Social Work Career Paths: 10 Jobs and What They Require
Key takeaways
- Social work careers span schools, healthcare, government, nonprofits, community programs, and research.
- A BSW supports many entry-level nonclinical roles, while some careers typically require an MSW.
- Clinical social workers need an MSW, supervised clinical experience, and state licensure.
- Social worker employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035.
A social work degree can lead to work in very different environments, including schools, hospitals, government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations. These social work career paths also differ in the education and credentials they require. A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) prepares graduates for many generalist and nonclinical positions, while some school, healthcare, mental health, and clinical roles require graduate education or state credentials.
Whatever setting you choose, the central purpose of social work remains helping people respond to challenges and access the support they need. Demand for that work continues to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects overall employment of social workers to increase 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 69,100 openings each year on average.
10 social work career paths to consider
Social work is one profession, but the day-to-day experience can vary considerably by setting. Working with children in a family services agency looks very different from supporting patients in a hospital or researching social policy.
The careers below include both occupations classified by BLS as social work and related roles where social work training is useful. Start with the degree and pay columns, then focus on the settings that best match the kind of work you want to do.
| Role | Typical setting | Degree typically required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child and family social worker | Child welfare agencies, family services, nonprofits | Bachelor’s degree | $59,550 |
| School social worker | K-12 schools and school districts | MSW commonly expected; state credential varies | $59,550* |
| Healthcare social worker | Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, healthcare organizations | Master’s degree | $67,880 |
| Case manager | Social services, healthcare, nonprofits | Varies; BSW common for social work case management | $61,780* |
| Probation officer | Courts, probation departments, government | Bachelor’s degree | $66,270* |
| Research assistant | Universities, research organizations, nonprofits | Bachelor’s degree | $61,990 |
| Mental health and substance use social worker | Mental health clinics, treatment centers, hospitals | Master’s degree | $60,280 |
| Community health worker | Public health departments, community organizations, healthcare | High school diploma typically; postsecondary education may be preferred | $51,850 |
| Social services program coordinator | Nonprofits, government, service organizations | Bachelor’s degree plus related experience | $80,390* |
| Policy advocate | Advocacy groups, associations, government | Varies by position | $80,390* |
*BLS does not track school social workers separately from the combined child, family, and school social worker category. It also does not maintain separate occupations for case managers, social services program coordinators, or policy advocates. The case manager figure uses all social workers as a broad benchmark; the program coordinator and policy advocate figures use social and community service managers. These are comparisons, not role-specific salary figures.
1. Child and family social worker
Child and family social workers assess family needs, develop intervention plans, coordinate with public agencies and service providers, and help children and parents access appropriate support. Their work may involve children in foster care or families affected by abuse, neglect, housing instability, or other difficult circumstances.
Strong communication skills, empathy, resilience, and sound judgment are important in this work. Common settings include child protective services, family service agencies, government departments, and nonprofits. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for child, family, and school social workers, making child and family services one of the clearer BSW-level options.
Child, family, and school social workers have a median annual wage of $59,550, with employment projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035.
2. School social worker
School social workers help students address social, behavioral, family, and emotional concerns that may affect their education. They collaborate with teachers, parents, administrators, and other professionals on issues such as bullying, mental health concerns, family crises, attendance, and access to support services.
The role requires strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of educational systems. Requirements are set at the state level and vary. The School Social Work Association of America states that the majority of school social workers hold an MSW and that a master’s degree is the prescribed entry level in most states, although some permit bachelor’s-level entry. State education credentials may also apply.
Students interested in this setting can explore TUW’s School Social Work concentration. The concentration provides undergraduate preparation focused on children, families, and schools, but it does not directly confer school social work licensure or certification.
School social workers are included in the child, family, and school social worker BLS category, which has a $59,550 median annual wage and 4% projected growth through 2035.
3. Healthcare social worker
Healthcare social workers help patients understand diagnoses, adjust to changes in their health, connect with services, and manage transitions between hospitals, homes, and other care settings. They may also support patients and families dealing with chronic illness, disability, hospice care, or other significant health concerns.
Their work requires compassion, communication, coordination with healthcare professionals, and patient advocacy. Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing and residential care facilities, and other healthcare organizations employ social workers. BLS currently lists a master’s degree as the typical entry-level education for healthcare social workers. Clinical social work additionally requires an MSW, supervised clinical experience, and state licensure.
Healthcare social workers have a median annual wage of $67,880, with employment projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035.
4. Case manager
Case managers assess clients’ needs, connect them with services, develop care or service plans, and monitor progress over time. Depending on the organization, their work may include coordinating housing, healthcare, financial assistance, mental health services, family support, or other resources.
Strong organizational and communication skills are essential because case managers often coordinate several services while working with people from different backgrounds. They work in social service agencies, healthcare facilities, government programs, and nonprofits. Nonclinical case management is a common type of work for BSW graduates, although requirements vary by employer.
BLS does not track “case manager” as a separate occupation. As a broad social work benchmark, social workers have a median annual wage of $61,780, with employment projected to grow approximately 6% through 2035.
5. Probation officer
Probation officers supervise people who have been placed on probation and help them comply with court requirements while working toward successful reintegration. Responsibilities may include evaluating progress, connecting people with employment or treatment resources, meeting with families, and reporting to courts.
The role requires communication, judgment, and the ability to build working relationships while maintaining accountability. Probation officers commonly work for state or local government and coordinate with courts, law enforcement, treatment providers, and community organizations.
Probation officers are not classified as social workers by BLS, but social work is one relevant educational background. BLS states that the occupation typically requires a bachelor’s degree, and degree fields may include social work, criminal justice, or related subjects.
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earn a median annual wage of $66,270, with employment projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035.
6. Research assistant
Social science research assistants support studies of social issues by collecting and organizing data, reviewing literature, assisting with surveys or other research methods, and helping prepare reports or findings for publication. BLS describes the occupation as assisting social scientists with laboratory, survey, and other social science research.
These roles suit graduates with strong analytical and writing skills and may be available at universities, think tanks, research institutes, and nonprofits. Research assistant work is often an early-career opportunity for people considering graduate education or more advanced research and policy positions.
Social science research assistants have a median annual wage of $61,990, with employment projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education.
7. Mental health and substance use social worker
Mental health and substance use social workers assess and support people living with mental illness or addiction and connect them with appropriate treatment and community resources. Their work can include assessment, treatment planning, crisis response, referrals, and collaboration with other behavioral health professionals.
Crisis de-escalation, communication, empathy, and the ability to work without judgment are important in treatment centers, community mental health organizations, hospitals, and related settings. This is also the fastest-growing social work specialty currently tracked separately by BLS.
Clinical positions require graduate preparation. BLS lists a master’s degree as the typical entry education for mental health and substance abuse social workers, while clinical social workers must also complete supervised clinical experience and obtain state licensure.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers have a median annual wage of $60,280, with employment projected to grow 10% through 2035.
8. Community health worker
Community health workers connect people with healthcare, social services, public benefits, and health information. They may conduct outreach, help clients access services, provide education, and advocate for people who face barriers to healthcare or other community resources.
Local knowledge, communication, cultural awareness, and relationship-building are especially valuable in this work. Community health workers are employed by public health departments, hospitals, community organizations, and social service providers.
A BSW can provide relevant preparation, but it is important to distinguish this career from occupations that require a social work degree. BLS lists a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education for community health workers, although some employers prefer postsecondary education and some states require certification.
Community health workers have a median annual wage of $51,850, with employment projected to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035.
9. Social services program coordinator
Social services program coordinators oversee the day-to-day operation of programs serving individuals, families, or communities. Depending on the organization, responsibilities may include supervising staff, monitoring budgets, coordinating services, tracking outcomes, and meeting reporting requirements for grants or government funding.
These positions require organization, staff supervision, budgeting, reporting, and program evaluation skills. They are common in nonprofits, government agencies, and larger social service organizations. Program coordination is generally a progression from direct-service experience rather than an entry-level position.
BLS does not track social services program coordinators separately. A relevant benchmark is social and community service managers, who have a median annual wage of $80,390 and projected employment growth of 7% through 2035. BLS says these managers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and related work experience.
10. Policy advocate
Policy advocates examine social problems and work with lawmakers, agencies, funders, and community organizations to change policies or programs that affect the populations they represent. Their work may include policy research, written recommendations, coalition building, public communication, and legislative advocacy.
This is one example of macro social work, which focuses on organizations, communities, policies, and systems rather than an individual caseload. BLS recognizes advocacy and policy work as part of social work and notes that some social workers work with community organizations and policymakers to improve social programs and conditions.
Educational requirements depend heavily on the position. Some entry-level advocacy roles accept a bachelor’s degree, while research-intensive or leadership positions may require more experience or graduate study.
BLS does not track policy advocates as a distinct occupation. For comparison, social and community service managers have a median annual wage of $80,390, with 7% projected growth through 2035. This should be treated as a related management benchmark rather than a policy advocate-specific salary.
What degree and license do social work careers require?
The degree you need depends on the type of social work you plan to do. BLS identifies the BSW as the common educational requirement for entry-level nonclinical social work positions, while clinical social workers need an MSW, supervised postgraduate experience, and a state license. Some states also regulate or credential nonclinical social workers.
| Credential | Roles it may support | What it typically takes |
|---|---|---|
| BSW | Child and family services, case management, community programs, outreach, some policy and research roles | Bachelor’s degree in social work; supervised field education is part of accredited BSW study |
| MSW | Healthcare, school social work, advanced practice, mental health, clinical preparation | Master’s degree in social work with supervised field education |
| State license or credential | Clinical practice and other regulated social work roles | Requirements vary by state; clinical licensure requires an MSW, supervised post-degree experience, and an examination |
Titles such as LMSW and LCSW are commonly used, but the license types and rules attached to them differ by state. BLS states that every state requires clinical social workers to be licensed, while some states also require credentials for nonclinical practice.
Field education is also a central part of professional social work preparation. CSWE describes it as social work’s “signature pedagogy” because it connects classroom learning with supervised practice. Accredited baccalaureate programs require at least 400 field education hours, although individual programs may require more.
Students considering TUW can review the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work admission requirements before applying.
H3: Earning your social work degree at Touro University Worldwide
Our online Bachelor of Arts in Social Work prepares students to help individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation, while TUW is institutionally accredited by WSCUC.
The 120-credit program combines eight-week online courses with required field education and accepts up to 90 transfer credits, subject to transfer evaluation. Students are responsible for securing an approved field site, and TUW must approve the placement and supervisor before field hours begin. Field experiences may take place in settings such as schools, family counseling centers, senior centers, and social service organizations, depending on availability and program approval.
Our curriculum prepares students to support client well-being while understanding the policies and systems that affect individuals and communities. It also prepares students to approach social work as advocates for social change. Graduates who later choose to pursue an MSW should review admission and advanced-standing requirements at the graduate institutions they are considering; TUW does not currently offer an MSW. Graduates of CSWE-accredited BSW programs may be eligible for advanced standing at institutions that offer it, subject to each university’s requirements.
Take the next step in your social work career
Social work covers careers with very different responsibilities, settings, and education requirements. The right choice depends on the population you want to serve, the type of work you prefer, and the credential required for that role. Some students are choosing their first professional degree, while others already work in human services and want accredited social work preparation behind their experience.
If you want to build a foundation for generalist practice and future social work study, explore our CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. You can also review the program’s admission requirements before deciding when to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a BSW and an MSW?
A BSW is a bachelor’s degree that prepares students for generalist and entry-level nonclinical social work. An MSW provides graduate-level preparation and is typically required for clinical social work and several advanced or specialized roles. Clinical licensure also requires supervised experience and other state-specific requirements after the MSW.
Which social work career path pays the most?
Among social work career paths, healthcare social work, program management, and policy or leadership roles are often associated with higher pay. Earnings vary by setting, experience, location, and level of responsibility.
Can you be a social worker without a social work degree?
You can work in many social service and community-support positions without a social work degree, but positions classified professionally as social workers typically require a BSW or MSW. Licensing and use of regulated professional titles also vary by state.
Is social work a stressful career?
Social work can be demanding because professionals may manage complex cases, urgent client needs, and heavy workloads. However, many social workers also find the work highly rewarding because it allows them to support people through difficult situations and contribute to meaningful change in their communities.
