Social workers are vital professionals focused on improving the well-being of others at an individual and community level. Like many professions that deal with people and human behavior, social work is a complicated field that can be applied to many different sectors. A degree in social work, especially at the master’s level, can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities and disciplines. Master of social work jobs are diverse and rewarding, reflecting the depth of knowledge and skills gained during advanced studies. That’s why Pacific Oaks College offers an accredited Social Work program that educates and trains graduates to promote social equity and ethically integrate reformative policies and programs to improve their communities. This program features online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, building foundational skills and offering crucial clinical experience to prepare professionally competent individuals who will invoke change properly.
What Can You Do With a Master of Social Work Degree?
The role of a social worker will change based on their industry and the level of education. Jobs with a master’s in social work often encompass more specialized roles, diving deeper into therapy, counseling, and administrative tasks. Social workers are tasked with helping people face challenges in their lives. These challenges might include mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders as well as environmental challenges.
Generally, social workers assist their clients with mental health counseling at an individual, familial, or group level. They assess what is ailing their client and provide solutions like coordinating treatment plans, researching public programs and resources, and more.
How to Become a Social Worker
Social workers must complete at least their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree to begin entry-level work. Pacific Oaks College offers an online BSW degree to provide students with schedule flexibility while learning how to empower and invigorate their communities. This degree prepares students to advocate for change through policy change and program implementation.
For higher-level positions or clinical practical roles, a Master of Social Work (MSW) may be required or preferred, which may provide a competitive edge over other applicants. Pacific Oaks’s online MSW prepares students through an integrative, hands-on learning experience and curriculum. This degree prepares social workers for clinical or supervisory state licensure.
After you complete the degree requirements and clinical hours, which are heavily incorporated into the social work master’s program, you can apply for your social work licensure. Licensing may vary by state and require additional certifications.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of social workers is projected to grow faster than the average for other occupations in the coming years.
Whether you’re just starting your social work education or nearing the end, it’s always a good idea to consider your options for work post-graduation. To help you in this endeavor, we’ve curated a list of 10 potential jobs with a master’s in social work.
10 Career Paths in Social Work
The root of social work is helping and rehabilitating people. By furthering your education, you are giving yourself a chance to advance or complete your licensure to practice social work in more sectors such as health care, academia, government institutions, and more.
Here are some careers to consider after your degree completion.
1. Clinical Social Work Therapist
Therapists are licensed mental health professionals who help their clients improve their quality of life by developing better cognitive and emotional skills. They help reduce the symptoms of mental illness and provide their clients with coping skills so they can better tackle life’s challenges.
Depending on the therapist’s line of work, they might find themselves in a myriad of locales. This includes hospitals, clinics, community centers, online, and more. If you’re interested in helping people work intimately on their personal lives at either an individual or group level, becoming a therapist might be a good option for you.
Clinical Social Work Therapist Salary
A clinical social work therapist is projected to make an average salary of $90,121 in the U.S. as reported by ZipRecruiter.
2. Medical Social Worker
Medical social workers specialize in public health, geriatrics, palliative care that focuses on pain relief rather than curing the illness), inpatient, or mental health care. Like many social workers, they can find themselves in many different medical settings depending on where their clients and patients are located.
Working in a medical setting might be a good choice if you want to become a highly specialized social worker. You could work specifically with infants or provide care for those awaiting transplants. Largely, you will work with nurses, doctors, and medical specialists to provide interdisciplinary care for your clients.
Medical Social Worker Salary
Salary.com has found that the average medical social worker in the U.S. makes $65,904 annually with the range tending to fall between $58,437 and $74,108.
3. School Social Worker
Specialized in academic settings, school social worker jobs involve trained mental health professionals who help individuals and groups of students with mental health issues related to their academic lives. They also help teachers, parents, and administrators support students’ mental well-being. Generally, school social workers make school atmospheres safer places for students and help them feel empowered in their learning.
If you want to intersect your mental health training with academia, consider becoming a school social worker. You’ll be able to do the critical work of helping develop young minds and assist academic institutions in their efforts to do the same.
School Social Worker Salary
School social workers in the U.S. have an average salary of $54,536 according to Payscale. The reported salary range falls between $43,000 and $73,000.
4. Hospice Social Worker
Death is usually not an easy subject to contend with. Hospice social workers help families deal with settling matters associated with the passing of a loved one. In addition, they help coordinate care and access to resources for those in hospice.
Being a hospice social worker can be mentally and emotionally taxing. However, this work is instrumental in helping patients and their families in what may be the most challenging moments of their lives.
Hospice Social Worker Salary
Glassdoor reports that the average salary for a hospice social worker is $62,411 per year in the U.S. with an average salary range of $54,000 to $82,000 per year.
5. Community Outreach Worker
If you’re interested in a career at a nonprofit or government institution, consider becoming a community outreach worker. Community outreach workers attempt to improve the lives of community members by creating events and promoting services that focus on health care and social services for underserved communities.
Community Outreach Worker Salary
According to Salary.com, the average community outreach worker in the U.S. makes $59,160 annually with the salary range falling between $52,300 and $66,343.
6. Human Services Specialist
Human services specialists might work with people in group homes, halfway houses, correctional facilities, mental health centers, family homes, and more. They work with people who have often been in deeply precarious situations.
This work serves those who may need help the most by treating their problems while also helping them maintain those improvements.
Human Services Specialists Salary
Zippia reports that the average human services specialist salary in the U.S. is around $49,025. The salary range can be expected to be between $33,000 and $71,000.
7. Probation Officer
If you have a special interest in criminal justice, becoming a probation officer will be a great marriage with your social work education. Probation officers guide and monitor offenders and attempt to assist in preventing them from committing new crimes.
Similar to human service specialists, probation officers assist offenders in seeking out treatment and rehabilitation and supervise the progress of their efforts. The primary difference between the two careers is that probation officers work specifically with people who were put on probation rather than given jail time.
Probation Officer Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, probation officers in the U.S. earn a median salary of $61,800.
8. Behavioral Management Aide
Behavioral management aides work to help people change negative behaviors. Children are the primary focus of these services, but in some legal systems, they can be crucial for adults too.
Aides work to help their clients recognize and change behaviors that are working to their detriment, such as violence, tantrums, or disruptive behavior. If you’re hoping to merge your interest in social work with education, becoming a behavioral management aide might be a good fit for you.
Behavioral Management Aides Salary
The estimated annual salary for behavioral management aides is $41,892, according to ZipRecruiter.
9. Substance Abuse Counselors
Substance abuse counselors specialize in addiction recovery and management. These social workers work with both individuals and groups toward sobriety. They focus on day-to-day struggles as well as long-term recovery plans.
With a focus on mental health, these counselors aide patients in repairing various parts of their life affected by addiction, including personal and professional relationships.
Substance Abuse Counselor’s Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a Substance Abuse Counselor is $53,710. Job growth in this field is expected to be 19%, roughly 84,500 job openings from 2023 to 2033.
10. Foster Care Social Worker
Foster care social workers, also known as case managers, advocate for children in the foster care system and may also counsel them, helping with behavioral and mental health issues. Their primary responsibility is the physical and emotional welfare of children.
Foster Care Social Worker Salary
ZipRecruiter reports that the average foster care social worker salary in the U.S. is $49,138.
The Impactful Pathways of Social Work
These careers just scratch the surface of what paths may be open to you following your graduation. Regardless of the landscape or application, social workers perform difficult work that is crucial to the wellness of many across the world.
If you’re inspired by the wide range of transformative roles that a degree in social work offers, take the first step toward a fulfilling career by joining Pacific Oaks College. Our Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs combine our historical commitment to social justice with access to urban and rural practice opportunities. Each program educates and trains social work professionals who can promote social equity and ethically integrate the holistic competencies and dimensions as established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Don’t just dream of making a difference; equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to do so. Apply now to Pacific Oaks College and be part of our legacy of change-makers.
