Salaries for a Career as a Social Worker

Social workers work with people in times of trouble. They may provide counseling services, facilitate support groups, help people find and apply for various types of assistance they need, investigate cases of child abuse, offer support and guidance during times of change or stress, educate people about their problems and options for coping and provide numerous other services that help people function as well as possible. Job duties of social workers vary widely from job to job in the field and so do salaries.

Degree

• Some social workers have bachelor's degrees while others have graduate degrees. Social workers with advanced degrees usually earn more than those with undergraduate degrees. As of November 2010, the National Association of Social Workers reports that the average social worker with a bachelor's degree earns about $30,000 per year while the average social worker with a master's degree earns about $40,000 per year. Those with doctoral degrees earn even more, especially those who enter private practice.

Setting

• Social workers work in many different settings including schools, child welfare agencies, hospitals and mental health agencies. The average salary of social workers varies from setting to setting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2008 the median annual wage for school social workers was $53,860. The median annual wage for social workers in hospitals was $51,470. The median annual wage for mental health social workers was $37,210.

Geographical Location

• Salaries for social workers vary by geographical location. For instance, Indeed.com reports that in November 2010 the average annual salary for social workers in New York, New York is $72,000. The average annual salary for social workers in San Francisco, California is $68,000. The average annual salary for social workers in Cincinnati, Ohio, though, is only $48,000.

Other Factors

• Other factors influence the salary of social workers, including how much experience they have, any special training or experience, any special certifications they may have and their areas of expertise.

Benefits

• Many social workers work for agencies that offer employees benefits like health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid sick days and vacation time, the ability to participate in retirement funds, and tuition reimbursement if they return to school to further their educations. Benefits vary widely from agency to agency, though. Social workers should consider the value of any offered benefits when considering the salary of a given job.