Social Work Degree
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The career trajectory of people with a Social Work degree appears to be focused around a few careers. The most common career that users with Social Work degrees have experience in is Social Worker, followed by Family Social Worker, Healthcare Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor, Drug & Alcohol Counselor, Counselor, Substance Abuse Social Worker, Childcare Worker, Nanny, and Personal Care Aide.
| Career | % of graduates | % of population | Multiple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Worker | 14.2% | 0.5% | 28.8× | ||
| Family Social Worker | 5.1% | 0.1% | 36.9× | ||
| Healthcare Social Worker | 5.0% | 0.0% | 143.9× | ||
| Mental Health Counselor | 3.8% | 0.1% | 36.0× | ||
| Drug & Alcohol Counselor | 2.4% | 0.1% | 37.2× | ||
| Counselor | 5.5% | 0.3% | 16.7× | ||
| Substance Abuse Social Worker | 3.0% | 0.0% | 230.1× | ||
| Childcare Worker | 2.4% | 1.0% | 2.4× | ||
| Nanny | 1.8% | 0.6% | 3.1× | ||
| Personal Care Aide | 1.2% | 0.3% | 4.5× | ||
Social Work Salary
Social Work graduates earn on average $30k, putting them in the 10th percentile of earners with a degree.
| Percentile | Earnings after graduation ($1000s USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (bottom earners) | $25k | |
| Median (average earners) | $30k | |
| 75th (top earners) | $35k | |
Social Work Underemployment
Social Work graduates are moderately employed compared to other graduates. We have collected data on three types of underemployment. Part-time refers to work that is less than 30 hours per week. Non-college refers to work that does not require a college degree. Low-paying includes a list of low-wage service jobs such as janitorial work, serving, or dishwashing.
| Employment Type | Proportion of graduates | |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs that don't require college | 34% | |
| Part-Time | 28% | |
| Low-paying | 10% | |
Social Work Requirements
Table of Contents
Social workers aim to help people develop their skills and their ability to use their own resources and those of the community to resolve problems. As skilled advocates and collaborators, social workers advance the causes of human dignity, equality and social care.
A Bachelor of Social Work is the minimum educational requirement for entry into the profession. Academic work includes study of social work practice methods; social policies; human behaviour in individuals, families, groups, and communities; and research methods in social work. Postgraduate education leading to a master’s or doctoral degree is also available.