A career as a Social Worker is just what it sounds like and so much more. It is a people-focused job that is found in many categories such as substance abuse, healthcare, family and child care and care for the elderly.
This type of work appeals to ISFJ personality types who want to help people by offering practical solutions. If you are a type 1 enneagram, a reformer who wants to make a difference, this profession would be a good fit.
Social Workers at a Glance
What Social Workers Do
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
Work Environment
Social workers work in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, child welfare and human service agencies, hospitals, settlement houses, community development corporations, and private practices. They generally work full time and may need to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
How to Become a Social Worker
Although some social workers only need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s degree and 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting. Clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice.
Pay
The median annual wage for social workers was $50,470 in May 2019.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will vary by specialization.
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social workers also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
10 Facts About Social Workers
1. Social Worker Wear Many Hats and They Love It
Social workers are part investigator, part counselor, part problem-solver, and part facilitator. All of these roles must work together to provide the best outcome for the client. Typical job duties of social workers include:
- Identifying people and groups of people who need help.
- Assessing client needs, situations, strengths, and support systems to reach goals.
- Help clients with life changes such as job loss, divorce, moving, a death
- Research, refer, and advocate for community resources, such as food stamps, childcare, and healthcare to assist and improve a client’s well-being
- Respond to crisis situations such as child abuse and mental health emergencies
- Follow up with clients to ensure that their situations have improved
- Maintain case files and records
- Develop and evaluate programs and services to ensure that basic client needs are met
- Provide psychotherapy services
2. They are Advocates for the People They Help and Raise Awareness About Challenges
As you can see, social workers help people cope with challenges in their lives. They help with a wide range of situations, such as adopting a child or being diagnosed with a terminal illness. But advocacy is an important aspect of social work.
Social workers advocate or raise awareness with and on behalf of their clients and the social work profession on local, state, and national levels.
Some social workers work with groups, community organizations, and policymakers to develop or improve programs, services, policies, and social conditions. This focus of work is referred to as macro social work.
3. Clinical Social Workers Diagnose Mental, Behavior and Emotional Disorders
Social workers who are licensed to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders are called clinical social workers (CSW) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).
They provide individual, group, family, and couples therapy; they work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations; and they refer clients to other resources or services, such as support groups or other mental health professionals.
Clinical social workers can develop treatment plans with the client, doctors, and other healthcare professionals and may adjust the treatment plan if necessary based on their client’s progress.
They may work in a variety of specialties. Clinical social workers who have not completed two years of supervised work are often called master’s social workers (MSW).
4. Social Workers Can Choose a Specialized Area to Solve Specific Issues
Child and family social workers protect vulnerable children and help families in need of assistance.
They help families find housing or services, such as childcare, or apply for benefits, such as food stamps.
They intervene when children are in danger of neglect or abuse. Some help arrange adoptions, locate foster families, or work to reunite families.
School social workers work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development.
Students and their families are often referred to social workers to deal with problems such as aggressive behavior, bullying, or frequent absences from school.
Healthcare social workers help patients understand their diagnosis and make the necessary adjustments to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare.
For example, they may help people make the transition from the hospital back to their homes and communities.
In addition, they may provide information on services, such as home healthcare or support groups, to help patients manage their illness or disease.
Social workers help doctors and other healthcare professionals understand the effects that diseases and illnesses have on patients’ mental and emotional health. Some healthcare social workers specialize in geriatric social work, hospice and palliative care, or medical social work.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers help clients with mental illnesses or addictions.
They provide information on services, such as support groups and 12-step programs, to help clients cope with their illness. Many clinical social workers function in these roles as well.
5. Social Workers Held 713,200 jobs in 2019.
| Child, family, and school social workers | 342,500 |
| Healthcare social workers | 185,000 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 123,200 |
| Social workers, all other | 62,500 |
6. Large Caseloads Make Being a Social Worker a Stressful Job.
Although most social workers work in an office, they may spend time visiting clients. School social workers may be assigned to multiple schools and travel around the school district to see students. Understaffing and large caseloads may cause the work to be stressful.
Social workers may work remotely through distance counseling, using videoconferencing or mobile technology to meet with clients and organize support and advocacy groups.
7. They are Have One of the Highest Rates of Injuries and Illnesses of Any Job
Social workers, all other have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. (“All other” titles represent occupations with a wide range of characteristics that do not fit into any of the other detailed occupations.)
8. Most Social Workers Work Full Time.
The majority of social workers work full time. They sometimes work evenings, weekends, and holidays to see clients or attend meetings, and they may be on call.
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of social workers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Educators and Community Health Workers |
Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. Community health workers collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities. | See How to Become One | $46,910 | |
Marriage and Family Therapists |
Marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome problems with family and other relationships. | Master’s degree | $49,610 | |
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists |
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. | Bachelor’s degree | $54,290 | |
|
|
Psychologists |
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments. | See How to Become One | $80,370 |
Rehabilitation Counselors |
Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently. | Master’s degree | $35,950 | |
School and Career Counselors |
School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed. Career counselors help people choose a path to employment. | Master’s degree | $57,040 | |
Social and Community Service Managers |
Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being. | Bachelor’s degree | $67,150 | |
Social and Human Service Assistants |
Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. | High school diploma or equivalent | $35,060 | |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors provide treatment and advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, or other mental or behavioral problems. | Bachelor’s degree | $46,240 |
9. You’ll Need to Earn a BSW to Be a Social Worker
A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common requirement for entry-level administrative positions.
However, some employers may hire workers who have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as psychology or sociology.
A BSW prepares students for direct-service positions such as caseworker or mental health assistant. These programs teach students about diverse populations, human behavior, social welfare policy, and ethics in social work. All programs require students to complete supervised fieldwork or an internship.
Clinical positions require a master’s degree in social work (MSW), which generally takes 2 years to complete. MSW programs prepare students for work in their chosen specialty by developing clinical assessment and management skills. All programs require students to complete a supervised practicum or an internship.
A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required in order to enter a master’s degree program in social work. Although a bachelor’s degree in almost any major is acceptable, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended. Some programs allow graduates with a bachelor’s degree in social work to earn their master’s degree in 1 year.
In 2019, there were more than 500 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 200 master’s degree programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Two years of supervised training and experience after obtaining an MA degree is typically required for clinical social workers.
10. All States Require That a Social Worker Be Licensed
All states require clinical social workers to be licensed, and most states require licensure or certification for nonclinical social workers.
Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires a master’s degree in social work and a minimum of 2 years of supervised clinical experience after graduation. After completing their supervised experience, clinical social workers must pass a clinical exam to be licensed.
Because licensing requirements vary by state, those interested should contact their state licensure board. For more information about regulatory licensure boards by state, visit the Association of Social Work Boards.
More Information About Being a Social Worker
American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work
Association for Community Organization and Social Administration
National Association of Social Workers
For more information about accredited social work degree programs, visit
Council on Social Work Education
For more information about licensure requirements, visit
Association of Social Work Boards
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers.
