FAQ: What Are the Highest-Paying Social Work Jobs?

Social workers help others overcome their hardships and improve their lives. Social work can be challenging, but it also can be a dream job if you’re driven to help people. It’s a real way to make a difference. But how much can you earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay for social workers in 2022 was $55,350—actual salaries may vary and depend on your specialty, location and employer.

Learn more about how much different kinds of social workers earn.

What Does a Social Worker Do?

Social workers help people work through challenging situations in their lives. They work in different environments including human service agencies, schools, hospitals and mental health clinics. Social workers are trained to do what’s best for the client while working a case, including:

  • Helping people apply for food stamps.
  • Finding shelter for those experiencing homelessness.
  • Seeking counseling and related services for people affected by domestic violence.
  • Counseling hospital patients who have chronic or acute illnesses.
  • Helping students who have special challenges at school.
  • Assisting social services in applying for grants.

Social workers are often the primary connections between people with a need and the government agencies or local services that offer help. Social workers usually are considered advocates for their clients.

The job description for a social worker might include:

  • Interviewing clients to assess their needs.
  • Deciding what actions are appropriate.
  • Obtaining and organizing necessary assistance.
  • Helping clients set goals.
  • Monitoring and documenting the client’s situation over time.
  • Understanding and complying with federal, state and local rules and guidelines.
  • Maintaining client confidentiality.
  • Helping clients apply for grants or other funds.
  • Compiling data into reports for analysis.

Many social workers are employed by nonprofit agencies. Some work primarily in an office, while others are out in the field. An example would be a social worker who makes home visits as a child or family services worker.

How Do I Become a Social Worker?

Earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school is the first step to becoming a social worker. Some people pursue a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), in which they focus on such topics as human behavior, cultural diversity and social welfare policy. While some employers may prefer candidates with a psychology or sociology degree, others have flexible education requirements and will consider individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline for entry-level social work jobs such as behavioral management aides, case managers and court liaisons.

A master’s degree (MSW) is required for clinical social workers. In addition, aspiring clinical social workers must complete post-master’s work in a supervised clinical situation and obtain a state license. An MSW program typically takes about two years.

Social workers must pass an examination from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) (PDF, 808 KB), which is offered in five categories (though not all categories are available in every jurisdiction): associate, bachelor’s, master’s, advanced generalist and clinical. Licensure requirements, including hours of supervised training in clinical practice, can vary by state.

How Much Do Different Kinds of Social Workers Earn?

The $55,350 median salary reported by the BLS is part of an overview of social workers employed in a range of settings from child welfare and human services agencies to health care providers and schools. Many of them work full time with some having to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

The median figure refers to the wage at the middle of all salaries in an occupation. Half of social workers are paid more, with the highest 10 percent of earners making more than $87,300, and half are paid less, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $36,600.

While social workers may perform similar tasks, their salaries can vary by field of practice. According to 2022 data from the BLS:

  • Mental health and substance-abuse social workers had a median salary of $51,240.
  • Child, family and school social workers had a median salary of $50,820.
  • Health care social workers had a median salary of $60,280.
  • All other social workers (some are in private practice) had a median salary of $61,420.

Here are other industries that employ social workers, along with their median salaries:

  • Social workers in local government, excluding education and hospitals, earned a median salary of $62,390.
  • Social workers in state government, excluding education and hospitals, earned a median salary of $52,640.
  • Social workers in individual and family services earned a median salary of $46,670.
  • Social workers in ambulatory health care services earned a median salary of $58,690.
  • Social workers in state, local and private hospitals earned a median salary of $58,690.

The BLS further breaks down social work mean, or average, salaries within health care, child/family/school, community/social service, mental health/substance abuse and human services workers:

Health care social workers, mean wage estimates in 2022

  • Community food/housing, emergency and other relief services: $46,870
  • Individual and family services: $51,660
  • Skilled nursing care facilities: $56,010
  • Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals: $59,270
  • Outpatient care centers: $66,850
  • Home health care services: $67,160
  • Other ambulatory health care services: $69,500
  • General medical and surgical hospitals: $72,980
  • Specialty hospitals (except psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals): $73,640
  • Scientific research and development services: $78,270

Child, family and school social workers, mean wage estimates in 2022:

  • Community food/housing, emergency and other relief services: $44,010
  • Residential care facilities: $44,660
  • Social advocacy organizations: $47,920
  • Individual and family services: $48,720
  • State government, excluding schools and hospitals: $54,710
  • Local government, excluding schools and hospitals: $65,380
  • Elementary and secondary schools: $67,990

Community and social services workers, median wage in 2022:

  • Social and human services assistants: $38,520
  • Rehabilitation counselors: $39,990
  • Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors: $49,710
  • Health education specialists: $59,990
  • Marriage and family therapists: $56,570
  • Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists: $59,860
  • School and career counselors: $60,140

Mental health and substance abuse social workers, mean wage estimates in 2022:

  • Community food/housing, emergency and relief services: $44,760
  • Residential mental health and substance-abuse facilities: $46,260
  • Individual and family services: $53,510
  • Outpatient care centers: $58,670
  • Psychiatric and substance-abuse hospitals: $62,320
  • Local government, excluding schools and hospitals: $65,710
  • Health practitioner offices: $75,780
  • Insurance-related roles and activities: $79,490
  • Other ambulatory services: $84,130
  • Home health care services: $88,710

Social and human services assistants, mean wage estimates in 2022:

  • Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities: $35,880
  • Other residential care facilities: $36,210
  • Community food/housing, emergency and other relief services: $37,740
  • Individual and family services: $40,120
  • State government, excluding schools and hospitals: $44,370
  • Local government, excluding schools and hospitals: $48,740
  • Grant-making and giving services: $52,870
  • Insurance carriers: $56,320

What Is the Career Outlook for Social Worker Jobs?

According to the BLS, employment in social work occupations is expected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, faster than average for all other jobs. For social workers in the health care industry, the projected growth is 10%; for those in the mental health/substance-abuse arena, the projected growth is 11%.

Here are projections for social work occupations, including additional jobs and the average percentage change:

OccupationNew jobs 2022–2032Percent increase
All social workers
53,800
7%
Child, family and school
18,900
5%
Health care
18,400
10%
Mental health/substance abuse
12,000
11%
Others
4,500
7%

Learn More About a Career in Social Work

The career of a social worker can be fulfilling, challenging and ever-changing. If you’re employed as a social worker and are seeking higher income or contemplating a career transition, consider the various work settings available to social workers and your desired salary.

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Last updated August 2023.