Guide to Social Work Careers and Licensure

What Does a Social Worker Do?

Social workers help people cope with challenges in their everyday lives. This can include vulnerable children and families and communities and those dealing with mental health emergencies, child abuse, illnesses and more.

Social workers' roles can vary greatly depending on the situation. Social workers may work one-on-one to meet clients' needs. This can range from providing psychotherapy and responding to crisis situations to doing research, providing information/resources and advocating. This helps ensure clients live and function to the best of their abilities.

While social workers' roles vary, their work environments can, too. Many social workers work in offices, but will often visit their clients at schools, hospitals, clinics, community centers and homes.

Where Are Social Workers Employed?

Social workers are employed in a wide range of settings, including government agencies, social service organizations, healthcare facilities and schools. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the largest employers of social workers include state and local government, individual and family services, ambulatory healthcare services, hospitals and educational services.

Social workers held about 816,100 jobs in 2025. Child, family and school social workers represented the largest specialty, followed by healthcare social workers and mental health and substance abuse social workers.

Social worker employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. BLS projects about 69,100 openings for social workers each year, on average, over the decade, including openings created by e

Why Pursue a Career in Social Work?

A career in social work suits those with strong communication skills who are willing to solve problems to find healthy solutions for their clients.

Social work is a rewarding job that holds a special place in our society. Social work addresses problems such as mental illnesses, addiction, abuse and more, so that social workers can work with clients to bring them a better life.

Social workers insist on finding solutions to problems affecting people’s daily lives in order to improve their way of living, and as a result, make the world a better place.

Common Social Work Careers

Social work offers a variety of career paths. Most of these career paths require a master's in social work (MSW).

Child and Family Social Workers

Child, family and school social workers help protect children and assist families who need help meeting their basic needs. This may include helping families find housing or sort out applying for services like childcare and benefits (e.g., food stamps).

These social workers may also intervene when children are at risk of abuse or neglect. Depending on their role, they may help arrange foster care or adoption services or, when appropriate, work toward reunifying families.

Community Social Workers

Community social workers work with communities, organizations and other stakeholders to identify needs and create broader social change. Their work may involve community organizing, advocacy, program development, policy initiatives and efforts to connect communities with needed resources.

Community social workers may address issues related to housing, healthcare, education, economic opportunity and access to social services. They often use research, community input and collaboration to help develop programs, strengthen local resources and advocate for policies that improve community well-being.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Licensed clinical social workers have a master’s in social work (MSW) and have passed the ASWB clinical exam, among other requirements. They are licensed in their state to provide treatment, such as mental health therapy, by working directly with their clients. Licensed clinical social workers must adhere to high social work standards and ethics. They have the ability to diagnose mental illness in their clients as well.

Medical and Public Health Social Workers

Social workers in the medical and public health fields help treat clients who have an illness, injury or disease. Social workers may help clients manage these struggles by working with the client to make lifestyle adjustments. This may also include helping their clients for the right healthcare professional for them.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Mental health and substance abuse social workers treat individuals who are struggling with mental, emotional and substance abuse problems. Social workers in this field may work with clients to assist with therapy, education, management and prevention.

Work environments in this field of social work include substance abuse facilities, hospitals, care centers and more.

Military Social Workers

As a way to cope with psychological and emotional disorders, veterans and active-duty service members turn to military social workers.

Social workers will provide counseling either individually or with the family of those who serve in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Military social workers commonly treat disorders such as anxiety, depression and PTSD.

School Social Workers

School social workers help improve students’ academic performance and development. They work with students, their parents, and teachers to develop the best plan for success in the academic environment.

Social Work Administrators, Researchers, Planners and Policymakers

Social work administrators have many different duties that include planning, researching and creating programs to provide assistance to groups and individuals.

Social workers in this field tend to be active in communities with unmet needs. An example might include a community with a large group of people suffering from drug or substance abuse.

Social Work Licensure

Social work licensure is crucial to ensuring you assist others to the highest standards in the field. In social work, you can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree; however, a master’s degree may be required for certain career paths. A master's in social work (MSW) also lets you advance and obtain your clinical license.

Social work degrees must come from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). If you are in Canada, the accredited program would be the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).

Desired Skills of Social Workers

Social workers are expected to have strengths in certain skills. Communication skills are important as social workers must speak and listen to their clients to get an idea of their needs. Social workers will work with different types of people in a range of situations; therefore, they must be willing to listen and identify their problems.

Being a social worker requires patience and empathy as many clients are in tough situations. With a patient demeanor, they can build a strong relationship with clients to move forward and provide the help they need.

Salaries of Social Workers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for social workers was $61,780 in May 2025. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $42,790, while the highest 10% earned more than $100,090.

Pay varies by social work area. In May 2025, median annual wages were:

• 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

A social worker’s salary can also vary based on factors such as location, employer, level of education, licensure, experience, and specialty. Most social workers work full time, and some work evenings, weekends, or holidays depending on their role and setting.

Social Work Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social worker employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 69,100 social worker openings are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Job growth varies by social work specialty. From 2025 to 2035, employment is projected to grow:

• 10% for mental health and substance abuse social workers
• 8% for healthcare social workers
• 4% for child, family and school social workers
• 2% for social workers, all other

BLS notes that demand for healthcare social workers is expected to increase as an aging population needs help adapting to treatments, medications, and lifestyle changes. Demand for mental health and substance abuse social workers is also expected to grow as more people seek treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Learn more

While the field of social work has its own set of requirements, specialties and opportunities, there are other mental health career options available that are similar to social work, such as psychology and marriage and family therapy. Visit our Mental Health Careers page to learn more.