The field of social work offers an impressively broad range of career options. Despite the discipline’s reputation for making significant and meaningful contributions to society, its workers typically do not receive impressive pay in relation to their accomplishments and backgrounds. However, there are many positions in the field of social work that can provide more than adequate pay while also being fulfilling. Here is a list of some of the social work positions with the highest salaries that we have put together.
According to the U. S. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers’ overall employment is expected to increase by 15% between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for social and healthcare services will rise, but the rate of employment growth will depend on specialization. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking to learn more about social work careers that pay well and have purpose.
Our unique ranking derives its pay and employment prospects data from Payscale and the U S. The websites of the National Association of Social Workers and the Council on Social Work Education are the main sources of career information for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our ranking criteria takes into account the average annual salary, the employment outlook, as well as the availability of a wide variety of career options for the aspirant and inquisitive social worker.
- Residential mental health and substance-abuse facilities: $41,300.
- Individual and family services: $48,550.
- Outpatient care centers: $54,380.
- Psychiatric and substance-abuse hospitals: $57,840.
13 high-paying social work specializations
Housing experts’ main responsibilities are to assist families or individuals in finding affordable housing. These specialists frequently assist underprivileged people who require housing assistance. For instance, they frequently work with single-parent families, those who are low-income, veterans transitioning back into civilian life, those who have disabilities and require accessible housing, and those leaving prisons. Housing specialists use their network of housing resources to find suitable housing for their clients and place them in residences that offer them the stability and shelter they require to live well.
Primary responsibilities: Advocacy coordinators support various organizations that engage in advocacy and social services administratively. They might, for instance, work for a non-profit, a government agency, or a private for-profit company. To spread information about their advocacy efforts, these professionals carry out tasks like organizing public outreach events and managing social media accounts. They may also work together with other advocacy groups to combine their efforts to benefit communities. These professionals assist in creating programs that assist those in need while bringing attention to crucial social issues by carrying out public outreach duties and collaborating with other advocacy organizations.
Some social workers hold positions in social science research as their main responsibilities. These experts most likely work for government agencies or higher education institutions. They design and carry out studies to find out more about social problems and obstacles people encounter when trying to access services. For instance, they might organize and carry out community polls to determine the needs of the local populace or they might conduct analysis on the efficiency of the current social services programs. Researchers in social work frequently work with other social scientists and government agencies to influence public policies and promote better services based on their findings.
A substance abuse counselor’s main responsibilities are to assist people with substance use disorders in recovering. These therapists have received specialized training that enables them to offer therapeutic care to individuals battling substance use disorders. They frequently work in addiction treatment centers, meeting with patients one-on-one and in groups to provide care for recovery. Counselors for substance abuse work with clients to comprehend their present difficulties, create treatment plans, put therapeutic techniques into practice, and support their recovery.
The primary responsibilities of a health care manager include overseeing the operations of a medical facility’s department of healthcare services. These individuals foster a setting where medical professionals have the assistance and resources they require to deliver excellent patient care. To effectively manage their medical facility, health care managers frequently need to comprehend their local communities and the needs of the patients they’re most likely to serve. They are crucial in providing medical care that is tailored to the unique requirements of the community where they live.
Primary responsibilities: Supervising the work of less seasoned social workers They frequently supervise social work teams by managing many of their teams’ administrative duties, in addition to interacting with community members and fostering their teams’ professional development. Social work supervisors can train new social workers, implement professional development plans, and evaluate the performance of those on their team in addition to serving as mentors to new or inexperienced team members. To accomplish their service delivery objectives, their leadership makes sure that every team member cooperates.
Those who work in hospices or facilities that provide end-of-life care have the following primary responsibilities: These social workers have received specialized training in working with hospice patients and their families. Professionals in this field frequently possess knowledge of describing palliative care procedures, providing emotional support and grief counseling to patients and their families, and liaising with other service providers to obtain community resources. For instance, hospice social workers can recommend family members to trained grief counselors or they can assist families in obtaining financial assistance to cover funeral and medical costs.
A licensed clinical social worker is a social worker who has additional training that enables them to work as clinical therapists. Their main responsibilities The clients of social workers who obtain clinical counseling licenses can receive therapeutic care. They carry out many of the same duties as certified family therapists, including evaluating mental health and behavioral conditions in individuals and groups, making diagnoses, developing treatment plans, and carrying out therapeutic interventions. These services support people in developing their self-management abilities so they can move closer to achieving their individual goals.
Counselors who specialize in behavioral health perform therapy for patients’ mental and behavioral health as their main responsibilities. Clients with conditions that impair their behavior, learning, or social functioning are those they work with the most frequently. Professionals in this position typically meet with patients, evaluate their behavioral health, talk about their goals, create treatment plans, and track their progress. To provide their patients with comprehensive care, they also keep patient records and collaborate with other service providers, including educators, medical professionals, and mental health practitioners.
Principal responsibilities: An educator employed by a college or university is a professor of social work. Professors instruct students by creating lessons, giving lectures, giving homework assignments, and giving exams. In order to respond to inquiries, guide students in developing their careers, and support their academic objectives, they may also meet or communicate with students outside of the classroom. Professors also commonly have research responsibilities. These experts carry out research in the area of social work and present their findings in scholarly journals and conferences. Their work advances understanding of social work procedures and could influence governmental policies
Licensed marriage and family therapists’ main responsibilities are to assist their patients in resolving issues with their families and other relationships. Professionals in this position have specialized training in therapeutic counseling services for individuals, couples, and families to help them recognize relationship obstacles and learn coping mechanisms. Because licensed marriage and family therapists are adept at assisting families that require assistance to improve their functioning, many social work teams include them.
Primary responsibilities: School counselors support students in pursuing their post-graduation plans and academic goals. Many school counselors are licensed to treat students therapeutically, and they frequently work in social work roles where they interact with students, their families, and other educators. School counselors meet with students one-on-one or in groups, offer career counseling, create initiatives to enhance student wellness, and collaborate with other members of the teaching staff to support students’ academic success.
Clinical directors are senior professionals with primary responsibility for managing clinical facilities. People who work in clinics that offer social and community services, like public health clinics, frequently take on a variety of tasks. They might be employed as primary social workers who are also in charge of running the clinic’s facilities, or they might only be responsible for overseeing clinic programs. Clinical managers frequently oversee the clinic’s resources, such as its budget and staff. They choose the clinic’s programs and services, supervise hiring and onboarding, coordinate with other clinics, and raise money for their operations.
38 other jobs related to social work
Here are 38 additional positions in the social work and related fields:
6 High Paying AND In Demand Social Work Jobs In 2021: Including Jobs W/ $60k-100k Annual Salaries!
FAQ
What field of social work gets paid the most?
The highest social worker salary is in the ambulatory healthcare services sector, at $83,050. Additionally, federal agencies, brokerages, insurance firms, surgical hospitals, and insurance carriers pay some of the highest salaries to social workers.
What is the best specialization in social work?
- Social Work Administration. …
- Disaster, Crisis, and Intervention. …
- Medical Social Work. …
- Children, Families, and Couples. …
- Forensic Populations and Settings.
How can a social worker make $100000?
- California: $68,910.
- Connecticut: $68,000.
- Nevada: $64,890.
- New Hampshire: $62,300.
- Maine: $61,140.
Where do MSW make the most money?
- California: $68,910.
- Connecticut: $68,000.
- Nevada: $64,890.
- New Hampshire: $62,300.
- Maine: $61,140.
