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Job outlook for social work administrators in the United States
Are social work administrator jobs in demand?
Social work administrator job and salary trends over time
Social work administrator jobs over time
Social work administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,430 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,344 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,342 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,288 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,189 | 0.00% |
Average social work administrator salary over time
Social work administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $58,404 | $28.08 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $57,150 | $27.48 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $55,799 | $26.83 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $53,520 | $25.73 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $52,157 | $25.08 | +2.1% |
Social work administrator jobs by state
Most common states for social work administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,772 | 26% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 170 | 23% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 277 | 21% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 148 | 21% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 131 | 21% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,117 | 20% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 149 | 20% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,372 | 19% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 581 | 19% |
| 10 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 259 | 19% |
| 11 | Delaware | 961,939 | 181 | 19% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 304 | 18% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 188 | 18% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 184 | 18% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 159 | 18% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 97 | 17% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 664 | 16% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 342 | 16% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 298 | 16% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,034 | 15% |
Most common cities for social work administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $48,305 |
| 2 | Rockville | 2 | 3% | $77,856 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $78,720 |
| 4 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $55,069 |
| 5 | Alpharetta | 1 | 2% | $59,156 |
| 6 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $74,810 |
| 7 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $50,504 |
| 8 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $50,412 |
| 9 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $60,609 |
| 10 | Tallahassee | 1 | 1% | $49,086 |
| 11 | Topeka | 1 | 1% | $62,666 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $54,957 |
| 13 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $61,602 |
| 14 | Long Beach | 1 | 0% | $62,817 |
| 15 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $55,156 |
| 16 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $52,022 |
| 17 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $63,293 |
| 18 | Saint Paul | 1 | 0% | $54,380 |
Social Work Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of social work administrator experts
Virginia Wesleyan University
Siena College
Nazareth College of Rochester
Nebraska Christian College
Kennesaw State University
Azusa Pacific University
University of Alaska Anchorage
Lewis University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
University of Nevada - Reno
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
University of Illinois-Springfield
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: Most people find social work to be incredibly rewarding, knowing that you are a facilitator of positive change, whether be within an individual, organization, or at a larger community or societal level. For many, being able to help people reach their full capacity is fulfilling. The amount of documentation we must complete in clinical settings is often what is liked the least.
What will help Social Work Administrators 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 Social Work Administrators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joseph Oluwole: My general advice is to seek out administrator and professor mentors who can provide a sounding board and encouragement through the emotional roller coaster that administration can be. I cannot overstate the importance of supportive mentors to the success of a new graduate beginning as an administrator. Even the State of New Jersey, for instance, recognizes the importance of mentoring and created a formal program for new assistant principals and principals to seek support from experienced mentors under the state's New Jersey Leaders to Leaders (NJL2L) program.
Dr. Jennifer Slivka
Associate Professor of EnglishVirginia Wesleyan University
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
Dr. Jennifer Slivka: Before you graduate, complete at least one internship in the field. These internships can often lead to full-time positions, especially in the non-profit sector. The more experience you have, the more you can negotiate in terms of salary.
What will help Social Work Administrators 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.
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW
Associate Professor of Social Work, Department Chair & Program DirectorSiena College
Social Sciences
What will help Social Work Administrators 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 general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: There is a phrase that sometimes comes out in social work that we are "in it for the outcome, not for the income." This is true but also, we deserve a livable wage. I already see graduates starting at higher salaries so I think this is trending in the right direction. With that said, I think the best way to maximize salary potential is to build your resume with trainings and certifications, beyond the degree, to show that you have something extra to offer compared to another new graduate. There are so many courses available online to get certified in specific interventions.
What Social Work Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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.
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
Dr. Dexter Voisin: Social work is a diverse profession, and social workers engage in a wide variety of roles from clinicians, policy analysts, community workers, advocates, child welfare workers, mental health counselors, and many others.
What Social Work Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Dexter Voisin: There is a robust demand for social workers, and it is one of the fastest-growing professions in the country. Many states are not able to fill the growing demand for social workers to respond to the growing demand for mental health and substance abuse counselors.
What Social Work Administrator 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 will help Social Work Administrators increase their earning potential?
Cynthia Peters MSW: Social Work is a profession that can be in many places: hospital, university, government agencies, fire departments, court systems, homeless shelters, behavioral health facilities, schools, private practices, non-profit agencies, hospice care, senior programs, just to name a few. So depending on where a social workers find a job will determine what they do on a day to day basis.
Christine Kiewra
Associate Professor of PracticeNebraska Christian College
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
Christine Kiewra: The HDFS program is a flexible degree that offers the “human” element that is necessary but often missing from pre-health and pre-law tracks. The flexibility also allows for students to double major and broaden their learning outcomes.
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
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 Social Work Administrators increase their earning potential?
Camille Coleman: Organizational management is a more necessary prevalent skill due to the importance of documentation and the advancement of telehealth services. Learning multiple EHR (electronic health records) systems as well as being proactive in knowing the laws as it pertains to provide therapeutic services within multiple states.
What will help Social Work Administrators 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 a Social Work Administrator?
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 Social Work Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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).
What will help Social Work Administrators increase their earning potential?
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.
Yvonne Chase
University of Alaska Anchorage
Human Services
What Social Work Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yvonne Chase: Several Occupational Endorsement Certificates in the Human Services program focus on specialized areas (e.g., Children's Behavioral Health, Conflict Resolution, Indian Child Welfare, etc.) If a student has acquired one or more of these specialized certifications, they are a more appealing applicant for a position in that field.
Lisa Brown
Assistant ProfessorLewis University
School Counseling Program
What hard/technical skills are most important for Social Work Administrators?
Lisa Brown: Because of the prevalence of social/emotional issues within K-12, especially in the last few years, school counselors need to have assessment skills. School counselors need to identify any red flags in their students that may indicate the student is struggling. This goes beyond academics and includes aspects such as interpersonal skills and self-worth.
Similar to assessment is data analysis. The gathering of data does not stop after a student is assessed but rather is just beginning. School counselors are held accountable to demonstrate the interventions they are utilizing are working. Data is also used to secure future funds. If an intervention used within the fall resulted in little change, a school district might not allocate funds to continue to use the same program. School counselors utilize data to demonstrate how effective they are and advocate for additional resources to address social/emotional issues within their student body.
As we learned during COVID-19, school counselors need to be tech-savvy. Many students are still learning remotely or are utilizing a hybrid format. While this has been quite helpful for some students, others are falling through the cracks. School counselors have had to get creative in checking in with their students and are doing so through technology.
Sam Terrazas Ph.D.
Professor and Academic Chair Department of Social WorkThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Social Work
What hard/technical skills are most important for Social Work Administrators?
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 Social Work Administrators 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 hard/technical skills are most important for Social Work Administrators?
Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D.: Social workers often develop community-based partnerships, including partnerships with activist organizations to implement reform towards racial and social justice; advance equity policies for BIPOC and LGBTQ populations. The top technical skills that are required of a social worker to be successful include
-grant writing
-program evaluation
-writing skills
-project management
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Administrator?
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.
Pamela Teaster Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Center for GerontologyVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department of Human Development and Family
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Social Work Administrators?
Pamela Teaster Ph.D.: Possibly. Surely there is an impact on the ability of some students to be hired post-graduation. Some students who had positions lined up in the early spring found themselves without a position due to companies/academia/government halting hiring and work. This circumstance has the unfortunate effect of delaying graduates' entry into the job market and of putting them in competition with students who will be entering the job market in 2020. Students who have interests in fields that have a direct, as well as the indirect relationship to healthcare and public health, could find that their skills are in high demand, now and post-COVID.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Social Work Administrators to find work opportunities?
Pamela Teaster Ph.D.: One location in the US is likely as good as the other-as long as there are older adults in the population.
What skills will help Social Work Administrators 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.