseloads with some autonomy. Level 3 reflects experienced practitioners, often with an advanced degree, managing complex cases independently. Level 4 covers senior or lead positions. The level is determined by the job duties on the LCA, not your personal credentials, so review the posted job description carefully.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same social worker role differ so much city to city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. A county in Connecticut with high costs and strong union density produces a much higher survey wage than a rural Louisiana parish. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite address, the prevailing wage is tied to where you physically work, not where your employer is headquartered or incorporated.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA unless the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and wage level. If the offer falls short, USCIS can deny the H-1B petition, and DOL can find a willful violation during an audit. The employer must raise the wage to the floor before filing, and you should not accept a sponsored offer where the stated salary is below the Level 1 floor for your metro.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Child, Family, and School Social Workers position in a U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 21-1021 wages by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter your worksite metro and select the appropriate experience level to see the current floor. You can also check the O*NET occupation profile for context on typical duties and education requirements. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by location and role so you can compare real postings against the prevailing wage floor for your target market.
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