Community and social service
Social worker
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Median pay
$59,550
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
33,900
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Social worker
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- ASWB exam · State social work license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Social worker: 43% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
- Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
- Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
- Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
- Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
Also called: Adoption Social Worker · Case Manager · Case Worker · Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker) · Family Protection Specialist · Family Resource Coordinator · Family Service Worker · Foster Care Social Worker
Outlook and AI
Social workers held 405,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 422,900 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Social worker vs. Mental health counselor
- Social worker vs. Clinical psychologist
- Social worker vs. Healthcare social worker
- Social worker vs. Marriage and family therapists
- Social worker vs. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Social worker vs. Rehabilitation counselor
- Social worker vs. Social and human service assistants
- Social worker vs. Social and community service managers
- Social worker vs. Community health worker
- Social worker vs. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Social worker vs. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- Social worker vs. Health education specialist