More than 55,000 children were adopted in the U.S. in 2008.
A United States Census Bureau report indicates that in 2008, 55,000 children were adopted from foster care. An adoption counselor assists with adoptions; he also works with families and facilitates private adoptions. The counselor interviews the adopting parents to ensure they will provide a good home for children, assists with necessary paperwork and walks the families through the adoption process.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) places adoption counselors under the standard occupational classification: "Child, Family, and School Social Workers." As of 2010, a family social worker's average annual salary was $43,850, and her median annual salary was $40,210. Family social workers on the lower end of the salary scale, or 10th percentile, earned $26,170 per year, and those on the higher end on the scale, or 90th percentile, earned $68,030 per year, the BLS reports.
Salary by State
Connecticut was the highest-paying state for this occupation, with annual salaries averaging $61,310. Salaries were also high in New Jersey, Minnesota, Hawaii and Rhode Island, where they averaged between $54,000 and $56,500 per year. In contrast, salaries were significantly lower in states such as Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and South Dakota, where they averaged between $36,000 and $39,000 per year. In West Virginia, salaries were even lower, averaging just over $30,000 per year.
State by Metropolitan Area
There was significant variation in family social worker salaries across cities and metropolitan areas in the United States. The Nassau, New York, and Waterbury, Connecticut, areas were the highest-paying areas for family social workers, where salaries averaged $66,030 and $65,770 per year, respectively. Salaries were also high in areas such as Oakland, California, Hartford, Stamford and Danbury, Connecticut, and Newburgh, New York. In those areas, annual salaries averaged between $60,500 and $62,000. In contrast, salaries were lower in areas such as Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Dubuque, Iowa, where they averaged $30,330 and $28,400 per year, respectively.
Salary by Industry
The most common industries in which a family social worker may work are individual and family services, where salaries averaged $37,120 per year; the state government, where salaries averaged $43,500; and the local government, where annual salaries averaged $49,060. Some family social workers also work in legal services, with annual salaries averaging $49,760.
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