Key Takeaways
- Social workers promote well-being, stability, and access to resources for vulnerable individuals and communities.
- This versatile career can include counseling, advocacy, community organizing and research. Social workers may also plan and implement programs and initiatives.
- Social workers can specialize in a wide array of issues and populations.
- Becoming a social worker requires a degree in social work.
- All U.S. states license social workers at the master’s level, and some also provide a licensure option for social workers with bachelor’s degrees.
Social work extends across many industries and provides a wide array of services to local, national and global communities. Social workers promote the well-being and social welfare of their clients and communities. The broad field encompasses many specializations and areas of practice.
This article offers some insight on what you can expect from a career in social work. Here, we overview education and certification requirements, work environments and typical job responsibilities.
Social Worker Job Description
Social work entails helping vulnerable populations—including communities, organizations, families and individuals of all ages—meet their needs and overcome socioeconomic barriers. Social workers help their clients cope with personal and social issues such as divorce, grief, substance and behavioral addictions, domestic conflicts, child neglect, mental illness and unemployment.
These professionals often specialize in working with specific demographics, such as children, incarcerated individuals and their families, the elderly, immigrants and refugees.
Different types of social workers take on different responsibilities. Tasks often involve counseling, community organizing, advocacy, research and program development. Social workers might also analyze, develop and implement policy.
Social Worker Education Requirements and Qualifications
If you’re considering a social work career, you should first familiarize yourself with the licensure requirements of the state in which you plan to work. Prospective social workers should pursue degrees from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation verifies that a program adheres to best practices and meets the field’s established quality standards.
Holding a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement to work as a social worker, though many states also require a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). Earning a bachelor’s in social work (B.S.W.) typically takes four years of full-time study and qualifies you for nonclinical, entry-level positions.
Earning an M.S.W. generally takes two years of full-time study. However, many schools offer advanced standing to applicants with B.S.W.s, allowing them to graduate in one year. Many M.S.W. programs feature specializations in subjects like mental health, child and family services, gerontology, criminal justice, community and organization practice and school social work practice.
Social Work Licensure
You can become a licensed social worker by meeting your state licensing board’s qualifications. Each state has its own educational and professional licensing requirements for social workers.
Earning licensure typically requires an M.S.W. from a CSWE-accredited program, years of professional training and experience and a passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards examination. Some states also license bachelor’s-level social workers.
Social workers need up to 4,000 hours of supervised work experience to earn licensure, which takes approximately two years. Social workers must renew their licenses periodically. Renewal requirements vary by state.
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Social work extends to nearly every aspect of community life. As a result, the field comprises diverse work environments across multiple industries. Depending on specialization and area of practice, social workers can find roles and positions in a variety of settings, including:
- Schools
- Mental health clinics
- Hospitals and medical centers
- Private care management practices
- Crisis centers
- Women’s shelters
- Employee assistance programs
- Adoption agencies
- Senior centers, nursing homes and assisted-living communities
- Prisons, correctional facilities and juvenile detention centers
- Government agencies and elected offices
- Public and private agencies
- Police departments
- Courts
- Law firms, particularly those that specialize in working with older adults and people with disabilities
- Military facilities
- Businesses and corporations
- Research institutions
- Psychotherapy practices
- Academia
How Much Does a Social Worker Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers make a median annual salary of $58,380 as of 2023. Several factors affect salary, including education level, specialization and/or industry, professional working experience, licensure and location. The average social worker salary can change over time and fluctuate with the economy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Workers
What are the main duties of a social worker?
Social workers’ primary duties depend on position and specialization. Responsibilities can vary from counseling to advocating for community resources and developing social policies.
What are some pros and cons of becoming a social worker?
Social workers can make a meaningful, positive impact on local, national and global communities. On the other hand, social work can be emotionally demanding, as practitioners work closely with individuals dealing with difficult situations.
What field of social work pays the most?
Manager- or director-level positions for government agencies, insurance carriers and healthcare facilities are often the highest paying jobs in social work. Launching your own psychotherapy or care management practice can also be quite lucrative. Several factors can affect earning potential, including level of education, specialization, licensure, working experience and location.