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Job outlook for social work associates in the United States
Social work associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected social work associate job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for social work associates are projected over the next decade.
Social work associate salaries have increased 13% for social work associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 13,855 social work associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 88,498 active social work associate job openings in the US.
The average social work associate salary is $43,497.
Are social work associate jobs in demand?
Social work associate job and salary trends over time
Social work associate jobs over time
Social work associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,855 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,908 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 14,066 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 13,643 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 13,358 | 0.00% |
Average social work associate salary over time
Social work associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,497 | $20.91 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $42,408 | $20.39 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $40,824 | $19.63 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $40,062 | $19.26 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $38,477 | $18.50 | +3.2% |
Social work associate jobs by state
Most common states for social work associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,769 | 40% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 347 | 26% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 167 | 23% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 150 | 22% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 191 | 18% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,043 | 17% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,074 | 15% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 201 | 15% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 163 | 15% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 94 | 15% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 772 | 14% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 275 | 14% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 138 | 14% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 712 | 13% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 453 | 13% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 97 | 13% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 74 | 13% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 500 | 12% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 246 | 12% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 208 | 12% |
Most common cities for social work associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol | 1 | 2% | $48,526 |
| 2 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $37,861 |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa | 1 | 1% | $37,217 |
| 4 | Charlotte | 3 | 0% | $50,173 |
| 5 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $37,050 |
| 6 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $56,785 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu | 1 | 0% | $43,261 |
Social Work Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of social work associate experts
Campbellsville University
Nazareth College of Rochester
Kennesaw State University
Azusa Pacific University
University of Alaska Anchorage
Fairfield University
California State University - Sacramento
Radford University
Idaho State University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
University of Nevada - Reno
University of Illinois-Springfield
What will help Social Work Associates 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.
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW
Associate Professor of Social WorkCampbellsville University
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: Social Work is a very large field; therefore, the practice of Social Work varies greatly depending on which field you enter. Overall, nearly all areas of Social Work include working with individuals who are facing some form of crisis or life challenge. Social Workers work to assist in providing education, assistance and most importantly empowerment. Social Workers are trained professionals who work from a set of ethics that govern their professional standards to respect, empathize and value all individuals. Most all Social Workers enter the professional because they feel called to assist and make a difference in the life of others.
What Social Work Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: The best thing about being a Social Worker is the ability to serve, assist and empower other individuals who are facing challenges within their life. Although this can be very overwhelming, at times the rewards this can provide, and self-fulfillment is hard to put into words. One of the greatest challenges of Social Work is maintaining adequate self-care and knowing that you can impact or help all individuals. This can be extremely challenging and overwhelming, particularly for new workers. One must ensure that they have adequate supervision, education, and resources to protect their wellbeing or burnout is highly likely.
What will help Social Work Associates 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 general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
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 Associate 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 Social Work Associate 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 a Social Work Associate?
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 general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
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.
What will help Social Work Associates 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 Social Work Associate 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 general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
Nicole Willis Ph.D., LMSW: Maximizing your salary first starts with doing the groundwork in the junior and senior year of the Social Work program. You'll want to have a strong and competitive professional resume that show how you stand-out from the other job seekers. The second phase is during the entry-level job interview phase. Best advice I ever received about salary is to NOT accept the first salary offered right away. Let your potential employer know that you'd like a day or two to think about the offer. During those two days, do your homework. Find out what is the average pay for like positions there and in other organizations. Talk with mentors you have within your professional network to get their thoughts on your offer. Don't be afraid to negotiate salary or negotiate the possibility that the potential employer would include paying for you to participate in a conference every year so you can earn the CEUs you need to maintain your Social Work license. In Social Work, we utilize great humility when working with clients and client systems. However, when in the office interviewing and considering that salary offer, put that humility aside for a while and think like a business person.
What will help Social Work Associates 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 will help Social Work Associates increase their earning potential?
Yvonne Chase: Case management skills, along with writing and communication skills, are in demand, especially cross-cultural communication.
What will help Social Work Associates increase their earning potential?
Suzanne Marmo LCSW, PhD: I would advise new social workers to develop self-care practices and find a peer support network. Working in social work can be emotionally demanding. Make self-care a priority because you can't effectively support others if you're not taking care of yourself. Social work can also incredibly rewarding and new social workers should remember the positive impact they are making in people's lives.
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
Suzanne Marmo LCSW, PhD: Get a job that offers free clinical supervision. Your first years out of social work school, you want to look for a job that can help you clock the required clinical hours and supervision hours to be able to get your clinical license. This way you can eventually get your advanced clinical license in the state you wish to practice and be an independent practitioner if you wish, or have even more opportunities open to you in the field.
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
Frances Furio: As a graduate social work instructor, I often have conversations with my students and new graduates about the licensure process for clinical social workers in California. While some students want to begin pursuing their license directly after graduation, others are unsure of whether they want to pursue this path or have chosen to pursue an alternative social work path.
Diane Hodge MSW, Ph.D., LCSW
Radford University
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
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.
What will help Social Work Associates increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
Ines Jindra
Associate Professor of Social Work, BASW Program DirectorIdaho State University
American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Social Work Associate?
Ines Jindra: With a BASW in social work, you are eligible for generalist, entry level positions. In order to maximize your salary potential, look out for training opportunities, and consider going back for an MSW degree in social work a few years down the line (since for many social work positions, you will need an MSW degree). We have an accredited MSW program at Idaho State University, along with an accredited BASW degree in social work
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 Associates?
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 Associates 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 a Social Work Associate?
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 Social Work Associate 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 Social Work Associates?
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 Social Work Associates 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.