As a career option, things couldn’t look brighter for aspirants in social work. According to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 650,000 people in the US now hold degrees in this field. As for the projected growth rate, a stable 25% is expected between 2010 and 2020.
What is a Social Worker?
Essentially, social work is a career choice where trained workers have completed a minimum requirement in hands-on field experience. In addition, they also obtained certain academic degree standings. Their focus is dedicating themselves to helping solve the complexities of today’s social problems. There are many kinds of social workers; however, this article will refer to only those who are professionally accredited, recognized, and trained as social workers.
Primarily centered on enhancing the well-being of individuals, a second thrust of a social worker’s focus are families, couples, groups, and communities. Working through various research projects, public/governmental policies, community organizing, hands-on field experience, and crisis intervention programs, you can find workers in a diverse spectrum of fields.
Healthcare, education, clinical social work, and substance abuse programs are other areas that require professionally trained social workers.
Job Description of a Social Worker
You can basically find a social worker anywhere human complexities occur. Some common ways of giving people help is by handing out information concerning food assistance, elderly services, government benefits, and even taking part in legal cases such as child or spousal abuse. In fact, all these ways of help may form part of a social worker’s job at any given moment.
Educational Background
Those who earned social work degrees at the bachelor, master or doctoral degree level are certainly candidates for immediate employment. In addition, incorporating theoretical foundations of economics, education, sociology, law, medicine, philosophy, ecology, counseling, politics, anthropology, and psychology, readily qualifies many for employment as social workers.
Along with academic studies and practical hands-on internships, social workers undergo a rigorous ongoing process consisting of research and further disciplines in both workplace and campus settings.
A Social Worker’s Salary Range
Depending on the salary, experience, location, educational background, company platform, and industry, a social worker’s salary can vary somewhat. For instance, one worker in North Carolina can expect a salary of $35,860 where one in New York in a similar platform can expect upwards to $56,600.
Typically, social workers who specialize in children and family welfare made median salaries of $41,530 in 2012. The highest-paid 10% in this field earned $71,000 in the same year, while the lowest-paid made about $26,720. Cross country, the best paid jobs in children and family welfare came in at $78,840 and were found in Salinas, California.
In general, those starting out with a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) can look forward to a salary range of $30,000 according to type of work, experience, and geographic regions. Those with a master’s in social work (MSW) can expect an annual income range of between $40,000 and $60,000. With a doctorate in social work (DSW), candidates can look at an income of over $40,000 annually.
