Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for outreach workers in the United States
Outreach worker job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected outreach worker job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for outreach workers are projected over the next decade.
Outreach worker salaries have increased 13% for outreach workers in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,095 outreach workers currently employed in the United States.
There are 65,822 active outreach worker job openings in the US.
The average outreach worker salary is $37,639.
Are outreach worker jobs in demand?
Outreach worker job and salary trends over time
Outreach worker jobs over time
Outreach worker job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,095 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,974 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 10,071 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 9,703 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 9,452 | 0.00% |
Average outreach worker salary over time
Outreach worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,639 | $18.10 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $36,696 | $17.64 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $35,325 | $16.98 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $34,666 | $16.67 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $33,295 | $16.01 | +3.2% |
Outreach worker jobs by state
Most common states for outreach workers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 197 | 28% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 198 | 23% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,441 | 21% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 405 | 21% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,484 | 20% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,599 | 19% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 769 | 19% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,026 | 18% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 572 | 18% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,741 | 17% |
| 11 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,158 | 17% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,027 | 17% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 346 | 17% |
| 14 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 290 | 17% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 161 | 17% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 290 | 16% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,572 | 15% |
| 18 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 759 | 15% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 549 | 15% |
| 20 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,724 | 14% |
Most common cities for outreach workers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | 1 | 4% | $41,036 |
| 2 | Leominster | 1 | 2% | $41,110 |
| 3 | New Haven | 1 | 1% | $42,060 |
| 4 | Santa Monica | 1 | 1% | $47,324 |
| 5 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $49,178 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $38,219 |
| 7 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $46,412 |
| 8 | Santa Ana | 1 | 0% | $47,038 |
Outreach Worker job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of outreach worker experts
Ohio University
Colorado State University - Pueblo
College of Saint Scholastica
University of Indianapolis
Pennsylvania State University
Siena College
Azusa Pacific University
University of Houston - Downtown
The University of Texas Permian Basin
University of Nevada - Reno
University of Illinois-Springfield
Pennsylvania State University
Campbellsville University
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
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.
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Shadik: Social workers are involved in helping individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in a variety of ways. Depending on the specific job, they may provide education, mediate conflict, connect individuals and families to resources, provide therapeutic intervention, and/or develop policies to help at an individual or national level.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Worker?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Challenges social workers can face are high caseloads, not enough resources to assist clients and exposure to horrific aspects of humanity. Social workers enjoy being a part of the change process by recognizing the strengths and resiliency of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Workers advocate for individuals that are marginalized and oppressed, ensuring they have a voice. They enjoy looking at solutions to problems and empowering others to make changes beneficial for their lives.
What Outreach Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nancy Kelley PhD: Probably the first piece of advice I would give to graduates beginning their social work career is to keep an open mind-- one never knows what life might bring, so opportunities may arise that you weren't expecting. Every professional encounter provides an opportunity for experience and professional development that will inevitably advance one's career. Secondly, every professional experience, whether positive or negative, has take-aways and lessons learned so be prepared to find the silver lining in all you do. Third, don't give up; persistence and patience usually pays off in the long run when you are committed to a cause. Sometimes social workers undertake a lot of trial-and-error before successfully accomplishing our goals. Fourth, be sure to practice self-care; we cannot help other people if we do not care for ourselves first. We need to be able to 'practice what we preach,' so to speak, and give ourselves permission to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed. Lastly, remember that cultural competency is a life-long, career-long process. In order to expand our cultural competency, we need to continuously practice cultural humility when interfacing with diversity in all of its forms by embracing lifelong learning and self-reflection, mitigating power imbalances, and aspiring for institutional accountability.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Worker?
Dr. Michele Sneed DSW, LGSW: Social work is known for its versatility. The day-to-day activities can greatly vary depending on the work setting. Certain core responsibilities can be identified among social workers across various contexts. These include things such as; conducting assessments, advocating for clients' rights and needs, offering support and counseling, engaging in community outreach efforts, and documentation, among other duties. Although tasks may differ, the fundamental aspects of social work underscore the profession's commitment to promoting well-being, social justice, and empowerment for individuals and communities.
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michele Sneed DSW, LGSW: The concern frequently voiced by social workers is the documentation aspect of their work. While acknowledging its crucial role in accountability and transparency, social workers often find documentation to be time-consuming and tedious. This stems from the perception that excessive time spent on paperwork detracts from the meaningful interactions they could be having with the individuals and communities they serve.
What Outreach Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Being empathetic will enhance your ability to connect with clients, while resilience will help you manage emotional stress effectively. Fostering a lens of cultural humility will serve as a conduit to success and effectiveness.
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
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.
What Outreach Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
James Andrews LCSW, LICSW, BCD: It is always dangerous to attempt to predict the future; even as little as 3-5 years. However, there are a few skills sets and knowledge areas I would recommend new graduates consciously focus upon for development. First and foremost, I would identify digital literacy and cybersecurity knowledge as critical over the next five years. The recent pandemic had at least one positive outcome: it accelerated and propelled society’s acceptance of virtual platforms and environments across multiple industries. And social work is no exception. Developing proficiency with digital tools and platforms including an understanding of cybersecurity, social media and telehealth technologies will be critical for new social workers. It may surprise some folks to hear this, but such proficiency extends to data analysis and interpretation. I’m not saying social workers need to learn computer programming. However, the rapid emergence of various types of artificial intelligence to assist and enhance people’s ability to analyze and make sense of data will only become increasingly important. Skills and knowledge in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence as they apply to clinical services will be highly sought after. Another area I see as becoming increasingly important over the next five years is the cultivation of interdisciplinary knowledge and practice. The combining of expertise from multiple fields can lead to innovative solutions. This involves one’s own knowledge as well as the ability to foster cross-disciplinary relationships and collaborations. For example, knowledge in both technology and business management can give one an edge in pursuing leadership roles that require strategic decision-making.
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW
Associate Professor of Social Work, Department Chair & Program DirectorSiena College
Social Sciences
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
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.
What Outreach Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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......
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Worker?
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.
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
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.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Worker?
Andrew Schoolnik: Saying 'yes' to as many challenges and tasks as possible. The accumulation of these experiences will create new opportunities and the cumulation of myriad opportunities is central to career advancement. The 2021 revision to the Social Work Code of Ethics includes the importance of self-care, and saying 'yes' must be balanced with this.
What Outreach Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: Never take the first salary offer but also do not get hung up on salary right out of the gate. Remember that helping professions are about more than money. Take every single continuing education and training opportunity that comes your way or that you can find. Training and becoming a master at your craft is how you increase your salary most productively!
Carolyn Gascoigne
Professor of French and HumanitiesUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Worker?
Carolyn Gascoigne: Nonprofit coordinators are often involved with planning and organizing public outreach activities.
What will help Outreach Workers increase their earning potential?
Carolyn Gascoigne: Nonprofit coordinators are often involved with planning and organizing public outreach activities.
What Outreach Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carolyn Gascoigne: Example A: Nonprofit coordinators are often involved with planning and organizing public outreach activities. This is a good profession to enter as international companies are increasingly looking to hire individuals to help them better understand and connect to their international markets. People who enjoy travel and interacting with others, and who are self-starters, tend to enjoy this field. It may be challenging otherwise.
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 Outreach Worker 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 soft skills should all Outreach Workers 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 Outreach Workers?
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 Outreach Workers 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 general advice would you give to an Outreach Worker?
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.: A master's degree in social work maximizes the potential of social workers salaries and their level of expertise to provide needed services. Programs offered by CSWE accredited programs like the University of Nevada Reno, School of Social Work can maximize the potential of a social worker's career.
What skills stand out on Outreach Worker resumes?
Youngjin Kang Ph.D.: In general, I think there are three things that will help job seekers in the field stand out on their resume, including (1) experiences, (2) practical skills, and (3) flexibility. First, let's talk about the experience. As a helping professional, your experience in the field helps you deal with a challenging situation smoothly. There are many unexpected situations where you do not know what to do. Such situations commonly occur in the field as working with your clients (e.g., your client talks about suicidal ideation). You can't experience everything, particularly if you are a student, but both direct and indirect experiences will benefit you. Direct experiences may be gained through previous jobs and internships while pursuing a degree. Indirect experiences may be gained through learning from co-workers, interacting with classmates who are already in the field, and reading and learning while in your degree program. Second, practical skills are important in many ways. Human services professionals' tasks vary by what agency they work for and clients they work with. To be able to complete given tasks, practical skills are helpful; they are not necessarily fancy or difficult-to-achieve, but something that can be practiced and gained if willing to learn. For example, they include but are not limited to documentation, computer skills (e.g., setting up online sessions), knowledge about professional ethics, assessment and intervention, communication skills, referral skills, and knowledge about resources in the communities. Finally, flexibility may help you survive in the field. For example, Covid-19 circumstances, as you may already know, have brought many unprecedented changes and challenges in our lives and the field. Many case workers in the field have been meeting their clients online, and ways of helping their clients had to be changed due to the ongoing pandemic. These changes occurred so quickly, which requires helping professionals in the field to find ways of meeting their client's needs as quickly as possible. In such situations, if helping professionals are not flexible, they would not be able to effectively assist their clients.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Outreach Workers?
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 Outreach Workers 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.
Jessica Clontz
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Program Coordinator, HDFSPennsylvania State University
Human Development and Family Studies Department
What skills stand out on Outreach Worker resumes?
Jessica Clontz: The skills employers are looking for include teamwork, leadership, creativity, and flexibility. Although many agencies have moved to a remote service delivery model, professionals are still working as a team to meet client needs effectively. Employers want leaders who are not afraid to take on responsibility and communicate assertively. Working in human services requires you to think on your feet... a lot! Being creative will allow you to meet clients where they are instead of where you want them to be. The pandemic has made flexibility a necessary skill for all human service professionals. Schedules and activities can change at a moment's notice; therefore, you must be able to quickly adapt.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Outreach Workers?
Jessica Clontz: The pandemic forced us to redesign service delivery; therefore, professionals will need to demonstrate proficiency in tech skills such as setting up and hosting a teleconference, helping clients navigate online services, and leveraging social media for your agency. Although marketing on social media is not usually what professionals in the human services field expect to be doing, it is a necessary component among thriving organizations. Cultivating an engaging presence on social media and other platforms helps reach more people who may be in need of your services.
What skills will help Outreach Workers earn the most?
Jessica Clontz: The ones you continue to strengthen and grow.
Dr. Dianna Cooper
Associate ProfessorCampbellsville University
Carver School of Social Work
What hard/technical skills are most important for Outreach Workers?
Dr. Dianna Cooper: Hard or technical skills are most likely to occur in the stages of assessing, planning, intervening, and evaluating change theory. Social workers are trained to gather lots of information and then analyze strengths and needs. Social workers present their assessments to clients and work together to create goals and the steps that reach goals when executed. The process involves using the client's vision of what "better" looks like. Social workers then use evidence-based techniques to move the client toward the goal and define measures to know when the goal is met. The technical skills used in this process include analyzing many types of information repeatedly, knowing what resources exist and how to refer, knowing how to design effective goals and steps to achieve goals, researching current evidence-based practices, defining and measuring progress, and setting limits and timeframes.
What skills will help Outreach Workers 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.