Social Worker

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Work Tasks

SOCIAL WORKERS help people find solutions to their problems through counseling and referral to other services. They provide information such as where to go for debt counseling, how to find child or elder care, how to apply for assistance, or how to get an alcoholic into a rehab program. They help people deal with and solve problems, such as poverty, child or spousal abuse, illness, disabilities, and unemployment. They get clients the assistance, funds, and services they need. They help single parents, arrange adoptions, and help find foster homes for neglected, abandoned, or abused children. They identify social problems and suggest solutions. They may help to raise funds to support these programs.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $52,500 average per year ($25.25 per hour)
• A large occupation (609,100 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.7% per year)

Entry Requirements

A bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) is the minimum required for a SOCIAL WORKER job, although, an advanced degree has become the standard for many positions. A master's degree in social work (MSW) is required for clinical work. Some jobs in public and private agencies require a master's degree in social services policy or administration. College and university teaching and research positions require a doctorate in social work (DSW or Ph.D.). All states have licensing and certification requirements for social work practice and use of professional titles.