Family Development Worker Salary in the United States

How much does a Family Development Worker make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Family Development Worker in the United States is $47,085 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, a Family Development Worker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,184
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,503 to $51,848
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,331

Key Factors That Influence Family Development Worker Salaries

A Family Development Worker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Family Development Worker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Family Development Worker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $47,722
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $48,195
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $49,361
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,594
  • Expert (over 8 years): $49,750
Levels Salary
Entry Level Family Development Worker$47,722
Intermediate Level Family Development Worker$48,195
Senior Level Family Development Worker$49,361
Specialist Level Family Development Worker$49,594
Expert Level Family Development Worker$49,750

How Do Family Development Worker Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Family Development Workers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $52,133.
  • California: $51,935.
  • Massachusetts: $51,243.

Top Paying Cities for Family Development Workers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $59,389
  • San Francisco: $58,738
  • Oakland: $57,501

What Skills Can Increase a Family Development Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.22% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Child Development (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
  • Psychiatric (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Periodically and systematically assessing the client's dietary intake and nutritional status to ensure the effectiveness of nutrition intervention.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.22%
Child Development 2.43%
Psychiatric 2.03%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Family Development Worker's salary.

  • Group Therapy: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Treatment Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Group Therapy $53,206
13%
Treatment Planning $51,794
10%
Psychiatric $50,852
8%

Family Development Worker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Family Development Worker roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Family Development Worker positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Family Development Worker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Family Development Worker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$51,794$25.010%

How Education impacts a Family Development Worker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Family Development Workers enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Family Development Worker with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $43,270 and $46,583).

Family Development Worker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Family Development Worker
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.8%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 5.4%
Masters 87.3%
Doctorate 5.4%

Family Development Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Family Development Worker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$42,503
Average $47,085/year
$51,848
$3,542
Average $3,924/month
$4,321
$817
Average $905/week
$997
$20
Average $23/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $51,848 $4,321 $997 $25
Average $47,085 $3,924 $905 $23
25th Percentile $42,503 $3,542 $817 $20

Most common benefits for Family Development Worker

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Family Development Worker

Here are companies hiring for Family Development Worker and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Family Development Worker

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Family Development Worker?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Family Development Worker roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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