Social Worker Career and Resource Center
Learn about social work degrees and careers so you'll know how you can enter the field.
Why Social Work Careers?
Social work careers are for the brave and visionary, for people who can—and do—change the world one life at a time. Clinical social workers provide mental health services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental, behavioral and emotional disorders in individuals, families and groups. Their ultimate goal is to improve a client's physical, psychological and social function.
Use this career center to learn how to become a social worker and get your licensing.
Social Worker Job Description
Social workers observe their clients' behavior, assess their needs and develop treatment strategies. Within this simple structure lies a world of possibilities.
Degrees for Social Work Careers
A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker. However, a master's in social work (MSW) is usually required for clinical work. Read more about the degree you'll need.
Interview with a Licensed Social Worker
Nikelle Rosier-Butler is a licensed clinical social worker who works with juveniles—and maintains a busy private practice. Read her tips for students seeking a social work career.
Careers and Licensing
Licensing requirements vary by state. Make sure you know what you'll need to do to become licensed in your state.
Salaries and Benefits
The median yearly wage for a social workers with a BSW is $46,914, according to a 2011 report from Salary.com. The same survey reports an average wage of $55,230 for MSW degree holders. However, salaries of clinical social workers vary greatly by experience, degree and whether they work in the private or nonprofit sector.
Did You Know?
- Although the basic foundations of social work dates way back, social work as we currently know it began in the late 1880s. Called the "settlement movement," this new system was started to provide aid for the many ills that popped up as a result of the Industrial Revolution.
- Social work used to be mandatory in many societies—caring for the poor was considered a social responsibility for Europeans who could afford it, and proof of one's piety.