Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 527 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 534 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 531 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 510 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 509 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,807 | $19.62 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | $40,184 | $19.32 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $39,794 | $19.13 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $38,852 | $18.68 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $38,066 | $18.30 | +2.6% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 308 | 44% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 606 | 32% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 875 | 28% |
| 4 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 486 | 28% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 274 | 28% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,808 | 27% |
| 7 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,530 | 25% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 449 | 25% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,938 | 23% |
| 10 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,137 | 23% |
| 11 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,076 | 22% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,188 | 21% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,016 | 20% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 171 | 20% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 3,708 | 19% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,172 | 19% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 197 | 19% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,206 | 17% |
| 19 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 971 | 17% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,090 | 16% |
University of Alaska Anchorage
Siena College
Nazareth College of Rochester
Kennesaw State University
Azusa Pacific University
Butler University
University of Houston - Clear Lake
University of Alaska Anchorage
Radford University
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: For clinical positions, which is what most social workers do, daily tasks typically include conducting assessments and providing individual, family, and/or group therapy to children and/or adults, while collaborating with other providers working with the client. There is also daily clinical documentation that needs to be completed.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Social Work
Matthew Cuellar: Understanding how to use AI, balancing ethics in a changing and increasingly diverse world, and incorporating fresh and new perspectives in to old and unchanged processes within rigid climates. Respect and understanding of all voices is and will continue to be key to effective social work practice, education, and scholarship.
Dr. J. Lendrum PhD: Trust yourself and follow your passions. It is possible to find a meaningful career that aligns with your core interests and values.
Siena College
Social Sciences
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW: The beauty of the social work profession is that the skills you learn from your degree can be applied in a range of settings and populations. Depending on your interest, you could be working with children, youth, adults, older adults, or in an area of interest like domestic violence, homelessness, child welfare, gerontology. The work you do could be one-on-one, with small groups, running programs within an organization, and/or working in communities.
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: When you're looking for jobs, don't look for a forever job. Find something that seems like a good fit right now. The pressure for it to be forever is too much. Do it for as long as it feels right and move on when it doesn't. Also, remember that being a new graduate is an asset! You are more current on trends in social work, literature, and evidence-based practices than many seasoned professionals. You add value to the setting and should not minimize that by falling back on being new in the field.
Cynthia Peters MSW: It is a good profession to enter now, due to the need for social workers in some of the jobs that I mentioned in the previous question. Social Workers can provide a different perspective on service delivery. Meeting the clients where they are at; developing relationships with the community; advocating for client services; writing grants; monitoring grants; brokering services......
Cindy Snell: Be able to articulate the skills and experience you have that are relevant to the jobs you are seeking - tell your story! Learn another language than English. Negotiate your hiring terms. Learn about loan forgiveness options.
Camille Coleman: Do your research within the state and or country, and or agency you are seeking potential employment. Look up the laws, compare them to other states, don't be afraid to look at all careers within the social work field, for example research in social work gets overlooked, facilitation, curriculum development, etc. Future social workers should seek reciprocity in multiple states to practice counseling services after obtaining one's licensure, if wanting to provide therapeutic services. This will give one leverage to negotiate higher salary requests.
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: Research the going rates in your industry and ask colleagues to have a good idea. Recognize your worth and advocate for yourself during pay discussions. Highlight unique skill sets that may be valuable to the agency. Provide free education nights to benefit the community, potentially leading to clients. Find a niche population you enjoy working with and market your services specifically to this area.
Andrew Schoolnik: Dialogue and compromise. There are many apparatuses in today's society which are designed to pull people apart. Cable news and online news sites are famous examples of this. Add to this the echo chambers of social media where people largely associate with like-minded people while looking negatively at those with a different world view. This silo-ing of society is the antithesis of dialogue and compromise. Instead, it creates a class system of those who agree (the favored class) and those who disagree (the unfavored class).
On a macro level, the more the social worker dialogues with all stakeholders (those in favor and those opposed) the more that person gains knowledge and goodwill. This is at the heart of compromise - winning being defined as doing the most good for the most people.
On a clinical level, social workers work mutually with their clients. Learning about a client's values begins with dialogue (even when our values are different) and creating treatment plans is often-based on compromise (agency policy/goals, and client goals).
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: My advice to new graduates would be three-fold: First, take everything in stride. You cannot know what you do not know so do not feel embarrassed or incompetent if there is knowledge you are lacking. Most education in human service truly is acquired on the job. Never be afraid to ask questions and never let anyone make you feel inferior for needing to ask a question. Remember, you are working with human lives and therefore you would much rather ask the question and be safe than hurt someone. Second, work to separate work and personal life. It is so easy to come out of school and into the human profession field and want to fix everyone and everything. This is wonderful but also remember that your job is not your entire identity. There has to be some boundaries and separation, or burnout will be inevitable. Lastly, remember that your attitude dictates your experience. If you approach your work with kindness, gratitude, openness, and dedication it will take you so much farther in life. Challenging patients/clients are usually those who need help the most, so extend them a little extra kindness and grace. Your boss has a job to do, just like you, so ensure you stand up for what you need but also remember that them doing their job is not a personal attack.
Dr. Roxanne Ruiz-Adams: Embarking on a career in social work demands a commitment to embrace lifelong learning, as the field is constantly evolving with new challenges and methodologies. It's essential to continuously update your knowledge through workshops, conferences, and further education to remain relevant and effective. Equally important is the cultivation of empathy and resilience, which allows you to connect deeply with clients while navigating the emotional and psychological demands of the job, ensuring a balance between compassion and self-care. Networking and collaborating with other professionals, both within and outside the field of social work, opens up new perspectives, resources, and opportunities for professional growth. Advocacy for social justice is a cornerstone of social work, pushing for broader social changes and addressing systemic issues that affect clients. Lastly, regular reflection on your practice is crucial for personal and professional development, allowing you to seek feedback and be open to constructive criticism, thereby enhancing your skills and effectiveness
Candace Riddley: To ensure that salary potential is maximized in the field of social work, it is imperative that certifications/licenses in the field are obtained, resumes are clean and reflect true experiences, and effective communication is shown. It is also very important that candidates for any position have a quality that sticks out from other potential candidates. This could encompass great leadership skills, verbal skills, or a combination of both.
Candace Riddley: I would encourage a beginning graduate to find a mentor who works in the field of social work. Mentorship is a great way for social workers to enhance their skills, knowledge, and career paths. This is an opportunity to provide guidance, support, feedback, and networking opportunities. Lastly, mentorship provides the opportunity to discuss job-related issues, career concerns, licensure, and challenges within the field. Mentorship is a great way to help graduates grow personally and professionally.
Jeffrey Bryant MSW, LCSW: Social Work is one of the fastest-growing professions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of social workers will grow 12% between now and 2030. In a Bachelor of Social Work program, we earn a generalist degree. Where the goal is to learn enough about everything in social work practice so we can make a competent referral. Therefore, being able to work with any population of people and being able to know and share all resources that this population would need. In addition, the more experience and training we receive and further education (Master of Social Work, MSW) the better we will be prepared to serve others.
Butler University
Criminal Justice And Corrections
Dr. Stephen Barnard Ph.D.: Practically all career pathways in this field imbue workers with some amount of power over others. That's a big responsibility to carry, and anyone vying for such a role should be mindful of how their work may contribute to and/or combat systemic inequalities and other disparities in the world. The better one is informed on these matters, the better equipped they will be to mitigate them in their work and in others'.
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Intercultural/Multicultural And Diversity Studies
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.
Dr. Lisa Jones Ed.D.: The best advice that I would share is that at the beginning, for some, you will not make a tremendous amount of money. This field is about the graduate becoming more reflective of their own lived experiences and personal narratives and using their agency to empower those that are not seen or heard. So, in essence, it really is not about you, or the money, but rather about supporting others on their journeys.
Alan Burkard Ph.D.: Attend to the basic employment skills likely being on time for work and meetings, being responsive to communication, develop strong oral and written communication skills, using diplomacy in communications, completing work in a timely manner, asking questions if you do not understand, and being interested in the organization. In addition to basic employment skills, learn the needs to the organization and their client populations, and then seek to contribute to addressing those needs. Finally, be open to learning from your colleagues, they typically have a wealth of knowledge, and they are often motivated to help you be successful.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Human Services
Yvonne Chase: Case management skills, along with writing and communication skills, are in demand, especially cross-cultural communication.
Radford University
Social Work
Diane Hodge MSW, Ph.D., LCSW: Number one is planning for advance training and licensure right after graduation. It takes at least two years after an MSW to obtain clinical licensure so students should not wait to get started. Unfortunately, I don't hear that there is a lot opportunity to negotiate salaries in our field so I think students need to do their homework about what is a reasonable salary in their specialty and location - and be ready to turn down low-paying offers. There are ample jobs on the market and real need so it's worth considering other offers. And of course, sell yourself! Students should use their university career center, talk to social workers and network, get references from their practicums, learn how to showcase their education, volunteer work, and practicum work on their resumes.
Devina Jani MSW, LSW, CYC-P, Certified Sport Social Worker: As you begin your career journey in social work, you must give yourself grace as you lean into the profession. As you learn more about social work through lived experience, set realistic goals and expectations for yourself and those you engage with. Start early to build in time to prioritize your well-being and for professional development. In our field, we must seek continuing education to maintain our licensure status and to ensure that we provide our clients with the best critical care needed and learn new best practices and resources. Establish support groups with your peers in social work and out, identify mentors (yes, plural!), and practice with integrity and cultural humility. You will also be on a personal discovery as you evolve into your professional self - embrace it and embrace your authentic self. Advocate, challenge, and disrupt when necessary; John Lewis said it best, "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble." It will be challenging at times, and you may have to stand alone, or it may not be popular opinion, but stay committed to making a positive difference for others. Take pride in the work that you do through your contributions and collaborations. Most importantly, do not stop reflecting on your practice; this is how you will continuously grow and garner profound critical thought and perspective in our field.