Which Social Workers Make The Most Money
September 29, 2021
Reviewed by Melissa Russiano, LCSW, LISW
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Content Summary
- Most social work jobs require at least a bachelor's degree.
- Social workers help people cope with life changes and overcome challenges.
- The highest-paid social workers tend to hold advanced degrees, like a master's.
- Jobs in social work will likely increase to meet the demand for qualified professionals.
People with financial difficulties, mental health problems, addiction, and other challenges rely on social workers to get the assistance they need to improve their lives. Social work professionals help individuals and families cope with life changes and overcome difficulties. Clinical social workers can serve clients who suffer from emotional, mental, and behavioral problems.
The job outlook for many social work jobs looks promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 13% job growth for between 2019 and 2029, which is much higher than average. Employment prospects appear encouraging, especially for clinical social workers, partly due to increases in healthcare spending and treatments.
How Much Do Social Workers Make?
The BLS reports that social workers made a median annual salary of $51,760 in 2020. The top 10% of earners in the field made more than $85,820 that year.
Social worker salary tends to vary by industry. For example, professionals in healthcare and clinical settings earned a median annual salary of $57,630 in 2020.
Geographic location can also influence earning potential. For instance, child, family, and school social workers in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other eastern U.S. states make some of the highest wages in their occupational group.
What Social Work Field Pays the Most?
Child and Family Social Work
These social workers specialize in helping children and families who need housing, childcare, or financial support during difficult times. These professionals also help with adoption and foster care arrangements. They often assist children who experience abuse, neglect, and other dangerous circumstances in addition to intervening in domestic violence situations.
Healthcare
Healthcare social workers assist patients and their families with obtaining resources and creating robust social support systems. They also help patients cope with physical, psychological, and emotional suffering and help them navigate the healthcare system.
Mental Health and Addiction
Social workers who specialize in substance use and mental health provide services for clients who struggle with addiction and other mental health challenges. They also help people gain access to support, resources, and recovery programs.
School Social Work
Social workers in educational settings collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to improve students' learning conditions. They help students overcome daily challenges, enhance their social skills, and optimize their academic performance.
How Does Education Affect a Social Worker's Salary?
Most social workers hold at least a bachelor's degree, which qualifies them to work as addiction and mental health counselors, social services case managers, or social or community service managers. Some of these occupations require macro- and mezzo-level social work, which involves collaborating with organizers and policymakers to provide support and services to several groups and individuals.
Social workers who want to increase their earning potential can pursue a master's in social work (MSW). An MSW prepares graduates for micro-level work in lucrative careers like clinical social work, healthcare, and administration.
Most professionals need a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or clinical social worker (CSW) credential to work in clinical settings. Master's programs typically offer courses covering social work and education, mental health, and clinical social work.
Students pursuing a doctorate in social work can earn a Ph.D. or doctor of social work degree (DSW). Many graduates from doctoral programs seek work in higher education as instructors or researchers. A doctorate can prepare graduates to perform macro-level social work, which involves investigating and solving systematic problems like drug addiction and child neglect.
What Are the Highest-Paying Social Work Jobs?
All data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Postsecondary Instructor or Professor
Postsecondary instructors in colleges and universities teach social work courses, and some conduct original research in the field. Depending on the employer, graduates might need a doctorate to teach in higher education. In addition to teaching courses and advising students, some instructors serve on departmental and institution-wide committees.
2020 Median Annual Salary: $71,570
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 9% projected growth -
Social or Community Service Manager
These managers can work for government agencies and medical facilities. They typically supervise budgets, operations, hiring, and staff training for a department or entire organization that provides social services. These occupations usually require an extensive work history and managerial experience.
2020 Median Annual Salary: $69,600
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 17% projected growth -
School Social Worker or Counselor
School counselors collaborate with educators and administrators to enhance learning environments and protect student and staff safety. These counselors work in elementary and secondary education settings. They assist students with overcoming behavioral problems, improving academic performance, and working through social challenges. They also work closely with parents to monitor student progress.
2020 Median Annual Salary: $58,120
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 8% projected growth -
Healthcare Social Worker
Healthcare social workers provide assistance to patients in easing their pain and improving their recovery. These professionals help their clients gain access to resources and service referrals. They also enable patients and families to obtain appropriate social support and move through the healthcare system.
2020 Median Annual Salary: $57,630
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 14% projected growth -
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
These professionals obtain licensure in addition to master's degrees to provide therapy, counseling, and mental health care. They work in private practice, hospitals, and clinics. Graduates need internships and supervised work experience before they can obtain licensure and practice on their own.
2020 Median Salary: $51,760
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 14% projected growth -
Case Manager
Case managers assist clients in acquiring job-related skills, overcoming personal challenges, and taking care of themselves. Many case managers work with children, older adults, and other vulnerable individuals to meet their basic needs and become more self-sufficient.
2020 Median Salary: $51,760
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 14% projected growth -
Child and Family Social Worker
Child and family social workers assist families and children in meeting their social, physical, and emotional needs. These professionals also help with housing assistance, foster care, and adoptions. A significant part of the job is to intervene on behalf of children suffering from abuse and neglect and reunite children with their families whenever possible.
2020 Median Annual Salary: $48,430
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 14% projected growth -
Mental Health and Addiction Counselor
These social work professionals provide counseling to individuals with behavioral, emotional, and psychological problems. They also assist people who struggle with addiction. Counselors use group and individual therapy, crisis intervention, and other methods to perform their jobs. They also promote education and client advocacy to raise awareness of mental health and substance use issues.
2020 Median Salary: $47,660
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 25% projected growth -
Religious Activities and Education Director
Directors of educational or religious activities design and manage programs that advance an organization's outreach efforts. These professionals typically promote the principles of the religious or spiritual group. Some directors provide guidance and counseling to members on relationship, financial, health-related, and family difficulties.
2020 Median Annual Salary: $45,110
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 14% projected growth -
Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation counselors assist individuals with emotional, physical, and developmental disabilities to maximize their self-sufficiency. Counselors often work with more vulnerable populations, offering services that help them find employment and overcome difficulties with everyday living.
2020 Median Salary: $37,530
2019-2029 Job Outlook: 10% projected growth
Frequently Asked Questions About the Highest-Paying Social Work Jobs
Although employment differs across occupations, the BLS projects that jobs for all social workers will grow by 13% between 2019 and 2029, a faster rate than the average projected growth across all occupations (4%). The job outlook appears especially promising for professionals in clinical practice due to increased spending and treatment in the healthcare sector.
People with the desire to improve others' lives might find social work a suitable career. Social workers provide valuable services to people who otherwise cannot access necessary resources to meet their basic needs.
An MSW allows graduates to work in many different sectors and clinical roles. They can also qualify for managerial positions, increasing their earning potential.
Social workers typically need at least a bachelor's degree. However, professionals with a master's degree or higher tend to hold the highest-paying social work jobs. Prospective clinical social workers must earn a master's degree and a state-issued license.
It depends on the position. For example, LCSWs typically need a master's degree, which requires about two years in addition to a four-year degree.
Reviewed by:
Melissa Russiano is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice that has organically developed into a specialty helping working professionals. Russiano has a proven track record helping professionals avoid burnout in a unique way that holds clinicians accountable through laughter, tears, blunt (yet very supportive) feedback and quirky analogies that are grounded in solid theoretical research. Russiano practices solely in a virtual setting in the states of California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. In addition, Russiano is a professor at Simmons University online, imparting her experiences and knowledge in the field to graduate social work students.
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Which Social Workers Make The Most Money
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