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Job outlook for certified social workerss in health care in the United States
Are certified social workers in health care jobs in demand?
Certified social workers in health care job and salary trends over time
Certified social workers in health care jobs over time
Certified social workers in health care job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 42 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 41 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 40 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 40 | 0.00% |
Average certified social workers in health care salary over time
Certified social workers in health care salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,914 | $23.04 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | $47,182 | $22.68 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $46,725 | $22.46 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $45,619 | $21.93 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $44,696 | $21.49 | +2.6% |
Certified social workers in health care jobs by state
Most common states for certified social workerss in health care
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 398 | 57% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 381 | 44% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 318 | 42% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 207 | 36% |
| 5 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 2,049 | 34% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,822 | 33% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 438 | 33% |
| 8 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 2,216 | 32% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 294 | 31% |
| 10 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3,497 | 30% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,488 | 30% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 954 | 30% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 189 | 30% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,778 | 29% |
| 15 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 1,287 | 29% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,580 | 28% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 205 | 28% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,029 | 27% |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 1,020 | 26% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 446 | 26% |
Certified Social Workers In Health Care job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of certified social workers in health care experts
University of Houston - Clear Lake
California State University - Sacramento
Radford University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
University of Nevada - Reno
University of Illinois-Springfield
Campbellsville University
California State University Northridge
Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School
Tuskegee University
North Carolina State University
UNLV School of Social Work
Millikin University
Southern Connecticut State University
Portland State University
Oberlin College
Carthage College
Union University
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.
Professor - Multicultural EducationUniversity of Houston - Clear Lake
Intercultural/Multicultural And Diversity Studies
What general advice would you give to a Certified Social Workers In Health Care?
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.: I believe that you should not go into any career to "make money". However, you can maximize your salary potential by: * Loving what you do and expressing it through your constant professionalism. Employees do notice the small gestures and commitment to the field. * Being your authentic self. For example, if you do not know something, say so. It's okay to not know and to be vulnerable. That is how we learn. * Improving upon your skill(s) set. Seek ways to get more training, credentials, certificates, or professional development. * Being patient....you will have "character building" experiences that you should not let define you, but help you grow in the field. * Seeking out a mentor to help you navigate the field in the beginning. Later on, help others in the same manner. While trying to maximize your salary potential is a very practical goal, be mindful to guard your mental health. In most cases, salary increases involve much more work and time. If getting that salary increase requires you to sacrifice your mental health, is it really worth it? Alex, I know that my last statement may not be germane to the topic of maximizing salary potential, but I think it is extremely important. You may choose to delete it.
What will help Certified Social Workerss In Health Care increase their earning potential?
Frances Furio: I often hear students describe feeling pressure to make decisions or choose a specific path directly after graduation. As a student, I could not have predicted the many valuable directions and experiences that awaited me in my social work career. My general advice to a new graduate starting in the field is to have an open mind to the many unique and unexpected experiences that await you and remember that there are so many potential directions within social work to explore.
Diane Hodge MSW, Ph.D., LCSW
Radford University
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Certified Social Workers In Health Care?
Diane Hodge MSW, Ph.D., LCSW: I tell students to start thinking about their social work career when they are looking at their practicums. Many of our students are offered jobs through their practicum experiences, often before they graduate! Practicums are the launching pad of their career but that doesn't mean they are stuck there either. Network with colleagues, look for additional training opportunities, talk to other social workers to see how they obtained their jobs.
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.
Professor and Academic Chair Department of Social WorkThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Social Work
What soft skills should all Certified Social Workerss In Health Care possess?
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.: Social workers need to be skillful in documentation in writing case notes, assessments, and good managers of their time. Managing a client's case requires social workers to be diligent and ensure that all required documentation is completed on time and within professional standards. Social workers must also be effective communicators understanding their own power and the multiple professional roles they hold.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
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 soft skills should all Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 skills will help Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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.
Dr. Dianna Cooper
Associate ProfessorCampbellsville University
Carver School of Social Work
What skills will help Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workers In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 a Certified Social Workers In Health Care?
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.
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 Certified Social Workers In Health Care 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.
How do you envision technology impacting Certified Social Workerss In Health Care in the next 5 years?
Marde Closson: We envision technology positively impacting the field. As we were thrust into more of an online world in March, we have learned that services can still be effectively provided to clients. At some of our integrated practicum sites(which combine primary health care and behavioral health services), platforms such as Telehealth have been used even more so as the way to deliver health care services. We are sure that there will be other platforms available within the next five years, which will probably serve as cutting edge in the care of patients and clients. We might even see agencies expand their services because they can reach more people.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
Laura Burney Nissen Ph.D.: Social work remains among the fastest growing professions in the US. Given the likely trajectory of simultaneous recovery from COVID-19 in terms of health, economic recovery - and the complex and rapid real-time evolution in attention to reforming and transforming issues of structural racism in many settings - there will likely be expanding roles and opportunities for social workers.
What will be essential in this - is for social workers who are just now graduating - to realize that the practice of the profession will continue to evolve. New social workers will likely be involved in systems change and transformation in ways that may be different than they'd imagined. They may be practicing not only in traditional settings (hospitals, mental health settings) but also, potentially, in non-traditional settings (libraries or tech).
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist StudiesOberlin College
Department of Comparative American Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.: Undoubtedly, there will be an ongoing impact from the pandemic. As of now, the epidemic is far from over, so it is hard to measure precisely what the lasting effects may be. But we do know, in the United States anyway; unemployment is currently up and small, local businesses took a big hit during the shutdowns.
At the same time, we have seen a rise in remote work options. As the economy recovers, graduates may face a tightened job market. Still, they may also find new, creative roles they may not have anticipated that allow for remote work, like content writing for organizations, social media management, and other work types that can be completed with a computer and Internet access.
How do you envision technology impacting Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Certified Social Workerss In Health Care 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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
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.
What general advice would you give to a Certified Social Workers In Health Care?
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 Certified Social Workerss In Health Care in the next 3-5 years?
Virginia Schwindt: Telehealth and the internet. Suppose the Pandemic has taught us one thing, that is that we can still meet people and their needs through the online environment. In my opinion, it is not the best way, but it is a way to meet with people and to be able to assist them, rather than people sitting alone and without assistance.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Certified Social Workerss In Health Care?
Virginia Schwindt: I think that the pandemic has shown the need for social workers even more. I've seen and heard from social workers in the community how there is more need for those helping in mental health, with resources, in police departments, in children's services, to name a few. I think social workers will be in more demand now, in the pandemic, than before. Social workers are versatile, and in this world now, people need not just counseling, but so many other services that social workers offer.