Average Social Worker Salary: Can Bleeding Hearts Make Big Bucks?
Find social worker salary data for social work jobs by degree and employer.
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Social Worker Salary Comparisons
Maybe you’ve dreamed of a pursuing a career in social work, but concern over the average social worker salary has stopped you from pursuing it. Rest assured; your fears are unfounded. If you are wondering if you can pursue a social work degree and still make a good living, the short answer is “Yes!”
Social Worker Salaries...By Degree
Almost all social worker jobs require a Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW), and many require a Master’s of Social Work (MSW). Pursing higher education can make a significant impact on your social worker salary. Take a look at PayScale.com's 2010 data for average salaries, based on the degree earned:
Social Worker Salary Outlook
If you pursue a social work degree, will there be jobs available when you graduate? The outlook is great! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of social workers is expected to increase by 16 percent during the 2008–18 decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Social Worker Salaries...By Specialty
The type of work you’ll do also affects the salary you can earn. No matter which area interests you most, you should be aware of your income options. Here’s what PayScale.com's 2010 survey says about median salaries for some of the top social work specialties:
Beyond Social Worker Salary: Priceless Change
No discussion of social work salary is complete without talking about the rewards that money can’t buy. Dollars and cents aside, social work is a career where “making a difference” is not an empty buzzword, but an exciting and very real opportunity.
If you are serious about changing the world for the better, consider starting your education for a career in social work now.
Social Worker Facts
Social work is one of five core mental health professions that is recognized by both Federal law and the National Institutes of Health.
As of 1998, there were more social workers than psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses combined.