Social Service Specialist 3 pay range
State of Washington · class code 351Q
- Class code
- 351Q
- Salary range
- 59
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Social Service Specialist 3 is $69,348 to $93,288 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 351Q.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 59 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $69,348 | $71,136 | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 |
| Monthly | $5,779 | $5,928 | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 |
| Hourly | $33.21 | $34.07 | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Functions as a lead worker or sole case manager in a remote location. Work performed at this level is done independently and under general direction. Performs visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable adults and/or children and provides emergency, crisis intervention and afterhours services. OR Performs advanced level specialized case management in high profile or complex cases involving children or vulnerable adults. Positions have decision making authority for developing appropriate case/treatment plans for client safety, permanency and well-being.
Examples of the work
Conducts investigations into allegations of abandonment, abuse neglect, personal exploitation, financial exploitation, self-neglect of vulnerable individuals within the community and licensed certified settings; Interview children, family members, caregivers and collateral sources to gather information necessary to assess child safety and determine service needs of family; Ongoing case management to individuals at high risk of institutionalization or to those adults whose need for case management is part of a service plan developed following an adult protective service investigation; Conducts comprehensive assessments, develops an initial or ongoing plan of care and authorizes services; Prep ...
Minimum qualifications
One year as a Social Service Specialist 2 OR A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice or an allied field and one year of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2 OR A Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice or an allied field, and two years of paid social service experience performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2. NOTE: A two year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum will be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.