Foster Care Social Worker
Listed compensation
$83K - $129K
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Child and Family Services Division of the Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Foster Care Social Worker. This is a professional position on an integrated team, providing the full range of services to youth in the foster care system with a goal of adoption.
This position serves in a leadership role as case manager to plan, organize, and coordinate service delivery.
The Foster Care Social Worker collaborates with mental health, education, legal, medical, and other human services professionals to ensure coordination and effectiveness of comprehensive services to children and families needing foster care and adoption services.
Key Responsibilities
Acts as a lead case manager providing comprehensive services to youth in the foster care system with a goal of adoption. Collaborates with mental health, legal, medical, and educational professionals to coordinate effective service delivery for children and families.
Requirements
Requires a Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related clinical discipline. Full performance level requires two years of post-Master's clinical experience in a child welfare setting and a valid driver's license.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Foster Care Social Worker at Arlington County Government a 7.8 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Social Work — ranked against 6,543 active Social Work listings on WeekdayDoc.
Social Worker Career Context
Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% are remote, 38% have no call, 62% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$106k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $105k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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Annual compensation range
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$117k-$134kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,543 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
About Arlington County Government
Benefits & Perks
6 more from Arlington County Government
- Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) · Arlington, Virginia$149k
- Bilingual School Based Behavioral Therapist (English/Spanish) · Arlington, Virginia$149k
- Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Resident/Supervisee) · Arlington, Virginia$149k
Living in Arlington
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $1.00M≈ 12.0× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $2,702/mo≈ 39% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 26 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 108.9
- State income tax
- Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.