Also called: CPS Worker, Child Abuse Investigator
Investigates reports that a child is being abused or neglected and decides whether the child is safe.
Gets a hotline report in the morning and has 24 hours to see the child. Interviews the child at school, then the parents at home, sometimes with a police officer along. Writes a detailed assessment that could change a family's life.
Many states add hazard or on-call pay.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in social work or related field plus state training academy.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI risk scores may help screen hotline calls, but seeing a child within 24 hours and deciding safety stay human.
Classes: Psychology, Sociology, Criminal justice CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.