KIPP logo
KIPP
Newark, New Jersey

26-27 Elementary School Social Worker

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$65k-$103k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Company Description

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life.

In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate 7,035 students in grades K-12 across 16 schools in Newark, Camden and Paterson. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. To learn more, visit kippnj.org.

Job Description

Here’s what you need to know:

As a School Social Worker, you will support special education and general education students to reach their fullest academic and social potential. A bit more about you…you have strong organizational skills and are a communications ace. You want to help kids on an individual basis. You’re willing to do whatever it takes to help each student be successful.

Here’s What You’ll Be Doing

Serve as a case manager to students with identified special needs as well as for students being referred to the Child Study Team.

  • Communicate effectively with parents and all stakeholders involved in the IEP process
  • Use clinical skills to provide group and individual counseling
  • Provide crisis counseling to students and families experiencing mental health and/or social service emergencies
  • Deliver behavior management and de-escalation techniques to create a safe school environment for all students.

Implement behavior intervention plans and monitor student progress in conjunction with the school support team.

Qualifications

Must Haves

  • MSW or LCSW required.
  • 1-2 years’ experience in counseling and working with adolescents and families
  • Knowledge of community social service resources and how to access them
  • Understanding of current rules and regulations regarding child study teams, special education assessments and program requirements
  • Unwavering commitment to our students and their success
  • Ability to communicate clearly and to invest stakeholders in student goals
  • Ability to establish relationships with students and families at all costs
  • Solution orientation and ability to bring a new lens to challenging problems
  • A high level of organization skills and attention to detail

Additional Information

KIPP NJ offers competitive salaries to newly hired staff members. Salaries are based on prior experience and in accordance with certification requirements. KIPP NJ offers a competitive salary range of $65,000-$103,000+ for school social workers.

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
  • Participation in the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, provided appropriate teacher certification
  • Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
  • A school-issued laptop
  • Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
  • Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break
  • Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers

Employer Paid Life Insurance

Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.

  • Start Date: Next year opening
  • Department: School-based Support
  • Compensation: USD 65000 - USD 103000 - yearly

Key Responsibilities

The School Social Worker will serve as a case manager for students with special needs and provide clinical counseling services. They will also implement behavior intervention plans and facilitate communication between parents and the school support team.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Case managementGroup counselingMental health supportSocial service coordinationBehavior intervention planningStakeholder engagement

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 28% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$84k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $77k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Social Work by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$65k–$103kSocial Work median $74k (middle half $68k–$84k)11 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$77k in purchasing powerNew Jersey index 108.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Social Work listings in New Jersey169 active6,477 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 42% remote · 28% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNew Jersey Social Worker listings: 5% state a sign-on bonus · 4% offer loan repayment186 active listings, Nov 2026
New Social Work listings2,525 in the last 30 days1,439 the 30 days before (+75%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Social Worker Jobs

32 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

32 jobs · 23 employers
9
<$80k
7
$80k-95k
8
$95k-110k
4
$110k-125k
4
$125k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

29 jobs · 23 employers
401k / retirement match
93% this job
Sign-on bonus
38%
CME allowance
24%
Loan repayment
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

LifeStance Health · Portland, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Emeryville, California

$117k-$134k
#3

LICSW/Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

$73k-$126k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

$74k-$126k
+ 30 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,407 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
KIPP logo

About KIPP

Education Administration Programs
New Orleans
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
Participation in the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund
Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
A school-issued laptop
Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks, allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break
Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
Employer paid life insurance

Living in Newark

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$450k≈ 6.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,111/mo≈ 39% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.