Careers for Social Work Majors
A major in social work prepares graduates for work in many fields, including:
Children’s services
Courts
Mental Health Clinics
Public Welfare Agencies
Vocational and Rehabilitation Centers
Public Welfare
Correctional Institutions
Hospitals
Peace Corps
Schools
$54,560 – $59,970 annually*
The public welfare social worker is responsible for coordinating income and other support benefits to those most in
need, typically the disabled, elderly, ill and children. A public welfare social worker also has the goal to foster selfsufficiency in the client, so as to apply decreasing resources for the benefit of those least able to function
independently.
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Administration and Planning
Case Management
Program Evaluation
Policy Setting
Research
*Education Portal - 2012
Criminal Justice/Corrections
$48,190 – $56,300 annually*
Forensic social workers, also referred to as criminal justice social workers or correctional social workers, serve
clients on issues relating to the law and legal systems. It is a specialty focus and refers to anything social workers
do in the field of criminal or civil law. They collect social histories to help lessen sentences for criminal defendants,
evaluate their competency and assist with treatment. Forensic social workers also deal in child-protection and
custody issues.
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Counseling/Therapy
Rehabilitation
Probation
Parole
Youth Services
Victim Assistance
*work.chron.com – 2010
Research and Education
$33,600 – $121,170 annually*
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects beyond the high
school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
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Research
Teaching
*Bureau of Labor Statistics – 2013
Careers for Social Work Majors
School Social Work $43,000 – $60,480 annually*
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their
families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents,
arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems
as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
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Clinical Social Work
Pupil Personnel Services
Student Advocacy
Instruction
*Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2013
Child Welfare
$46,000 – $53,000 annually*
Child welfare specialists supervise children in varying degrees, both independently and as part of a team of case
workers. These professionals visit homes where children live and investigate conditions to protect them from harm.
Child welfare specialists also refer parents and guardians to community resources, as well as counsel children,
parents, guardians and foster parents on a child’s care plan. They may evaluate foster and potential adoptive
parents’ homes to determine the suitability of foster home and adoption applicants.
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Case Management
Advocacy
Intervention
*Indeed.com - 2014
Developmental Disabilities
$34,000 – $62,000 annually*
Provide persons, families or vulnerable populations with the psycho-social support needed to cope with chronic,
acute, or terminal illnesses and physical or developmental disabilities. Provides patient education and counseling,
advises caregivers, and makes necessary referrals for other social services. Acts as client advocate in order to
coordinate required services or to resolve crisis. Organizes support groups or counsel family members to assist
them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client.
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Case Management
Program Planning and Evaluation
Research
Policy Development
Office of Administration
oa.mo.gov - 2013
*Indeed.com – 2014
Careers for Social Work Majors
Gerontology
$31,160 – $71,130 annually*
Gerontological social work is a specialty within the larger field of health-care social work. Social workers who
specialize in gerontological care work with the elderly and their families. For some clients, Gerontological social
workers arrange community services, such as home health care or home-delivered meals. They also work with
elderly adults in assisted living or nursing care facilities and help families make decisions about providing care for
elderly family members.
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Advocacy/Intervention
Counseling
Case Management
Programming
Public Policy
*Indeed.com - 2014
Clinical
$52,814 – $67,356 annually*
Interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and
emotional needs. Provides psychotherapy or counseling to individuals, groups, couples, or families. Requires a
master's degree in social work. Hospitals are typically the best-paying employers. The top-paying areas are [in
2012] Sherman, Texas and the California cities of Napa, Vallejo and Hanford.**
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Counseling
Therapy
*Salary.com – 2014
**Money.uenews.com – 2012
Administration
$52,814 – $67,356 annually*
Interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and
emotional needs. Provides psychotherapy or counseling to individuals, groups, couples, or families. Requires a
master's degree in social work. Hospitals are typically the best-paying employers. The top-paying areas are [in
2012] Sherman, Texas and the California cities of Napa, Vallejo and Hanford.**
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Management
Policy Development
Planning
*Salary.com – 2014
Careers for Social Work Majors
Occupational
$44,200 – $67,356 annually*
Occupational social workers help employees with problems that affect their job performance and satisfaction. Just
as important, they also help the corporations, businesses, and associations that hire them. Occupational social
workers help corporations re-engineer their structure and methods to improve efficiency, creativity, productivity,
and moral. They may also work for a union and be involved in job counseling or organizing.
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Counseling
Education
Wellness Promotion
Employee Assistance
Organizational Development
Human Resources
*Bureau of Labor Statistics – 2012
Community Organization
$41,300 – $54,000 annually*
Community social workers help communities function. Some work directly with individuals, conducting needs
assessments and making referrals to resources in the community. Others assess needs on a larger scale. They may
plan and administer programs.
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Program and Community Development
Advocacy
Politics
Education
Planning
*Socialworklicensure.org – 2011 to 2014
Health Care
$31,790 – $75,140 annually*
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or
terminal illnesses. Services include advising family care givers, providing patient education and counseling, and
making referrals for other services. May also provide care and case management or interventions designed to
promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
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Case Management
Counseling
Program Development
Administration
Research
*Bureau of Labor Statistics – 2013