Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers score 24 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #592 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 23 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 9 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 8 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

24/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #592of 923 jobs
US workers: 392,550BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $59,550a year
In real AI use: 8 of 23tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (4%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 9 (39%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 13 (57%)

Maintain case history records and prepare reports.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Refer clients to community resources for services, such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Collect supplementary information needed to assist client, such as employment records, medical records, or school reports.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Conduct social research.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Serve on policy-making committees, assist in community development, and assist client groups by lobbying for solutions to problems.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Administer welfare programs.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as child care, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes to prevent more serious problems from developing.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Recommend temporary foster care and advise foster or adoptive parents.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Evaluate personal characteristics and home conditions of foster home or adoption applicants.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Supervise other social workers.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Lead group counseling sessions that provide support in such areas as grief, stress, or chemical dependency.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Work in child and adolescent residential institutions.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about child, family, and school social workers and AI

Will AI replace child, family, and school social workers?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Child, Family, and School Social Workers score 24 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #592 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 10 of the job's 23 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 13 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which child, family, and school social workers tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain case history records and prepare reports".

Which child, family, and school social workers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs"; "Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty"; "Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 8 of the 23 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as child, family, and school social workers, and what do they earn?

About 392,550 people in the US, with median pay of $59,550 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.