Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) Jobs

What Are Social Work Jobs?

Social workers help people cope with everyday problems. These may be due to issues like poverty, substance abuse, medical issues or neglect.

Social work jobs vary depending on a social worker's level of education. Some social workers with a bachelor’s degree may work in macro social work, collaborating with groups, policymakers and community organizations to develop programs, services and policies. BSW holders may also be eligible to be caseworkers, social worker assistants or social work administrators.

For social workers who want to work as clinical social workers, who treat and diagnose mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, at least a master’s degree in social work (MSW) is required.

Social worker jobs are found in a variety of areas, wherever children, individuals and families seek social support and assistance. There are school social workers, healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers and child and family social workers.

What Are Entry-Level Social Work Jobs?

Entry-level social work jobs are typically for those with limited experience in the field. Since most social work careers require a master’s degree and licensure, entry-level positions are typically available to those with a bachelor’s in social work.

With a BSW, graduates might pursue bachelor’s-level social work jobs such as:

• Caseworker
• Mental health assistant
• Social work administrator

Many states offer bachelor's-level social work licensure. Requirements vary by jurisdiction but generally include earning a BSW from an accredited social work program and, where required, passing the appropriate licensing exam. Licensure may qualify graduates for credentialed roles or scopes of practice, although independent clinical social work typically requires a master’s degree, supervised experience, and clinical licensure.

Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) Job Outlook and Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for social workers was $61,780 in May 2025, compared with $50,980 for all U.S. occupations. BLS projects social worker employment to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

Median annual wages for social workers in May 2025 varied by specialty:

• Social workers, all other: $71,900
• Healthcare social workers: $67,880
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers: $60,280
• Child, family and school social workers: $59,550

These figures represent social workers across education and experience levels and are not specific to BSW graduates.

Social worker employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth varies by specialization:

• Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 10%
• Healthcare social workers: 8%
• Child, family and school social workers: 4%

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 69,100 social worker openings are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Factors like education, licensure, where you live and what industry you work in may influence your earning potential and job growth in BSW jobs. With a BSW, you might pursue social work as a caseworker or social work assistant.

Caseworker

Social work caseworkers help people who are in difficult situations improve their outcomes. Caseworker clients may be children who are abused or neglected, adolescents in substance abuse treatment, vulnerable adults, elderly individuals or hospital patients.

Caseworkers may work for government agencies, residential centers, healthcare facilities or nonprofit organizations. They assess client needs and create case plans to identify action steps, timelines, goals and objectives.

They investigate client situations, advocate for their clients and recommend social work services that may help. They provide services including client outreach, resource recommendations, referrals, support and follow-up. In some cases, caseworkers may be called to testify in court about their clients.

To succeed, caseworkers may benefit from having a desire to work with people and help others. Strong organizational and time-management skills may help caseworkers juggle caseloads and ensure their clients get the targeted help they need.

Social Work Assistant

A social work assistant provides help to social workers. They help social workers with tasks the assistant may legally complete, which may include working on:

• Casework and documentation
• Social work administration
• Providing social services resources to clients
• Developing treatment plans
• Research services for clients, such as Medicaid or food stamps
• Coordinating client services
• Helping clients complete necessary paperwork for assistance programs
• Following up with clients on services provided

Social work assistants, like caseworkers, may work with a wide variety of populations. These may include children, families, the elderly, people with disabilities, people with mental illnesses, people with addiction, homeless people, immigrants and former prison inmates.

Social work assistants may benefit from having strong interpersonal skills, organizational skills, problem-solving skills and time management skills. They’re typically tasked with supporting those in need and may benefit from showing compassion to the populations they serve.

Jobs Outside of Social Work With a BSW

While social work jobs are more limited to those with at least a BSW or MSW, many career options are available to someone with a BSW. In a bachelor’s in social work program, students learn about topics including human behavior in social environments, policy, advocacy, diversity and multiculturalism. Knowledge on these topics may help BSW graduates in a variety of roles, including those that aren’t social work-specific.

If you have a BSW, you may choose to pursue an entry-level career in social work, study for an MSW or apply for a job in one of these related fields.

Community Outreach Worker

Community outreach workers may be advocates for specific populations or specialize in certain community-related issues. Community outreach workers may benefit from being comfortable working with people in need, since they may be facing significant challenges in their lives.

Community outreach workers may be advocates for specific populations or specialize in certain community-related issues. Community outreach workers may benefit from being comfortable working with people in need, since those they work with may be undergoing significant challenges in their lives.

Community outreach workers may benefit from having strong communication and interpersonal skills, which may help them build strong relationships with community members and communicate needs effectively to the organizations they work with. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills may also help community outreach workers understand various situations and recommend the best solutions.

Human Services Specialist

A human services specialist has knowledge of resources, programs and organizations that may help people in need. These professionals connect community members with these resources and social programs, and help them obtain assistance by completing the enrollment process.

Human services specialists may work with a variety of populations, including children, families and veterans and specialize in certain types of programs, such as disability services. They interview clients to determine whether they qualify for certain social services. They then help clients access that support.

Human services specialists may work in settings including homeless shelters, hospitals, community healthcare clinics, residential and nursing care facilities, local and state government agencies and nonprofit organizations. These professionals may benefit from being organized, knowledgeable and empathetic in order to provide optimal services.

Social and Community Service Managers

Social and community service managers help communities improve their well-being, by coordinating and supervising community-based programs and organizations.

Individuals in this role may build strong relationships with community members to learn a community's needs and identify programs and services that may help. Social and community service managers may focus their work on specific populations, such as the homeless or veterans. Others focus on creating programs that address specific challenges, including mental health and substance abuse.

Social and community service managers may implement measures to gauge program effectiveness. They may also write proposals to get funding for programs and services. Social and community service managers may work for government organizations, nonprofits and agencies with community focuses.

Professionals in this position may benefit from strong interpersonal and listening skills to communicate effectively with community members and provide optimal solutions. Social and community service managers may also benefit from being detail-oriented and organized.

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Correctional treatment specialists and probation officers provide social services for those who are on probation, on parole or in custody. They help their clients prepare for re-entry into society and to thrive in everyday life. They connect clients with services like housing assistance, educational resources, mental health programs and treatment resources.

Probation officers, also called community supervision officers, frequently check in with clients to ensure they follow the probation plan and make progress.

Correctional treatment specialists, also called correctional counselors or case managers, work with inmates and parole officers to develop parole and release plans. They may help inmates cultivate job skills, find work placement and get housing.

People in these roles may benefit from strong communication skills and empathy for their clients. It also helps to be organized and use critical thinking to provide the best recommendations.

Health Education Specialists and Community Health Workers

Health education specialists teach communities about healthy behaviors. They identify specific health needs, create programs to address those issues and help people find health services and resources for improved wellness.

Community health workers advocate for community health needs and connect communities with social service organizations that may help. They may provide basic health services, such as height and weight measurements or diabetic foot checks. They make referrals and conduct outreach programs to help communities improve their health and address health concerns.

Professionals in these positions may pursue credentials related to their health specialty. Health education specialists and community health workers may benefit from a strong interest in health and wellness, along with strong communication and teaching skills and problem-solving and analytical skills to identify community needs.

What Else Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Social Work?

If you want to build a career specifically in social work, consider a CSWE-accredited online master’s in social work. This advanced degree may help you become a licensed clinical social worker who can provide individual mental health treatment and make diagnoses. An MSW may also help you move into more advanced social work roles.

It may help to work in social work with a BSW for a few years to see if the field is a good fit and whether you want to continue to earn your master’s degree. If not, you can pursue other related fields where you can help people and make a positive impact on communities.