6 Types of Social Workers: Career Opportunities, Salaries, And The Three Systems Of Social Work

The different types of social workers are vital to the health of communities, families, and individuals. While it can be challenging, social work can also be a highly rewarding career. If you’re considering a career in social work, it’s important to understand what types of social worker jobs are available to you.

In this article, we’ll talk about the types of social workers, as well as social work career opportunities, education, and salaries.

Key Takeaways

• Social workers advocate for people in communities and schools, as well as medical and government facilities.

• Social workers need at least an associate’s degree, but a bachelor’s or master’s degree will open up even more career opportunities.

• The three systems of social work are micro, mezzo, and macro.

What is a social worker?

Social workers are traditionally viewed as government employees who help families, communities, children, and adults through difficult life situations.

Today, though, social workers are not confined to working for government agencies. There are many different types of social workers employed in a variety of settings advocating for anyone who cannot advocate for themselves.

While they still provide the much-needed care and support for those same families, communities, and individuals, these specialized social workers can reach even further. They have opportunities to work in hospitals, schools, rehab centers, hospices, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, private practices, companies, and more.

6 types of social workers

There are several overarching types of social workers that have a variety of jobs within them. Understanding these categories will help you start down the right career path for you.

1. Child and Family Social Worker

   Average Annual Salary: $48,430

   As the name suggests, this type of social worker focuses on at-risk children and families. Social workers serving this specialty will help families and children gain access to necessary services like food and housing.

   Find Child and Family Social Worker jobs near me.

2. School Social Worker

   Average Annual Salary: $48,430

   School social workers work within school districts to help serve struggling, at-risk students. They partner with teachers and parents to help address the needs of those they advocate for.

   Find School Social Worker jobs near me.

3. Mental Health Social Worker

   Average Annual Salary: $48,720

   Social workers who choose this specialty will work with children and adults who suffer from mental, behavioral, and emotional issues. They may work with school districts, rehabilitation centers, private practices, or hospitals to serve their population.

   Find Mental Health Social Worker jobs near me.

4. Substance Abuse Social Worker

   Average Annual Salary: $48,720

   Social workers who serve this specialty will help individuals who suffer from addiction—this includes sex and gambling addictions as well.

   These types of social workers can work for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, detention centers, or on their own. They will help those they advocate to get treatment but may also help their families perform an intervention.

   Find Substance Abuse Social Worker jobs near me.

5. Healthcare Social Worker

   Average Annual Salary: $57,630

   This social work specialty is slightly different from the others. The job of a Healthcare Social Worker is to help patients dealing with significant health issues. They will help patients come to terms with difficult diagnoses, advocate for their patients with the doctors or healthcare workers, and more.

   Find Healthcare Social Worker jobs near me.

6. Social and Community Service Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $69,600

   This may be considered a non-traditional job option for social workers, but it is a common position held by those who have earned a social work degree. Social and Community Service managers will support the public well-being through programs that serve the community’s needs.

Find Social and Community Service Manager jobs near me.

Non-traditional social worker jobs

If you’ve earned a degree in social work, you are not tied to the traditional paths. There are many non-traditional career opportunities for those who have earned a BSW or MSW. In addition to the paths above, you can also become a:

• Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Disaster Social Worker

• Research Assistant

• Compliance Reviewer

• Veterans Health Administrator

• Special Victims Counselor

• Legal Mediator

• Human Resources Manager

• Case Manager

• Child Advocate

• Counselor

• Community Outreach Worker

• Guidance Counselor

• Mental Health Aide

• Probation Officer

The three systems of social work: micro, mezzo, and macro

Social work is divided into three separate systems. Connecting all three systems is the “person-in-environment” (PIE) theory. The three systems are micro, mezzo, and macro social work.

1. Micro social worker. Micro social workers tend to work with clients individually to solve problems. Typically a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), this system is all about the individual and their needs.

2. Mezzo social worker. Mezzo social workers are typically licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). This system is similar to Micro in its focus, but instead of individuals, there is an emphasis on “client systems.”

   These client systems consist of families, friends, communities, schools, etc. They still focus on the individual but involve the ”client systems” in their support.

3. Macro social worker. Macro social workers are not necessarily licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). There is less of a focus on individuals and more of a focus on the bigger picture.

   They may not necessarily work directly with those they advocate for. Instead, they use their knowledge and influence to work with local and federal governments to support their populations.

Types of jobs for social workers

The variety of options that social workers have led to a nearly infinite amount of career possibilities for those who have earned a degree in social work.

Here are some of the settings where different types of social workers can serve:

• Counseling services

• Social services

• Nursing homes or long-term care facilities

• Hospitals

• Health care

• Mental health centers

• Child welfare services

• Non-profit organizations

• School districts or universities

• Private practices

• Private companies

Different types of social workers also work with different types of clients, including:

• Infants

• Adolescents

• Families

• Couples

• At-risk adults

• The homeless population

• Those with chronic health conditions

• Geriatrics

• Terminally ill patients

• Veterans

As you decide on a career direction, you can choose an even more specific audience to work with. Victims of domestic abuse, families in poverty, children in foster care, or children with behavioral disorders are just a few examples.

Education and salaries for social workers

As with most industries, the opportunities for social workers will vary greatly based on the level of education they have completed.

Those who have earned an associate’s degree in social work can take on entry-level positions. Social workers who have earned a bachelor’s degree will have even more opportunities for advancement, but they won’t be awarded the same opportunities as someone who has earned a master’s degree or a doctorate in social work.

Most opportunities will be awarded to those who have earned a master’s degree in social work. Those holding a Master of Social Work (MSW) will have access to more specialized opportunities such as:

• Substance Abuse Social Worker

• Child and Family Social Worker

• Professor of Social Work

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counselor

• Social Work Administrator

• Mental Health Counselor

Social worker salaries

There are a number of factors that will affect the salary you can earn as a social worker, including your specialty, location, education, and industry.

1. Specialty. Each of the main specialties social workers serve will have a different average salary.

   • Healthcare Social Workers make an average of $57,630 per year

   • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make an average of $48,720 per year

   • Child, Family, and School Social Workers make an average of $48,430 per year

   • All other social workers make an average of $64,210 per year

2. Location. Your location will play a large role in the average salary. In addition to specific locations, urban areas will have higher average salaries than rural areas.

   • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers will make more in New Jersey ($91,070 average), Washington DC ($73,490 average), California ($73,150 average), and Connecticut ($66,500 average) than other states.

   • Healthcare Social Workers will make more in California ($83,000 average), Washington DC ($76,100 average), Oregon ($75,730 average), and Hawaii ($73,410 average) than other states.

   • Child, Family, and School Social Workers will make more in Washington DC ($71,840 average), New Jersey ($71,110 average), Connecticut ($68,230 average), and Rhode Island ($65,430 average) than other states.

   • All other social workers will make more in Hawaii ($85,740 average), Massachusetts ($84,540 average), Nevada ($82,410 average), and Rhode Island ($79,720 average) than other states.

3. Education. On average, those who have earned a Master of Social Work will make $13,000+ higher than those who have only earned a Bachelor of Social Work.

   Earning a Ph.D. or Doctorate of Social Work can earn you an additional $20-$25,000 per year more than a Master of Social Work on average.

4. Industry. The industry served will also play a role in average salary expectations. Top paying industries will vary by specialty:

   • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers working for insurance carriers will make the most earnings ($71,460 average), ambulatory health care services ($71,0030 average), and specialty hospitals ($70,240 average) — that is excluding psychiatric hospitals and substance abuse centers.

   • Healthcare Social Workers working for computer system design and related services will make the most earnings ($75,370 average), professional organizations ($71,330 average), and junior colleges ($69,080 average).

   • Child, Family, and School Social Workers working for professional organizations will make the most earnings ($78,280 average), junior colleges ($66,380 average), and elementary and secondary schools ($65,080 average).

   • All other social workers working for the Federal Executive Branch will make the most earnings ($82,490 average), general medical and surgical hospitals ($75,270 average), and local government ($69,520 average).

Social work job outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is a fast-growing field with a projected 9% growth over the next decade, which is significantly higher than the average 5% growth projected for all occupations. Access to technology, including health apps and telehealth visits, is a factor in that growth.

This growth rate will result in an average of 74,700 job openings for social workers every year from 2021 through 2031.

Social work skills

If you’re interested in becoming a social worker, here are some skills you’ll need to have:

• Problem-solving

• Empathy

• Assertiveness

• Communication

• Organization

• Relationship building

• Resourcefulness

• Patience

Types of social workers FAQ

1. What types of social workers are there?

   The types of social workers include:

   • Child and family social worker

   • School social worker

   • Mental health social worker

   • Substance abuse social worker

   • Healthcare social worker

   • Social and community service manager

2. What degree do most social workers have?

   Most social workers have a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree. Many also have a master of social work (MSW) degree. It’s possible to obtain some social work positions with just an associate’s degree, though, or you can work your way up to a doctorate of social work (DSW).

Author

Samantha Goddiess

Samantha is a lifelong writer who has been writing professionally for the last six years. After graduating with honors from Greensboro College with a degree in English & Communications, she went on to find work as an in-house copywriter for several companies including Costume Supercenter, and Blueprint Education.