Social Work

A professional degree in Social Work prepares graduates of this program for beginning-level, generalist social work practice. Areas in which students are qualified to work include criminal justice , mental health, children and youth services, schools, aging/gerontology, health care, family service agencies, substance abuse programs, domestic violence programs, developmental disabilities services, public welfare (child and adult services), community organization, and social action groups

Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social workers also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues. Social workers work in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, child welfare and human service agencies, hospitals, settlement houses, community development corporations, and private practices. They generally work full time and may need to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

The median annual wage for social workers was $58,380 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,400, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $94,910.

Median annual wages for social workers in May 2023 were as follows:

• Social workers, all other $63,770
• Healthcare social workers $62,940
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers $55,960
• Child, family, and school social workers $53,940