Written by Maura Deering, J.D.
Last Updated: July 2023
Social work careers encompass various specializations, settings, and opportunities to make meaningful improvements in people's lives at the individual, group, community, and systemic levels. Many states allow those with a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree to practice in an entry-level position. Graduate degrees can lead to more licensure choices and career advancement.
Social workers gain skills they can apply to specialty areas like children and families, healthcare, school social work, and mental health and substance misuse. Social work careers include administration and management, advocacy and community organizing, policy and planning, and research. Explore this guide to learn about the possibilities in the social work field.
What to Expect in a Career as a Social Worker
According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), social work's primary mission involves enhancing human well-being and helping people meet basic and complex needs, particularly those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.
Social work encompasses three areas; micro, mezzo, and macro. Micro social workers work with individual clients; mezzo social work focuses on families and groups; macro social workers serve as advocates and changemakers.
What Social Workers Do
Micro social workers teach individuals skills to help them better understand their emotions and cope with life's daily stresses and challenges.
Mezzo social workers perform the same functions as micro social workers but with multiple clients, including communities, families, friends, schools, and other groups, helping with struggles between individuals in the group or systemic challenges.
Macro social workers advocate for vulnerable populations through policymaking, research, government service, or coalition-building.
Social Worker Employment Settings
Social worker employers span a broad spectrum and include:
- Hospitals and other healthcare facilities
- Mental health clinics and rehabilitation centers
- Military services, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Political advocacy groups and elected offices
- Prisons and the judicial system
- Public and private agencies that help people in need
- Schools and child welfare organizations
- Senior centers and long-term care facilities
Social Work Education and Training Requirements
Most social workers earn a bachelor's or master's in social work for entry-level positions. A bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete, while a master's takes 2-3 years.
Both degrees will require you to complete supervised field experience in which you gain valuable direct-practice experience. Bachelor's programs require a minimum of 400 supervised hours, and master's programs require a minimum of 900 hours.
After earning your degree, you may pursue licensure. Some states will license social workers at the bachelor's level as a licensed bachelor of social work (LBSW). Most states offer licensure at the master's level as a licensed master of social work (LMSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Both pathways may require 2,000-4,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience and a passing grade on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) national licensure exam.
Featured Online Social Work Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Social Work Careers
The list below offers a sampling of social work careers, including educational and licensing requirements, populations served, responsibilities, and average social worker salaries.
Child and Family Social Workers
Child and family social workers help families in need and protect vulnerable children. Responsibilities include assisting in finding housing, childcare, employment, and applying for food stamps and other benefits. These social workers may also intervene in cases of child abuse, endangerment, or neglect, arrange for foster care and adoptions, and facilitate family reunifications.
Depending on state requirements, child and family social workers may need a BSW or MSW and the appropriate licensure level. The NASW offers youth and family certifications.
Child and family social workers earn an average annual salary of $56,680, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Forensic (Criminal Justice) Social Worker
Forensic (criminal justice) social workers help crime victims and witnesses deal with trauma. They also provide counseling to criminal offenders and assist with rehabilitation. Workplaces include halfway houses, juvenile justice offices, legal advocacy organizations, parole offices, and prisons.
Most states require a license for forensic or criminal justice social work. Depending on the jurisdiction, a BSW or MSW is required for licensure. The National Association of Forensic Counselors offers optional certifications.
Forensic (criminal justice) social workers earn an average annual salary of $57,950, according to Salary.com.
Social Work Case Manager
Social work case managers help people experiencing challenges like addiction recovery, aging, prior criminal convictions, illness, and unemployment. They connect clients with resources that include healthcare providers, housing resources, potential employers, and public benefits. They manage several cases at a time and need strong organizational and follow-up skills.
Worksite options include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, and social services agencies. BSW and MSW holders can apply for optional case management certification from the NASW.
Social work case managers earn an average annual salary of $45,601 as of July 2023, according to Payscale.
Mental Health Social Worker
Mental health social workers often hold LCSW credentials to provide clinical social work services, assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. They work with individuals, families, and groups with mental, behavioral, and emotional conditions and offer crisis intervention, case management, and client advocacy.
Mental health social workers may work as solo practitioners or in group practices, along with hospitals and mental health facilities. LCSW licensure requires an MSW, and the NASW offers clinical social work certifications.
Mental health social workers earn an average annual salary of $60,130, according to the BLS.
Social and Community Service Manager
Social and community service managers fill leadership positions at community outreach organizations and social service programs. Depending on their employers' missions, they serve children, older adults, or those experiencing homelessness.
Typical duties include working with community members and stakeholders to oversee budgets and policies; managing social workers and other social service professionals; analyzing data to gauge the organization's effectiveness; and writing funding proposals.
These positions require a bachelor's or master's degree in social work or a related social services field.
Social and community service managers earn an average annual salary of $79,310, according to the BLS.
School Social Worker
School social workers assist pre-K-12 students with issues such as aggressive behavior, bullying, and other situations that affect their school experience. They collaborate with parents, school administrators, and teachers on ways to improve students' academic and social development, connect with resources like special education, or address frequent absences or tardiness.
As mandated reporters, they must report suspected child abuse or neglect. School social workers with an MSW can become Certified School Social Work Specialists through the NASW.
School social workers earn an average annual salary of $67,990, according to the BLS.
Substance Use Social Worker
Substance use social workers help clients of all ages recover from addictions to alcohol, drugs, and other substances. They provide case management, counseling, group and individual therapy, and advocacy. They also might conduct substance abuse research and develop educational resources and policies.
Clinical substance abuse social work requires an MSW and LCSW credentials. The NASW offers optional certification as a clinical alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs social worker.
Mental health social workers earn an average annual salary of $60,130, according to the BLS.
Healthcare Social Worker
Healthcare social workers offer direct services to clients, helping them understand and deal with medical diagnoses; communicate with healthcare providers; facilitate transitions to long-term care or back home after hospitalization; arrange home healthcare; and locate support groups. They also work in planning and policy, program development, and research.
Specialization options include gerontology, hospice, and palliative care. The NASW lists certifications in these areas, along with a certified social worker in healthcare credential.
Healthcare social workers earn an average annual salary of $62,760, according to the BLS.
Veterans Affairs Social Worker
According to the NASW, more than 13,000 social workers work at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the VA ranks among the top employers of MSW holders. VA social workers provide clinical interventions to veterans in crisis or on a long-term basis, assisting them with access to care, obtaining benefit payments, locating housing resources, and counseling those experiencing trauma and injury.
The NASW offers certifications for social workers working with military service members, veterans, and their families.
Veterans Affairs social workers earn an average annual salary of $85,640, according to FederalPay.org.
Postsecondary Social Work Teachers
Employed at colleges and universities, postsecondary social work teachers are faculty members who teach social work courses. University professors typically combine teaching with research.
Social work postsecondary teachers need a master's degree to work at community colleges or in part-time positions. Universities generally require a doctorate, such as a Ph.D. in social work or doctor of social work and practice experience.
Social work postsecondary teachers earn an average annual salary of $75,330, according to the BLS.
Marriage and Family Therapist
Marriage and family therapists work primarily in private practice helping clients with relationship issues. They apply techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy to help clients replace negative thoughts and feelings with more positive reactions. They also refer clients to outside resources, including treatment centers and support groups, and coordinate with social workers, psychologists, and other professionals.
These practitioners need a master's degree and a marriage and family therapist license from their state licensing board.
Marriage and family therapists earn an average annual salary of $63,300, according to the BLS.
Frequently Asked Questions About Careers in Social Work
How do you start a career in social work?
The typical route to a social work career entails earning a bachelor's degree, followed by an MSW. Earning a BSW can give you advanced standing admission to an MSW program and accelerate graduation. Many states license BSW holders, but others only license at the MSW level.
What are the pros and cons of a career in social work?
According to a 2018 survey of social work graduates, about 91% of respondents would recommend a social work career to others, citing employment flexibility, self-growth promotion, and social justice orientation. Those who would not recommend social work as a career listed low pay and prestige and a lack of entry-level opportunities.
Is licensure required to become a social worker?
Depending on your state requirements and the area of social work you plan to focus on, it may be possible to become a social worker without a license. But clinical social workers must hold a license.
What are the three types of social work?
Micro and mezzo social work focus on direct client practice. Micro social workers work with individuals, while mezzo social workers work with groups, families, and communities. Macro social work involves program development, policy advocacy, education, and administration and leadership.