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Job outlook for advocates in the United States
Advocate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected advocate job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for advocates are projected over the next decade.
Advocate salaries have increased 13% for advocates in the last 5 years.
There are over 13,459 advocates currently employed in the United States.
There are 74,970 active advocate job openings in the US.
The average advocate salary is $39,497.
Are advocate jobs in demand?
Advocate job and salary trends over time
Advocate jobs over time
Advocate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,459 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,336 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,432 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 13,059 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 12,692 | 0.00% |
Average advocate salary over time
Advocate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,497 | $18.99 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $38,508 | $18.51 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $37,069 | $17.82 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $36,378 | $17.49 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $34,939 | $16.80 | +3.2% |
Advocate jobs by state
Most common states for advocates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,926 | 28% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 222 | 17% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 119 | 16% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 104 | 15% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 867 | 14% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 145 | 14% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 905 | 12% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 680 | 12% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 124 | 12% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 215 | 11% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 142 | 11% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,302 | 10% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,224 | 10% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 692 | 10% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 560 | 10% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 86 | 10% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,781 | 9% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 840 | 9% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 325 | 9% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 57 | 9% |
Most common cities for advocates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saugus | 9 | 34% | $55,415 |
| 2 | Dracut | 8 | 27% | $54,599 |
| 3 | Danvers | 7 | 26% | $54,889 |
| 4 | Andover | 7 | 21% | $54,688 |
| 5 | Leominster | 7 | 17% | $55,553 |
| 6 | Napa | 7 | 9% | $48,830 |
| 7 | Worcester | 11 | 6% | $56,629 |
| 8 | Minneapolis | 13 | 3% | $36,851 |
| 9 | San Jose | 16 | 2% | $49,438 |
| 10 | Aurora | 8 | 2% | $37,939 |
| 11 | Phoenix | 13 | 1% | $36,642 |
| 12 | Austin | 8 | 1% | $41,350 |
| 13 | San Diego | 8 | 1% | $47,987 |
| 14 | Las Vegas | 7 | 1% | $40,736 |
| 15 | Sacramento | 7 | 1% | $47,896 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 15 | 0% | $48,235 |
| 17 | Chicago | 8 | 0% | $44,701 |
| 18 | Houston | 8 | 0% | $41,834 |
Advocate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of advocate experts
The University of Texas Permian Basin
University of Nevada - Reno
University of Illinois-Springfield
Northern Kentucky University
Campbellsville University
California State University Northridge
University of New Orleans
Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School
Tuskegee University
North Carolina State University
NYU Silver School of Social Work
Millikin University
Southern Connecticut State University
Portland State University
Oberlin College
Vanguard University
Angelo State University
Carthage College
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.
Professor and Academic Chair Department of Social WorkThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Social Work
What skills stand out on Advocate resumes?
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.: Social work is a profession rooted in professional ethics and requires a wide range of skills that vary depending upon the role a social worker holds in an organization. In general, social work skills that stand out on a resume are skills gained through specialized training and certifications, skills in culturally responsive practice, proficiency in languages, and skills in assessment and evaluation.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Advocates?
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.: Social workers practice in various areas of practice and organizational auspices that may differ in the hard/technical skills that are most important. In general, the hard/technical skills most important can be categorized based on the level of education-BSW (Bachelors of Social Work) versus MSW (Masters of Social Work).
BSW's practice in a range of organizations providing various types of services; however, in general practice in the realm of case management that requires that ability to demonstrate cultural responsiveness, develop an alliance with clients, apply NASW and a state's ethics and professional standards of practice, conduct assessments, and to develop plans to meet a client's goals.
MSW's practice in many areas such as administration, clinical, public policy and advocacy, child welfare, public safety, and health care. Each of these practice areas requires specific technical skills; however, in general, MSW's are trained to assess individuals, families, groups, and communities. To that end, MSW's must understand the cultural context and how socio/economic local, state, federal policies impact social welfare problems such as poverty, intimate partner violence, and mental illness. MSW's must possess strong engagement skills/therapeutic alliance-building, diagnostic/evaluation skills, ethical application of interventions and therapeutic approaches, and advocacy skills.
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.
Associate DeanUniversity of Nevada - Reno
School of Social Work
What skills stand out on Advocate resumes?
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.: Social workers are at the forefront of providing health and mental health services in the nation. There are many specializations that social workers can work in, and the skills that stand out on a resume are dependent on the type of social worker. For example, for a clinician, some top skills to include would be:
-clinical experience (therapeutic skills)
-ability to work with individuals, families, and groups from different ethnicities and backgrounds.
-case management
-resource management
-advocacy
-documentation
What soft skills should all Advocates possess?
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.: Social workers need to be prepared to work in integrated health and multidisciplinary settings and act as change agents across systems of care. They work with various communities and people, and therefore soft skills are very important to their success. Some of the most important soft skills include:
-Teamwork. ...
-Communication Skills
-Problem-Solving Skills
-Ethics
-Flexibility/Adaptability
-Leadership skills
What soft skills should all Advocates possess?
Youngjin Kang Ph.D.: I believe that interpersonal skills (e.g., communication) are the most important skills. Human services professionals work with people from diverse backgrounds. They play an important role in the lives of those in need, between parties (e.g., court systems and agency), and make positive changes in a broader context as an advocate. To be able to do so, communication skills are essential. These skills include but are not limited to active listening, responding with influence, showing empathy and respect, knowing how to say no when there are boundaries, expressing the needs of the client in a professional manner, sending and responding to emails in a professional manner, using various communication methods properly, and using both verbal and nonverbal languages appropriately.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Advocates?
Youngjin Kang Ph.D.: There are so many to name given that human services professionals should be versatile, but if I have to pick one, I would say assessment skills. One of the important tasks that human services professionals take on is to help their client's needs be met. If you don't know how to accurately assess the client's needs, how can you help them effectively? How can you help meet their needs? Based on the accurate and thorough assessment, human services professionals are able to develop treatment plans and implement best practices in the field.
What skills will help Advocates earn the most?
Youngjin Kang Ph.D.: Self-care skills. It is imperative for human services professionals to practice self-care regularly. Human services jobs are emotionally and physically draining and challenging, although they are rewarding. If you do not know how to take care of yourself and your needs, how can you take care of others? If you do not practice self-care regularly, you are likely to experience burnout - no resilience to go back to your highest ability to help others. Many helping professionals put their client's needs first and neglect their needs, but in the long run, this is not a smart thing to do.
Katherina Nikzad-Terhune Ph.D.
Associate Professor, MSW Program Director, School of Social WorkNorthern Kentucky University
College of Health and Human Services
What soft skills should all Advocates possess?
Katherina Nikzad-Terhune Ph.D.: Regarding soft skills, we look for skills that are essential foundational skills within the profession. These include empathy, active listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, to name a few. These are essential for effective alliance-building with our clients and for making unbiased and ethical decisions. As social workers, we are often in the business of communication. Rarely do we work in isolation, as much of our work involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and individuals in other professional domains. As such, effective communication, organization, time management, and collaborative skills are necessary.
Dr. Dianna Cooper
Associate ProfessorCampbellsville University
Carver School of Social Work
What skills will help Advocates earn the most?
Dr. Dianna Cooper: Individuals who complete a master's degree in social work (MSW) are likely to earn higher pay than individuals with a bachelor's degree (BSW). MSWs are also desirable in many settings, including hospitals and medical settings, schools, mental health counseling centers, police departments, probation offices, in-home therapeutic service agencies, and private practice. Most states now require social workers to be licensed. MSWs who want to bill insurances for direct service to clients must be licensed at the clinic level where they practice to credential with insurance companies.
Alejandra Acuna Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorCalifornia State University Northridge
Department of Social Work
What experience really stands out on Advocate resumes?
Alejandra Acuna Ph.D.: Experience is valued in social work. Taking advantage of opportunities like internships and volunteer work is smart. Training and certification in an evidence-based program/practice (EBP), curricula, or intervention is a plus, although if there is a particular EBP used by a hiring agency, the agency usually pays for the time and cost of the training once a social worker is hired. Any additional skills relevant to the specific job- software skills, electronic recordkeeping, language proficiency - are worthy of highlighting in a resume. Grant writing skills also add value to resumes.
The reason most industries advertise with the statement, "will train the right person" is that we know (based on research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center) that interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skills (so-called "soft skills") make up 85% of job success and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge. Interpersonal skills can probably be highlighted best in the cover letter and in the interview. Show up and let them see who you are - your warm, authentic, and empathic essence.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Advocates?
Alejandra Acuna Ph.D.: The coronavirus epidemic completely changed the work environment for social workers. While some were considered essential workers and continued in-person services, most had to shift to virtual services and become proficient in various online platforms as well as understand and work within the legal and ethical parameters surrounding telehealth (that is, the provision of health/mental health services remotely employing telecommunications technology). Further, building trusting relationships and creating caring communities is what social workers do and are the foundation of providing quality services, so finding creative ways to remotely connect to clients - individuals, families, groups, and communities - has been paramount.
Social workers are trained to create trauma- and resilience-informed systems (e.g., an organizational culture, structure, and treatment framework built on understanding, recognizing, and responding to all kinds of trauma) and practices (e.g., safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, and empowerment). Now more than ever, these skills are valuable since everyone has been impacted by the double pandemic of racial discrimination amid coronavirus disease. The opportunity in this crisis is that we are moving away from pre-contemplation ("not thinking about it") and contemplation ("thinking about it") to preparation ("planning to make change") and action ("taking steps to make change"). These are exciting steps forward based on the Transtheoretical Model of Change (stages of change). While managing these stages, we can anticipate the stages that come later, which are maintenance ("maintaining the change") and relapse ("falling back into former patterns of behavior").
It is evident that front-line workers, like social workers, are intensely impacted by consistently responding to clients and patients who are affected by trauma. Building resilience is critical at the individual, family, community, institutional, and professional levels. We all need it now. Social work is sustainable in that our efforts to care for others are balanced with caring for ourselves, where no one is neglected or left behind.
What will help Advocates increase their earning potential?
Christopher Todd Belser Ph.D.: In many states and districts, school counselor salaries are based on a set pay scale, so earning potential is more tied to getting a school counseling job and keeping that job. New graduates often face the dreaded critique of lacking work experience as compared to more seasoned job candidates. However, newer graduates are also more likely to have been trained to design and deliver multi-tiered interventions and more trained on how to utilize school data to drive school counseling programming. Job candidates looking to stand out will need to be able to concretely discuss how their training will help solve issues that the school is facing, which does involve doing a bit of research on the school to which one is applying. Additionally, graduates need to recognize the importance of ongoing professional development--trainings, workshops, and certifications that equip school counselors to address unique circumstances of the school can only increase a person's effectiveness and longevity as a school counselor. Although grants and other external funding typically don't increase salaries for school counselors, these funding opportunities can help purchase evidence-based programs, support interventions, and buy other necessary materials that can make a school counselor's work a little bit easier. Lastly, school counselors can consider pursuing a doctorate degree in a related field (e.g., counselor education and supervision, educational leadership) to enhance their skills and expertise, open doors for new work opportunities and promotions, and possibly move them up on a pay scale.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Advocates to find work opportunities?
Dr. Kurt Miller: What is exciting about the profession of social work is that they can be found in all countries. They work in rural and urban settings. They advocate in public, private, and non-profit organizations. They engage all types of communities. They collaborate with many other professionals. Rather than considering a specific locale for job opportunities, it is crucial to consider how social workers respond to all social contexts. Social workers are needed everywhere.
What are the best companies to work for an Advocate?
Dr. April Jones: The feedback from business leaders is that they wish to see a balanced mix of new graduates' skills. An unexpected gift mentioned is the ability to use spreadsheets, such as Excel. Companies do not expect to train new employees to use spreadsheets, though it turned out that spreadsheets are widely used (at varying levels of complexity) at all levels in organizations. An assumption here is that if a graduate already has good spreadsheet skills, then the graduate should also have the ability to quickly pick up on other, more complex business IT skills required by the organization.
Businesses also need to know if their new employees can effectively interact with internal or external audiences. In this regard, excellent presentation skills are the minimum expectation from businesses. Presentation skills (both formal and informal) include the ability to read people, communicate, and convey information appropriately to the different types of audiences they may encounter - and these may sometimes include bored, skeptical, adversarial, or even hostile audiences.
Every organization also requires graduates to show that they are good team-players. In addition to that, it is a significant advantage if graduates can also demonstrate good leadership skills in the context of teamwork. This is because new employees with leadership potential are viewed as those who are willing to go the extra mile, able to function with minimum supervision, can roll with the punches to jump back into the fray, and trusted to welcome (instead of to avoid) new assignments or challenges. Leadership skills are also seen as closely aligned with the possession of a corporate entrepreneurial mindset. Such employees are more willing to challenge the status quo, come up with out-of-the-box ideas, and help lead transformation efforts to guide the organization in the future.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Advocates to find work opportunities?
Dr. April Jones: Large organizations will likely continue to invest in data-mining efforts to understand their supply chain dynamics better. Smaller companies (defined as those with reduced access to funding) will probably make increased use of cloud computing applications to remain competitive. Governments, verification, or certification organizations may invest in blockchain technologies to reliably track sources or destinations of goods.
Dr. Karen Bullock Ph.D.
Professor and HeadNorth Carolina State University
School of Social Work
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Advocate job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Karen Bullock Ph.D.: Healthcare jobs, which includes mental health practitioners, are in high demand during the pandemic. However, this trend is not a new phenomenon. COVID19 has illuminated the stark reality that social work, as a profession, contributes skilled, well-credentialed, and highly educated individuals to work effectively across health, human services, and educational settings to meet the needs of people who may be vulnerable to psycho-social, economic, political, and environmental factors that are determinants of health outcomes. Since the pandemic, it has become abundantly clear that social workers are essential in the health arena to enhance human well-being and to meet the basic to complex needs of our diverse population of individuals, families, and communities that are struggling in the wake of the pandemic, and the absence of a cure or vaccine.
Benjamin Sher
DirectorNYU Silver School of Social Work
Office of Global and Lifelong Learning
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Advocates?
Benjamin Sher: From my perspective as Director of NYU Silver's Office of Global and Lifelong Learning and former President of NASW-NYC, I would say absolutely. NASW National has pushed for professional social workers to be recognized as front-line workers. This does, unfortunately, differentiate PSW a bit from essential workers (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals). However, we have been and will continue to be a key part of the pandemic. There is more of a need for social workers as we see the emotional and social impacts of the virus on people. Professional social workers are the largest provider of mental health services in the country, and we are needed now more than ever.
The inequities in health care that the virus has exposed in our society has also made it essential for social workers to be a part of the solution to the social determinants of health and health disparities. Social Workers, trained in using a systems analysis and person-in-environment perspective, are key to grasping the pandemic problem as a public health issue, and we are very effective at organizing and addressing multiple biological-psychological-social-environmental-justice-spiritual needs for people and communities impacted by the virus. Many schools of social work have been outreached by their local governments to support the contract tracing efforts needed for widespread testing. This happened in both NY and NJ, and NASW-NYC advocated with NY State leadership to hire graduating students and MSW interns as contact tracers. An Op-Ed in City Limits was written on it.
Also - as that many community-based organizations have transitioned to telehealth and tele-mental health services and continue to remain so even as certain parts of the tri-state area are opening up, students who have had internship experience in this model will be very attractive graduating candidates this year.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Advocates?
Mary Garrison: I do think that COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on graduates both psychologically and economically. Graduates this year are experiencing a year like no other - not only is their senior year and graduation experiences altered, but the opportunities ahead are very different from in the past. Due to COVID-19, how "we do business" is different and therefore challenges both agencies/non-profits as well as those looking for their first professional job. There is a great need for front line work to be accomplished, COVID-19, or not. Graduates need to be open, flexible, and take on the challenge of what opportunities come their way.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Advocates to find work opportunities?
Mary Garrison: Social work and human service employment opportunities are available across our nation. Opportunities are available across our nation in large or small cities. Specifically, rural areas are in SIGNIFICANT need of helping professionals, so those areas may provide incentives to encourage graduates to apply for opportunities.
How do you envision technology impacting Advocates in the next 5 years?
Mary Garrison: Technology is here, and we have known that the role of technology has a place in the work we do. COVID-19 has forced us to implement technology in ways that we were not comfortable in doing so across the social work profession...we were thinking about it, listening, but not ready to jump in as a profession. COVID-19 forced us to do just that. All of the technology that is available offers an opportunity for connection, support, and healing, and as we move forward. We must understand how those seeking treatment have to be best served on an individual and group basis.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Advocates to find work opportunities?
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella: Social workers are needed everywhere -- from rural settings to small towns, to large cities. Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S.
How do you envision technology impacting Advocates in the next 5 years?
Laura Burney Nissen Ph.D.: I see the ongoing rapid evolution of technology - and ongoing power struggles about the ethics of this development and deployment. Between smart cities, the internet of things, biotech, and blockchain (as examples), technological proliferation is ubiquitous. Some describe that a "tech solutionist" bias is in full swing - and concerningly - that racial bias is too often embedded in these technologies.
This isn't meant to impede true progress or modernization per se, but rather to simply assure that the future is democratized and equity is centered. Numerous really important questions linger. Who decides how technology should be part of modern life? Who provides oversight and ethical grounding? How does technology potentially help (and it can) address some of the social challenges ahead, and how might it exacerbate them? How will human rights, equity, and social justice concerns be identified and addressed? These are spaces where social workers of the future can probably make vital contributions.
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist StudiesOberlin College
Department of Comparative American Studies
How do you envision technology impacting Advocates in the next 5 years?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.: I think technology will continue to have a growing impact on these fields and the careers made possible. I've already mentioned the rise of remote work possibilities, and technology is a massive part of what makes communication, meetings, and workflow happen from anywhere in the world. Technology has not only reshaped how we do work but also the kinds of work people do, including everything from web design to social media to web content and blog writing to public relations management of a company or organization's virtual image.
The critical skills developed while completing a degree in ethnic studies, critical race, or gender studies are essential pieces of a graduate's skillset. These fields instill a fundamental approach to representation, politics, inequity, and its impact on disenfranchised communities. These are the skills that many companies and organizations of today need in their organizational ethos and marketing content.
With the growth of a digital world that lends itself to a purportedly more democratic platform for voice and representation, these critical skills are that much more in demand. I think we will continue to see the growth of jobs made possible through increasing technological development. At the same time, screen exhaustion is real, and I hope that we can strike more of a balance in our digital lives as the pandemic eases.
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic TheologyVanguard University
Religion, Undergraduate Religion
What general advice would you give to an Advocate?
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.: Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Advocates in the next 3-5 years?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.
What general advice would you give to an Advocate?
Debra Minsky-Kelly: I think there are two critical skills for social workers, whether they are first entering the workforce or seasoned professionals. These skills are humility and an appreciation for ambiguity in our work. A humble approach to our work empowers clients to become experts on their circumstances. Social workers are then positioned in a collaborative role to help clients use existing skills and resources to improve their situations. An appreciation for ambiguity is closely related to the idea of humility. It helps us to remember that practice situations we face in this field are often far more complicated than they appear on the surface. Thus, all social workers need to make a strong commitment to lifelong learning and ongoing consultation with colleagues to ensure that multiple perspectives are included as we work to solve complex problems.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Advocates in the next 3-5 years?
Debra Minsky-Kelly: We have certainly learned a lot about remote service delivery options and ways in which these tools can make services more accessible to some clients and communities. However, I also think we have learned that connecting via technology has limitations. The power of in-person human connection is reliable, and this can often not be replicated via technology. I believe that technology has an important role to play in service delivery. Still, social workers also need to recognize the importance of keeping clients connected to their natural support networks. During periods of distress, healthy and connected relationships provide an essential buffering effect on the long term effects of trauma.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Advocates?
Debra Minsky-Kelly: I believe that the pandemic has reinforced the core social work skill of adapting to unexpected situations. We have all learned that vulnerable populations are at particular risk in times of national crisis. The importance of a social safety net and a well-trained social work profession is more critical than ever. I believe that social workers will remain at the forefront of effective community responses to the pandemic's health, mental health, and economic impacts for years to come.