What Are the Different Kinds of Social Work Jobs?
Updated on October 15, 2024.
Social workers have been at the forefront of crucial societal changes for over a century. The importance of social work jobs is evident in the day-to-day impact of social workers on their clients and communities. Social workers guide people struggling through financial, health, and legal challenges.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has identified many ways social workers have been instrumental in societal progress. Social workers contributed to momentum in the civil rights movement, improved mental health resources, and advanced benefits for the disabled and unemployed.
There is a strong demand for the next generation of social workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated a 7% growth in social work jobs between 2022 and 2023. Social work professionals ($55,350) earn more than the average salary for all occupations ($46,310), according to the BLS. Let’s look at who is entering social work careers before exploring different types of social work roles.
What You Can Do With an MSW - By The Numbers
Whether you’re looking to specialize in areas including healthcare, mental health, or family and children, there are social work positions that you can fill. Take a look at our infographic to see the education levels of social workers in different industries and get a sense of social work employment across America.
Where Can I Work With an MSW?
Jobs for MSW graduates are booming from coast to coast. Wherever the zip code and whatever the sector, chances are there’s an exciting job opportunity waiting when you earn an MSW.
All Across America
- There are currently 728,600 social workers nationwide
- Social work jobs are projected to increase by 7% or 53,800 new jobs between 2022-2032
Social workers by industry
- Child, Family, and School: 48.76%
- Healthcare: 26.26%
- Mental Health and Substance Use: 15.57%
- Other: 9.38%
Education level
- Doctoral or professional degree: 2%
- Master’s: 40%
- Bachelor’s: 36%
- Associate’s: 6%
- No degree: 15%
- Doctoral or professional degree: 3%
- Master’s: 34%
- Bachelor’s: 24%
- Associate’s: 8%
- No degree: 31%
Mental Health and Substance Use
- Doctoral or professional degree: 4%
- Master’s: 71%
- Bachelor’s: 16%
- Associate’s: 1%
- No degree: 8%
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Examining the Variety of Social Work Roles
The BLS projects 63,800 social work job openings annually from 2022 through 2023. These openings include specialized roles based on clients’ demographics, locations, and needs. Here are some of the fascinating and rewarding specializations available to social workers.
Administrative and Policy Social Work
Social workers in the administrative and policy sphere fulfill the NASW’s call for action to achieve “equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs.” They may advocate for local ordinances and state or federal laws that better serve their clients. Government agencies, non-profit service providers, and advocacy groups employ social workers focused on administrative and policy work.
Child and Family Social Work
This social work specialization protects the well-being of children at risk of abuse or neglect. Child and family social workers connect families to services like food benefits, housing, and childcare based on immediate needs. They may also be involved in the adoption process, foster family identification, and family reunification.
Community Social Work
Community social workers raise awareness of available public and non-profit services through outreach efforts. They also work with community organizations to fill service gaps with new programs and services. Professionals in this social work role may work on projects related to economic inequality, social justice, and public health.
Corrections Social Work
County, state, and federal corrections facilities employ social workers as resources for incarcerated populations. Corrections social workers identify client needs and refer 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.
Disability Social Work
Social workers in this specialization work with clients and their families to achieve independent lifestyles. Disability social workers in hospitals and care facilities also provide emotional support.
Environmental Social Work
This social work role applies a sustainable development lens to environmental justice issues. Social workers may be involved in disaster planning, resource mobilization, and public education on natural and man-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 through 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 defendants’ histories of social and health challenges are considered in court.
Gerontological Social Work
Twenty-three percent of the U.S. population will be 65 and older by 2050 and require the assistance of social workers. This specialization focuses on the unique needs of senior clients like personal autonomy and end-of-life decisions. Gerontological social workers evaluate clients for changing health or quality of life and educate caregivers on appropriate care.
Hospice and Palliative Care Social Work
Social workers assist clients facing chronic and terminal illnesses within this specialization. They provide emotional support and service coordination from initial diagnosis through the end of 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
Hospitals and outpatient clinics employ social workers as advocates for their patients. Medical social workers conduct intake evaluations and discuss service needs throughout clients’ hospital stays. They also work with clients on post-discharge plans for appointments, medical treatments, and at-home care.
Mental Health and Substance Use Social Work
This social work role provides individual and group counseling for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. They coordinate with treatment providers and regularly evaluate clients as they progress toward their health goals. There will be strong demand in the future as 48.7 million people experienced SUDs and 59.3 million people dealt with mental health disorders in 2022.
Military Social Work
Social workers help veterans/military service members and their families acclimate to civilian life and navigate available services in this role. They also provide counseling services for veterans and their families as they deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder. Jobs for military social workers can be found within the military branches, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and other branches of government or public service organizations.
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 struggling with academic and interpersonal 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.
Why Pursue a Master of Social Work?
A bachelor's degree is the entry point into all types of social work. A Master of Social Work degree builds the theoretical foundations for casework and other social work responsibilities. Social work professionals should consider building on their undergraduate education with an MSW for a few reasons.
MSW students open doors to careers as licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) and other social work careers upon graduation. LCSWs provide mental health counseling services and connect their clients to resources for dealing with challenges like anxiety or depression.
Social workers also build the skills necessary for leadership roles through MSW programs. Graduate studies delve into topics like public policy development and practice management that may not be examined as much in undergraduate programs. MSW graduates with years of on-the-job experience may find opportunities as practice leaders and non-profit executives.
Opportunities for career advancement and higher salaries for MSW graduates lead to high job satisfaction. A 2020 survey of new MSW graduates found that 90.4% of respondents were very or somewhat satisfied with their careers. You can pursue a rewarding career in social work with an MSW from Florida State University.
Building Your Career With Florida State University’s Online Master of Social Work Program
Florida State’s Online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious in the United States. The first of its kind in the nation, the program is consistently ranked among the top programs. There are two virtual pathways for social work professionals looking to boost their careers: the Traditional Online MSW and the Advanced Standing Online MSW.
Both degrees can be completed part-time, though they are designed for different student backgrounds. Traditional Online MSW students enter Florida State with bachelor’s degrees in other disciplines and seek social work roles. With the Advanced Standing Online MSW, students with BSW degrees can stay competitive in the job market.
Emphasizing fieldwork placements tailored to your interests, coursework in the Online MSW program applies classroom principles to actual situations. This practical experience allows you to explore the multi-faceted areas of social work and prepare to pursue a clinical license. A diverse, student-centered community with responsive, caring faculty members fosters a strong network of mentors and professional contacts.
Florida State’s strong national reputation provides a competitive edge to graduates in the job market. U.S. News & World Report placed the university No. 53 in its National Universities rankings in 2024. A decades-long commitment to affordable and impactful education is reflected in other categories including:
- No. 23 in Top Public Schools
- No. 30 in Best Colleges for Veterans
- No. 60 in Best Value Schools
As one of the first social work programs in Florida and the southeastern United States, the Florida State College of Social Work is recognized nationally as a center of social work practice, policy, and research. Broaden your horizons with an Online MSW from Florida State University College of Social Work.