1273 School Social Worker

Social WorkerFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

Posting # 1273

  • Posting date: May 18, 2026
  • Posting closes: Open until filled
  • Location: Cherokee area
  • Region: East

We have a unique opportunity to work in a dual role as a school social worker, providing special education services, and as a social worker providing direct services.

Overview

Iowa's Area Education Agencies are educational partners embedded in Iowa schools. We exist to create a thriving educational landscape where all learners and educators have access to high-quality, evidence-based and strategic supports and services, collaboratively provided within districts, to help all learners achieve their full potential.

About the Agency

Northwest AEA provides special education and school improvement services to 34 public school districts and 32 accredited, non-public schools. The agency serves 45,000 students and more than 5000 educators in a 10-county area of Northwest Iowa (Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, and Crawford).

Our headquarters is located at 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, with regional offices in Cherokee, Denison, Le Mars, Onawa, and Sioux Center.

Why Northwest AEA?

Our vision, mission, and anchors guide our actions. Staff at Northwest AEA believe that what they do inspires learning and leads to changed lives for the students, staff, and families we serve. Our work is anchored in building positive, professional relationships with stakeholders and with one another. We embrace responsiveness in how we serve so that students, staff, and families can see improved results.

Job Descriptions

School Social Worker - Click here for a full job description

Job Summary

The School Social Worker, in partnership with educators, families and communities, integrates consultative, coaching, and collaborative services within educational systems. School social workers enhance the educational programs of students by assisting in the identification and assessment of individuals’ educational needs including, but not limited to, social, emotional, behavioral and adaptive needs; provide intervention supports and services for individuals and groups of students and serve as a liaison among home, school and community.

Working within the agency's educational framework, the school social worker fosters positive learning environments, ensures compliance with state and federal guidelines, and enhances the overall success of learners B-21.

Qualifications

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work or School Social Work from an accredited program.

Licensure

Iowa Bureau of Educational Examiners B-21 School Social Worker Endorsement (Initial or Full Professional Service License), OR

Iowa Department of Public Health License: Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Iowa Bureau of Educational Examiners Statement of Professional Recognition.

Social Worker: Direct Service- Click here for a full job description

Job Summary

Enhance the educational programs of learners by assisting with identification and assessment of the learner’s educational needs including social, emotional, and behavioral health needs; providing intervention services including brief individual, group, parent and family counseling; providing consultation and planning; actively participating on crisis teams and in crisis response; and serving as a liaison between families, educators, and community providers.

Qualifications

Licensure through the Iowa Department of Public Health as a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) or a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) and a Statement of Professional Recognition from the Iowa Department of Education, or

Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) School Social Work Endorsement.

Click here for salary schedule.

For internal candidates, if you are interested in these positions, contact Jerome Schaefer.

It is the policy of Northwest Area Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status in its educational programs and its employment practices.

There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jerome Schaefer, Equity Coordinator, 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa, 51111, 712-222-6114.

Key Responsibilities

The role involves providing special education and direct social work services to students, including identification and assessment of social, emotional, and behavioral needs. The worker serves as a critical liaison between home, school, and community providers to foster positive learning environments.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Case ManagementCrisis InterventionEducational AssessmentBehavioral Health SupportLiaison ServicesStudent Assessment

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates 1273 School Social Worker at Northwest Area Education Agency a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Social Work — ranked against 6,515 active Social Work listings on WeekdayDoc.

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 28% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Social Work by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.2 / 10 · top 25% in social workranked against 6,515 Social Work listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedSocial Work median $73k (middle half $63k–$82k)306 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingIowa index 87.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Social Work listings in Iowa46 active6,515 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 40% remote · 28% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (6,515 Social Work listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Social Worker Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

31 jobs · 27 employers
10
<$90k
9
$90k-110k
6
$110k-130k
6
$130k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

27 jobs
401k / retirement match
89%
Sign-on bonus
30%
CME allowance
30%
Loan repayment
11%
PSLF eligible
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

LifeStance Health · Vancouver, Washington

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Clinical Supervisor - CA - LPCC and LCSW

$57.95 - $67.22/hr
#4

Licensed Clinical Social Worker / LCSW

$60-$65/hr
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.2
Better work-life than 90% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,515 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
NA

About Northwest Area Education Agency

Education Administration Programs
Sioux City, Iowa
201-500 employees

Living in Cherokee

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$168k
Median resident rent
$728/mo
Residents’ average commute
12 min
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

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

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.