What Can You Do With a Social Work Degree?
A social work degree can lead to careers in schools, hospitals, nonprofits, government agencies, mental health clinics, and community programs. The primary degrees for social work careers are:
- A bachelor of social work (BSW), which can prepare you for entry-level roles in case management, advocacy, and community service.
- A master of social work (MSW), which can open clinical, supervisory, specialized practice, and policy roles.
- A doctor of social work (DSW) or Ph.D., which can lead to careers in postsecondary education, research, executive leadership, policy analysis, and advanced clinical and administrative practice.
What Is a Social Worker?
Social workers help people navigate challenges, from everyday struggles to larger systemic issues. They work with many different groups, including children, families, older adults, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.
Social workers assess client needs, connect people with resources, and advocate for support. They may also provide counseling, mental health support, and care planning. Some work directly with clients, while others focus on systems, policies, and community programs.
The social work profession can be divided into two broad categories: nonclinical and clinical.
Nonclinical vs. Clinical Social Workers
Nonclinical Social Worker
Nonclinical social workers coordinate services, advocate for policy changes, and support community programs. They often work in schools, nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations. Most nonclinical social workers need a BSW, though some jobs prefer a master’s degree. Some professionals earn a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW) credential, which allows them to provide services such as case management, advocacy, and education under supervision.
Clinical Social Worker
Clinical social workers provide direct therapeutic assessments, diagnosis, mental health treatments through counseling and therapy. Their work settings include hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and private practices. Clinical social workers need an MSW, supervised clinical experience, and state licensure. Common credentials include licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW), which allow them to provide therapy and practice independently in many states.
Check your state’s requirements!
Each state has different requirements for becoming a licensed clinical social worker, including how many supervised clinical hours you need. Most states require 3,000-4,000 hours, while others, such as Florida and Nevada, require 1,500-2,000. States may also have different requirements for licensure levels, such as LSW, LMSW, and LCSW, as well as background checks and licensing exams. In most states, “social worker” is a protected title, meaning professionals must meet specific education, registration, or licensing requirements to use it.
Levels of Social Work Practice
Social work practice includes three main levels: micro, mezzo, and macro. These levels often work together to address both immediate needs and larger social issues.
- Micro social work: Micro social work is the most common type of practice and focuses on helping individuals and families solve personal challenges. Common services include counseling, mental health therapy, case management, and crisis intervention. For example, a social worker may provide therapy to a child or help a family find housing.
- Mezzo social work: Mezzo social work balances individual support with broader social change. Common services include leading support groups, managing nonprofit programs, and developing community initiatives. For example, a social worker may run an addiction recovery group or help create programs for underserved neighborhoods.
- Macro social work: Macro social work focuses on improving lives by changing larger systems and addressing the root causes of social problems. This includes state or national policy analysis, lobbying, advocacy, and change to institutional systems, such as labor laws. Social workers at this level may lobby for changes in unemployment insurance or research how racial discrimination can inform policy reform.
Common Specializations Within Social Work
Social work covers many areas, including child and family services, healthcare, mental health, education, and legal support. Below are some common social work specializations.
- Child and family social worker: Child and family social workers support children and families with challenges such as abuse, neglect, and poverty. They provide counseling, resource support, and arrange for services such as foster care, adoption, and family reunification.
- Forensic social worker: Forensic social workers help clients navigate legal and criminal justice issues involving child custody, abuse, mental health, and criminal cases. They offer assessments, advocacy, counseling, crisis support, and sometimes expert testimony in courts, correctional facilities, and social service agencies.
- Healthcare social worker: Healthcare social workers support patients and families facing illness, injury, or medical crises in settings such as hospitals, clinics, and home health. They help coordinate care, connect patients with resources, offer counseling, and assist with discharge planning and long-term support.
- Mental health and substance use social worker: Mental health and substance use social workers help people cope with mental health conditions, addiction, and emotional challenges. They provide case management, treatment planning, and referrals to community resources. They often collaborate with healthcare teams to help with their clients’ recovery and overall well-being.
- School social worker: School social workers help students manage emotional, social, and academic challenges. They offer counseling, crisis intervention, and connections to community resources. They also address barriers to learning and improve students’ well-being by working closely with families, teachers, and support staff.
What Else Can I Do With a Social Work Degree?
Social work degrees are flexible and can lead to careers in leadership, advocacy, education, research, and policy. These programs teach transferable skills, including how people, organizations, and systems interact.
- Leadership and program roles: You can pursue roles such as social and community service manager, nonprofit program director, or community outreach coordinator. These jobs draw on skills in assessment, case management, ethics, communication, and resource coordination.
- Policy and advocacy roles: Social work training helps you identify barriers affecting individuals and communities. This can lead to careers as policy analysts, victim advocates, community organizers, legislative aides, or public health advocates.
- Education and research roles: Training in evidence-based practice, data collection, program evaluation, and social justice can connect to careers as social work researchers, field education coordinators, or college professors.
Salary Comparison: Social Work and Related Careers
Careers in social work and related fields offer steady job growth and moderate salaries. The table compares median wages, projected job growth, and minimum education requirements for several social services and education careers.
| Career | Median Annual Wage (2024) | Projected Job Outlook (2024-2034) | Minimum Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Worker | $61,330 | +6% | BSW or MSW |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $78,240 | +6% | Bachelor’s |
| Health Education Specialist | $63,000 | +4% | Bachelor’s |
| Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist | $64,520 | +3% | Bachelor’s |
| College Professor | $76,210 | +7% | Master’s or Doctorate |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
The BLS projects community and social services occupations to grow faster than the average for all jobs from 2024-2034. Social workers earn a median annual salary of $61,330 and typically need a BSW or MSW.
Social and community service managers earn the highest median salary on this list, at $78,240, though many professionals need several years of experience before reaching management roles. College professors require the highest level of education—a master’s or doctoral degree—and have the strongest projected job growth at 7%.
