How to Become a Social Worker
Social workers help people navigate poverty, abuse, addiction, mental illness, disability, and systemic barriers that most professionals never see up close. If you want a career where you're directly improving lives and fighting for people who can't fight for themselves, social work offers one of the most practical and impactful paths to do it.
Taylor Rupe
B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington — Seattle
Key Takeaways
- Social workers earn a median salary of $58,380 per year across all specialties, with healthcare social workers earning the most at $62,940.
- You can enter the field with a bachelor's degree (BSW) for case management and direct service roles, or earn an MSW for clinical work, advanced practice, and higher pay.
- Employment is projected to grow 7% through 2033, adding about 63,100 new positions on top of replacement openings.
- All social work programs must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for graduates to qualify for state licensure.
- Licensing is regulated by each state through exams administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) at the bachelor's, master's, advanced generalist, and clinical levels.
What Does a Social Worker Do?
Social workers assess needs, connect people with resources, advocate for vulnerable populations, and provide direct intervention across a remarkably broad range of settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks the profession into three major specialties, and the day-to-day work varies significantly depending on which path you take.
Child, family, and school social workers (the largest group at 356,700 jobs) protect children from neglect and abuse, help families access housing and food assistance, coordinate foster care placements, and support students with behavioral and social challenges. Healthcare social workers (182,400 jobs) help patients and families cope with chronic illness, terminal diagnoses, discharge planning, and navigating insurance systems. Mental health and substance abuse social workers (169,000 jobs) provide assessment, therapy, crisis intervention, and treatment planning for individuals struggling with mental illness and addiction.
What ties all of this together is a professional identity rooted in systems thinking. Unlike counselors or psychologists who focus primarily on individual-level treatment, social workers are trained to look at the bigger picture: how poverty, racism, housing instability, and policy failures create the problems their clients face. You're not just treating symptoms. You're working at the intersection of individual need and systemic change.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct intake assessments and develop individualized service plans based on client needs, strengths, and goals
- Connect clients with community resources including housing, food assistance, healthcare, employment services, and legal aid
- Investigate reports of child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence and make safety recommendations
- Provide crisis intervention for individuals experiencing homelessness, suicidal ideation, substance use emergencies, or domestic violence
- Coordinate discharge planning for hospital patients, ensuring continuity of care and access to follow-up services
- Advocate for clients within systems including schools, courts, healthcare facilities, and government agencies
- Facilitate support groups for populations including caregivers, people in recovery, and families affected by chronic illness
- Maintain detailed case documentation that meets agency, legal, and ethical standards
Common Specializations
How to Become a Social Worker
Social work has two clear entry points: a bachelor's degree (BSW) for generalist practice and a master's degree (MSW) for advanced clinical and leadership roles. This flexibility is one of the field's real strengths. You don't need a decade of graduate school to start making an impact.
If you already know you want to do clinical work (therapy, diagnosis, treatment planning), you'll need the MSW. But many social workers build entire careers with a BSW, doing critical work in child welfare, community services, and case management. The profession needs both.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree
4 years
A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program is the most direct path into the field. BSW programs include 400+ hours of supervised field placement, which means you graduate with hands-on experience. If you major in something else (psychology, sociology, human services), you can still pursue an MSW later, but you won't qualify for advanced standing programs that let you complete the MSW in one year instead of two. For people sure about social work, the BSW is worth it.
Get Licensed at the Bachelor's Level (Optional)
1-2 months for exam prep
In many states, BSW graduates can obtain an entry-level license (LSW, LBSW, or similar title) by passing the ASWB Bachelor's exam. This lets you work as a licensed social worker in case management, child welfare, school settings, and community agencies. Some states don't require licensure for BSW-level work, but having it strengthens your credentials and opens more doors. Many social workers practice successfully at this level for years before deciding whether to pursue a master's.
Earn a Master of Social Work (MSW)
1-2 years
The MSW is the terminal practice degree in social work and is required for clinical licensure, supervisory roles, and most advanced positions. Full-time programs take two years; BSW holders can complete advanced standing programs in one year. All MSW programs must be CSWE-accredited, and most require 900+ hours of supervised field placement. You'll choose a concentration (clinical, macro/community practice, children and families, health, etc.) that shapes your career trajectory. Many excellent online MSW programs now exist for working professionals.
Pass the ASWB Master's or Clinical Exam
2-4 months of preparation
After earning your MSW, you'll take the ASWB exam at the master's level to obtain your LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) or equivalent. If you plan to pursue clinical licensure (LCSW), you'll eventually take the clinical-level exam after completing supervised hours. The ASWB exams cover social work knowledge, assessment, intervention, ethics, and professional practice. Most well-prepared MSW graduates pass on the first attempt.
Complete Supervised Hours (for Clinical Licensure)
2-3 years
If you're pursuing the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), you'll need to complete 2,000 to 4,000 hours of supervised clinical practice under an LCSW supervisor, depending on your state. This post-MSW supervision period typically takes two to three years. During this time you'll work under a provisional or associate-level license while building your clinical skills. The LCSW allows you to practice therapy independently, diagnose mental health conditions, and bill insurance directly. See our detailed clinical social worker career guide for the full LCSW pathway.
Social Worker Education Requirements
Social work education is tightly regulated through CSWE accreditation, which is non-negotiable. If your program isn't CSWE-accredited, you can't get licensed. Period. This is different from fields like counseling where accreditation (CACREP) is important but not universally required for licensure. In social work, accreditation is the gatekeeper.
The good news is that CSWE accredits over 900 programs nationwide, including a growing number of online MSW programs and online BSW programs. The accreditation standards ensure that wherever you study, you'll graduate with core competencies in human behavior, social policy, research, diversity, and field practice.
One important consideration: if you earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, many MSW programs offer advanced standing admission that lets you skip the foundation year and complete the MSW in 12 months instead of 24. This saves you significant time and money. It's one of the strongest arguments for choosing a BSW over a general psychology or sociology degree if you know social work is your path.
- A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program for entry-level social work positions
- An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program for clinical practice, supervision, and advanced roles
- 400+ hours of supervised field placement during BSW programs; 900+ hours during MSW programs
- A passing score on the appropriate ASWB licensing exam (bachelor's, master's, advanced generalist, or clinical level)
- 2,000 to 4,000 hours of post-MSW supervised clinical experience for LCSW licensure (varies by state)
- Ongoing continuing education credits to maintain licensure (typically 20 to 40 hours per renewal cycle)
Recommended Degree Programs
Best Online MSW Programs
Our ranked list of CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work programs based on outcomes, affordability, and field placement support.
Best Online BSW Programs
Top-ranked online Bachelor of Social Work programs for students starting their social work education or career changers.
How Much Do Social Workers Make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $58,380 across all social worker specialties. But that number hides a lot of variation. Healthcare social workers earn the most at $62,940, followed by mental health and substance abuse social workers at $55,960, and child, family, and school social workers at $53,940.
Let's be honest: social work doesn't pay as well as many comparable professions. Counselors earn a similar median ($59,190), while clinical psychologists earn considerably more ($95,830). The salary gap reflects a persistent undervaluation of social services work, not the difficulty or importance of the job. The National Association of Social Workers has advocated for years to address this gap through better reimbursement rates and pay equity legislation.
That said, the earning picture improves significantly with an MSW and clinical licensure. LCSWs who build private therapy practices can earn $70,000 to $100,000+, and social workers in hospital administration, program direction, or policy roles often reach six figures. For a detailed breakdown, see our social worker salary guide.
10th Percentile
$36,600
Median
$58,380
90th Percentile
$82,840
Top-Paying Factors
- Healthcare social workers earn the highest specialty median at $62,940, particularly those in hospitals and outpatient care centers
- Federal government positions pay well above average ($82,760 median) with strong benefits and retirement packages
- States with higher costs of living — California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. — consistently pay higher wages
- MSW-level social workers with clinical licensure (LCSW) earn significantly more than BSW-level practitioners, especially in private practice
- Specializing in high-demand areas like medical social work, geriatric care, or substance abuse treatment commands premium compensation in most markets
What's the Job Outlook for Social Workers?
Growth Rate
7%
Total Jobs
708,100
The BLS projects 7% employment growth for social workers from 2023 to 2033, which translates to about 63,100 new positions over the decade. Add in the need to replace workers who retire or transition out of the field, and there will be roughly 75,200 openings annually.
Within that overall number, the growth isn't evenly distributed. Healthcare social work is expected to grow fastest, driven by an aging population that needs help navigating chronic illness, end-of-life planning, and complex healthcare systems. Mental health and substance abuse social work is also growing above average as demand for addiction treatment and behavioral health services continues to outpace the supply of licensed providers.
Several structural forces are driving demand: expanded Medicaid coverage in many states, the opioid crisis, rising awareness of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), an aging baby boomer population, and growing investment in school-based mental health services. The profession also benefits from a strong push toward integrated care models where social workers are embedded in medical teams alongside physicians and nurses.
The practical reality is that most social workers don't struggle to find employment. The greater challenge is often finding positions that pay adequately and don't come with overwhelming caseloads. The NASW has consistently highlighted caseload burden as a retention issue in the field.
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Child Welfare & Protective Services
State and county child welfare agencies employ the largest number of social workers. You'll investigate abuse and neglect reports, coordinate foster care and adoption services, develop family reunification plans, and testify in family court. This is some of the most emotionally demanding work in the profession, and turnover rates reflect that. But the social workers who stay describe it as the most important work they've ever done.
Median approximately $45,000-$58,000; government positions include benefits
Hospitals & Healthcare Systems
Healthcare social workers help patients and families cope with illness, coordinate discharge planning, connect patients to community resources, and navigate insurance and financial barriers. You'll work on interdisciplinary teams with doctors, nurses, and case managers. Hospital social work moves fast, especially in emergency departments and ICU settings where discharge planning happens under pressure.
Median approximately $55,000-$72,000
Schools (K-12)
School social workers serve as a bridge between students, families, and school systems. You'll address truancy, behavioral issues, family instability, and mental health needs, and connect families with community resources. Many school social workers appreciate the academic calendar and the chance to build long-term relationships with students. The work varies dramatically between well-resourced suburban districts and underfunded urban or rural schools.
Median approximately $50,000-$65,000; follows academic calendar
Community Mental Health Centers
These agencies are the backbone of the public behavioral health system. Social workers here provide therapy, case management, crisis intervention, and group services to underserved populations. Caseloads can be heavy and the pay is often on the lower end, but many positions qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and the clinical experience you gain is broad and deep.
Median approximately $45,000-$60,000
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
Social workers in residential and outpatient treatment programs provide counseling, develop treatment plans, lead group therapy, and coordinate aftercare for people in recovery. The opioid crisis and expanding substance use treatment infrastructure have created strong demand for social workers in this specialty.
Median approximately $45,000-$62,000
Private Practice (LCSW Required)
Social workers with clinical licensure (LCSW) can open or join private therapy practices, providing individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy. Private practice offers the highest earning potential and the most autonomy, but you need the LCSW first, and building a caseload takes time. See our <a href="/careers/clinical-social-worker/">clinical social worker guide</a> for the full LCSW pathway.
Highly variable; $65,000-$110,000+ depending on caseload and payer mix
Pros & Cons of Being a Social Worker
Pros
- You can enter the field with a bachelor's degree (BSW) and start making a difference immediately, unlike most mental health professions that require graduate school
- Remarkable career flexibility: you can work in hospitals, schools, government, nonprofits, private practice, policy, and many other settings with the same core credential
- Strong and steady job demand across all specialties, with 75,200 annual openings projected through 2033
- The MSW is a 2-year degree (or 1 year with advanced standing), making it significantly faster and less expensive than doctoral programs in psychology
- Social work is one of the few professions explicitly trained in systems-level thinking, meaning you can move between direct practice, administration, and policy throughout your career
Cons
- Pay is below average for the level of emotional and intellectual demand the work requires, with a median of $58,380 across all specialties
- Child welfare and community mental health settings often have overwhelming caseloads that contribute to high burnout and turnover rates
- Regular exposure to trauma, poverty, abuse, and systemic failure takes a genuine emotional toll that requires intentional self-care
- Licensing requirements vary by state, and transferring your license when you move can involve additional exams, paperwork, and waiting periods
- Administrative burden is high: documentation requirements, court reports, insurance authorization, and bureaucratic processes consume significant time that could go to clients
A Day in the Life of a Social Worker
A social worker's daily routine depends heavily on the setting. Here's a realistic look at a typical day for an MSW-level social worker in a hospital setting, one of the most common advanced-practice roles. Healthcare social workers are constantly juggling multiple patients, coordinating with large care teams, and managing time-sensitive discharges.
Typical Schedule
7:30 AM — Arrive and check overnight census: review new admissions, identify patients flagged for social work assessment
8:00 AM — Morning huddle with the interdisciplinary care team (physicians, nurses, case managers) to discuss high-priority discharges and complex cases
8:30 AM — Psychosocial assessment on a newly admitted stroke patient: evaluate family support, living situation, insurance coverage, and rehabilitation needs
9:30 AM — Meet with an elderly patient's family to discuss transition to hospice care: provide emotional support, explain options, connect with hospice agencies
10:30 AM — Phone calls to skilled nursing facilities to arrange post-discharge placement for a patient who can't safely return home
11:00 AM — Crisis consultation in the emergency department: assess a patient brought in after a suicide attempt, coordinate psychiatric evaluation and safety planning
12:00 PM — Lunch and brief decompression: hospital social workers learn quickly that skipping breaks leads to diminished capacity for the afternoon
12:30 PM — Complete discharge planning documentation for three patients scheduled to leave tomorrow, ensuring follow-up appointments and home health referrals are in place
1:30 PM — Facilitate a family meeting for a patient with a new cancer diagnosis: help the family process the information, discuss advance directives, connect with support resources
2:30 PM — Check in with a trauma patient who is undocumented and uninsured: identify community clinics, financial assistance programs, and legal aid resources
3:30 PM — Supervision meeting with your LCSW supervisor (if working toward clinical licensure) or peer consultation with social work colleagues
4:00 PM — Final documentation, update care plans, and prepare handoff notes for the next day
Expert Insight
"The thing nobody tells you about social work is that it will change how you see the world, permanently. You'll walk into a grocery store and notice the mom paying with WIC vouchers and understand exactly what her day looks like. You'll read a news story about a kid in foster care and know what the caseworker on that case is dealing with. That awareness is a gift and a weight. The social workers who last in this profession are the ones who learn to hold both: deep compassion for the people they serve and a fierce commitment to taking care of themselves. The system will use you up if you let it. Don't let it."
Keisha Williams, MSW, LCSW
Director of Social Services, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Related Careers
Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
The advanced clinical pathway for social workers, focusing on psychotherapy, mental health diagnosis, and independent practice with the LCSW credential.
Licensed Professional Counselor
A closely related mental health profession with a different philosophical lens, similar educational timeline, and comparable scope of therapeutic practice.
School Psychologist
Works in educational settings conducting psychological assessments, developing intervention plans, and supporting student wellbeing through a psychology framework.
Clinical Psychologist
Doctoral-level practitioners providing assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy, with additional training in psychological testing and research methodology.
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Social Workers, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2024)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Child, Family, and School Social Workers (May 2023)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Healthcare Social Workers (May 2023)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) — Accreditation
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) — Licensing Exams
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Frequently Asked Questions
Both professions provide direct services to people in need, but they approach the work from different angles. Social workers are trained in a systems perspective, meaning they look at how policy, poverty, housing, family dynamics, and community resources shape individual problems. Counselors focus more specifically on individual therapeutic relationships and psychological treatment. In terms of credentials, social workers need a BSW or MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, while counselors need a master's in counseling (typically from a CACREP-accredited program). Social workers with an LCSW and counselors with an LPC can both provide therapy, diagnose mental health conditions, and bill insurance. The median salaries are similar: $58,380 for social workers and $59,190 for counselors.
Yes, but with an important distinction. A bachelor's degree in psychology qualifies you to apply to MSW programs, and many MSW students come from psychology backgrounds. However, you won't be eligible for advanced standing MSW programs (which reduce the program to one year), because those require a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. You also can't practice as a licensed social worker with only a psychology degree. If you're sure you want to be a social worker, starting with a BSW saves you a full year of graduate school through advanced standing eligibility.
A BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) is a four-year undergraduate degree that qualifies you for entry-level positions in case management, child welfare, community services, and direct client work. An MSW (Master of Social Work) is a graduate degree that opens doors to clinical practice (therapy and diagnosis), supervision, program administration, and policy work. The MSW is required for the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) credential. BSW holders with CSWE-accredited degrees can complete the MSW in one year through advanced standing programs, compared to two years for those without a BSW.
It depends on the license level. For a basic social work license (LSW/LBSW), you need a four-year BSW degree and to pass the ASWB bachelor's exam. That's four years total. For an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), add one to two years for the MSW degree. For the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), which allows independent clinical practice, you need the MSW plus two to three years of supervised clinical hours, bringing the total to roughly seven to nine years after high school. Advanced standing can shave a year off the MSW portion if you hold a BSW.
It depends on what you value. Social work offers meaningful impact, strong job security (7% growth, 75,200 annual openings), and genuine career flexibility across dozens of settings and specialties. You won't get rich: the median salary is $58,380, which is modest for a profession that often requires a master's degree. The emotional demands are real, and burnout is a documented problem in high-caseload settings. But social workers consistently report high job satisfaction precisely because the work matters in ways that are tangible and immediate. If you need to see a direct connection between your effort and someone's wellbeing, few professions deliver that as reliably as social work.
CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) is the sole accrediting body for social work programs in the United States. CSWE accreditation ensures that a BSW or MSW program meets national standards for curriculum, field education, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes. Unlike some other fields where accreditation is "nice to have," in social work it's mandatory: you cannot obtain a social work license in any state without graduating from a CSWE-accredited program. Before enrolling in any social work program, verify its accreditation status on the CSWE website.
Yes. A growing number of CSWE-accredited MSW programs are offered fully online or in hybrid formats. These programs cover the same curriculum and meet the same accreditation standards as on-campus programs. The key consideration is field placement: even in online programs, you'll need to complete 900+ hours of supervised field work at an approved site near you. Strong online programs have dedicated field placement offices that help arrange internships in your area. Weak programs leave you on your own. Ask about field placement support before enrolling. See our <a href="/programs/best-online-msw-programs/">ranking of the best online MSW programs</a> for vetted options.