Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of social work interns that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of social work interns:
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Clinical Social Worker is the highest-paid type of social work internship with an average salary of $63,056 and an average hourly rate of $30.32.
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The second highest-paying type of social work internship is psychiatric social worker, with an average salary of $59,144.
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The average social work internship salary is $37,178 per year, and the average hourly pay is $17.87.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a social work internship, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of social work interns are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of social work interns:
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Clinical Social Worker
Average Salary: $63,056
A clinical social worker is a professional in social work, which provides help to individuals in need of improving their lives and their well-being. Clinical social workers must work with different individuals to help them address difficulties that they are trying to overcome. To perform counseling services, clinical social workers must take and pass the professional licensure examination. They also help disadvantaged individuals connect to resources and services that they may benefit from.
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Psychiatric Social Worker
Average Salary: $59,144
A psychiatric social worker specializes in providing mental health treatments and other services to patients and their families, referring them to other agencies and programs as needed. They conduct assessments and interviews to determine the condition of patients, devise specific treatment and care plans, update and maintain patient records, conduct regular counseling sessions, and monitor the progress of every patient to ensure their health and welfare. They may also provide interventions, train junior psychiatric social workers, and conduct reviews and evaluations on existing care plans.
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Medical Social Worker
Average Salary: $57,093
A medical social worker specializes in managing a patient’s health care and welfare while communicating with guardians or families, focusing on helping them cope and understand the medical conditions and situations. They are primarily responsible for assessing a patient’s condition to identify their needs, conducting interviews to gather background information regarding the patient and family, and referring any social service programs that may provide them with the assistance or help they need. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify any signs of abuse or neglect and conduct intervention procedures right away.
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Licensed Social Worker
Average Salary: $57,005
Licensed Social Workers are duly and legally recognized to carry out activities related to social work. They identify individuals or groups of people in need and assess what kind of help they require. They may assist these people in connecting to agencies that would cater to their needs. Licensed Social Workers also help people cope with their challenges. They are responsible for crafting treatment plans or well-being improvement plans for the individuals they help. They may also be called on during times of crisis to provide emotional support to the individuals involved.
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School Social Worker
Average Salary: $54,856
A school social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students’ emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various social work internship that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Social Work Interns
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for social work interns.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Social Work Internship Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid social work internship job?
The highest-paid social work internship job is a clinical social worker. Clinical Social Workers earn an average salary of $63,056, which is $ 30.32 hourly.
A clinical social worker is a professional in social work, which provides help to individuals in need of improving their lives and their well-being. Clinical social workers must work with different individuals to help them address difficulties that they are trying to overcome. To perform counseling services, clinical social workers must take and pass the professional licensure examination. They also help disadvantaged individuals connect to resources and services that they may benefit from.
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What is a good salary for a social work internship?
A good salary for a social work internship is $37,178 or more. The average social work internship salary is $37,178, so those making at least $37,178 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average social work internship salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a social work internship, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $37,178 average, as this includes all social work interns of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Social Work Internship jobs pay well?
No, social work internship jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some social work internship jobs pay better than others, but the average social work internship salary of $37,178 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many social work internship jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of social work interns earning $0 a year on average.
Social Work Interns’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a social work internship. Do your research on the going rate for a social work internship in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do social work interns get paid the most?
Social Work Interns get paid the most in Alaska. In Alaska, social work interns earn an average annual salary of $65,442 and an average hourly wage of $31.46.
Following AK, the states with the highest-paid social work interns are North Dakota, Idaho, and Washington, with average annual salaries of $53,664, $45,664, and $49,623 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid social work internship salaries are:
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Fargo, ND – $53,237
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Richmond, CA – $46,853
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Bristol, CT – $46,380
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
