What Can You Do With an MSW? 13 Social Worker Roles
Updated on March 5, 2025.
Social workers are in demand in healthcare, education, the private sector, and other fields. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that approximately 67,300 new social workers will be needed to meet the increasing demand between 2023 and 2033. The number of social worker jobs is projected to grow by 7% during that time frame. These numbers are encouraging for those interested in an advanced degree, such as a Master of Social Work (MSW), as they indicate a real opportunity and need for social workers to make an impact by meeting real-world needs through resources and support.
For anyone interested in the field, understanding what you can do with an MSW is just as critical as defining what an MSW is.
MSW Degree: At a Glance
An MSW degree prepares you to lead in many roles that improve lives and communities. The degree builds upon the foundational knowledge learned at the undergraduate level through a mix of classroom instruction and supervised fieldwork. This model of classroom instruction and real-world experience helps students develop advanced skills and prepare for advanced roles in the social work field.
Where Can I Work With an MSW?
Jobs for MSW graduates are booming from coast to coast. Whatever the ZIP code or sector, chances are an exciting job opportunity awaits when you earn an MSW.
Social Workers by Industry
According to the BLS, the most common industries for social workers in 2023 were as follows:
- Child, family and school: 365,900
- Healthcare: 193,200
- Mental health and substance use: 123,700
- Other: 69,000
These client communities indicate that social workers can focus on the groups or issues that best align with their interests.
Education Level
Different social work positions have different education requirements, but an MSW degree is typically a prerequisite for advanced or specialized work.
- Doctoral or professional degree: 2%
- Master’s degree: 36%
- Bachelor’s degree: 38%
- Associate degree: 8%
- No degree: 17%
- Doctoral or professional degree: 2%
- Master’s degree: 35%
- Bachelor’s degree: 26%
- Associate degree: 6%
- No degree: 30%
Mental Health and Substance Use
- Doctoral or professional degree: 5%
- Master’s degree: 66%
- Bachelor’s degree: 16%
- Associate degree: 3%
- No degree: 10%
Certain social work roles require licensure, with requirements that vary by state (for example, Florida requires 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience, while becoming a licensed social worker in Georgia takes 3,000). It’s important to become familiar with the specific requirements for the intended state of practice.
Examining the Variety of Social Work Roles
There are a variety of opportunities for what you can do with an MSW. The 67,300 job openings projected by the BLS consist of several specialized roles that focus on specific demographics, locations, needs, and subjects. Below are some of the many rewarding specialized social worker roles.
Administrative and Policy Social Work
Social workers in the administrative and policy sphere fulfill the call to action from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for “equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs.” They may champion for for local ordinances and state or federal laws that better serve their clients. Government agencies, nonprofit service providers, and special-interest groups employ social workers focused on administrative and policy work.
Child and Family Social Work
Social workers working with children and families connect clients with services and provide monitoring and support for the well-being of at-risk children. They may also provide therapeutic services. Additionally, they may connect families to specific services, such as housing, food benefits, and child care. Common settings are child welfare agencies and organizations, adoption and foster care agencies, schools, and family service agencies.
Correctional Social Work
County, state, and federal correctional facilities employ social workers as resources for incarcerated individuals. Correctional social workers identify clients’ needs and refer them to authorized legal, educational, and health resources. MSW-trained professionals also offer individual and group therapy sessions, providing mental health and substance use disorder support. They may also work with law enforcement officers and officials. Common settings include criminal justice facilities, domestic and sexual violence centers, and criminal justice-involved nonprofit organizations.
Disability Social Work
These professionals assist clients with disabilities and their families in achieving independent lifestyles. They also work in hospitals and care facilities to provide emotional support to clients and their loved ones.
Environmental Social Work
Environmental social workers apply a sustainable development lens to environmental justice issues. Social workers may be involved in disaster planning, resource mobilization, and public education on natural and human-made disasters. They also mitigate the mental health effects of environmental issues through counseling and outreach efforts.
Forensic Social Work
Forensic social workers help those impacted by legal issues navigate the complexities of the justice system. They may be asked to assess defendants for competency, help victims through trauma, and act as expert witnesses during trials. Mitigation specialists within this social work role ensure that defendants’ histories of social and health challenges are considered in court.
Gerontological Social Work
A total of 23% of the U.S. population will be 65 and older by 2050, and increasingly likely to require the assistance of social workers. Gerontological social work focuses on the unique needs of older adult clients, such as personal autonomy and end-of-life decisions. Gerontological social workers evaluate clients’ changing health and quality of life and educate caregivers on appropriate care.
Hospice and Palliative Care Social Work
Hospice and palliative care social workers assist clients facing chronic and terminal illnesses. They provide emotional support and service coordination from the initial diagnosis to the end-of-life care for clients and their families. This social work role is essential for educating and comforting family members as they help their loved ones.
Medical Social Work
Medical social workers provide patient support by conducting intake evaluations and discussing service needs during a patient’s stay. Social workers in medical and healthcare settings work with a broad range of clients in areas including oncology, labor and delivery, pediatrics, geriatrics, and emergency services. Common settings are hospitals, hospices, health centers, clinics, long-term and short-term care facilities, in-patient and outpatient services, and rehabilitation centers.
Mental Health and Substance Use Social Work
Mental health and substance use social workers provide individual and group counseling for those with mental health and substance use disorders. They coordinate with treatment providers and regularly evaluate clients as they progress toward their health goals. There’s likely to be strong demand in the future for this role: According to a 2024 report published by Mental Health America (MHA), nearly 60 million Americans experienced a mental illness within a 12-month period between 2021 and 2022.
Military Social Work
Social workers provide support and counseling to service members, veterans, and military families during and after service on issues including post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges. Common settings are the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), government agencies, veterans support agencies, and nonprofits.
Occupational Social Work
Occupational social workers work with businesses and employees to improve workplaces for maximum efficiency and morale. This social work role involves mental health services, job counseling, and training for new employees. They may also operate employment assistance programs for labor unions and state workforce departments.
School Social Work
School social workers provide counseling to students with academic and behavioral challenges. They work with parents and teachers to address issues in and out of the classroom. Their responsibilities also include training educators on identifying student issues and intervening during crises.
Make a Difference With Florida State University
There are several possibilities for what you can do with an MSW degree. They all involve supporting the well-being of others. For people who want to make a difference, a social work career offers the opportunity to do that every day.
The online MSW program at Florida State University can help you broaden your horizons and prepare you to make that difference. Our online, part-time programs are designed for busy working professionals, allowing them to grow their knowledge and sharpen their skill set around their existing busy schedules.
Discover how Florida State can empower you to make an impact on your career and your community.