Do you have a desire to help people? Are you looking for a job that allows you to make a difference in someone’s life? If you are seeking a profession that provides meaningful connections with people, an occupation in social work may prove to be an ideal career path.

Social workers work across industries such as health care, government and education. While the workplace and roles may vary, one thing remains consistent: Social workers focus on making a positive impact on others. Curious as to what responsibilities come with the title? Learn what social work careers are available and how you can pursue this profession.

Do you already know what social work career you want to pursue? Then find the best online master’s in social work for you.

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Social workers are responsible for helping individuals, families and communities deal with difficult or stressful situations. They are care providers and advocates for their clients, whether they be children with behavioral issues, terminally ill patients or families facing displacement. The work environment is varied and includes schools, hospitals and the military.

There are differences between social workers and counselors although these two careers have similarities. Counselors may help a client with a specific issue such as depression or alcoholism while social workers provide a comprehensive array of services to a larger client base. Social workers can also perform individual counseling. For more on this, see our article “Social Work vs. Counseling vs. Psychology.”

Social workers work at a macro level where they investigate social problems by researching the causes and effects problems have on individuals and the community. They design programs and advocacy initiatives that seek to address these problems at the community, state and national levels. Macro social workers typically work at social justice and advocacy organizations, research institutions such as universities, government departments and think tanks that develop human services programs, and nonprofits.

This guide provides information on how you can become a social worker, whether you are interested in working closely with individuals and groups, engaging in research or advocacy, or developing programs that educate and support certain populations within the community. 

Learn more about social work careers by checking out our “how to become” resources below:

We’ve pulled information from relevant sources and organizations about the social work profession for current and prospective social workers and social work students. Our career guides include information on the following types of social work:

Child welfare social workers help resolve conflict in households with children. While their role specializes in working with a family to build a safe and loving environment for children, they act as a child’s advocate. As such, child welfare social workers play a crucial role in the protection of children from abuse or neglect.

Our Introductory Guide to Child Welfare Social Work describes how child welfare social workers assist vulnerable children and families, and explains the challenges they face on the job. It also offers advice from practicing child welfare social workers on how to prepare for this career.

Clinical social workers perform individual and family therapy. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) are permitted in some states to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. They often work in private practices, hospitals or neighborhood mental health agencies.

Our Introductory Guide to Clinical Social Work explains the types of careers in clinical social work, describes the core assessments, therapeutic modalities and case management services that clinical social workers provide, and details the unique rewards and challenges of this field.

Forensic social workers apply established principles of social work to questions and issues relating to legal matters and litigation, both criminal and civil. Some cases in which forensic social workers may be involved include corrections, child custody and juvenile services.

Our Introductory Guide to Forensic Social Work (Criminal Justice) describes the roles and responsibilities within forensic social work and explains the challenges and rewards of the field. It also provides advice to social work students who are interested in becoming forensic social workers.

As part of the system of health care social work, gerontological social workers help older (geriatric) clients and their families with locating services such as home health care and meal delivery. This type of social worker can further assist older adults as they transition into a nursing care or assisted living facility.

Our Introductory Guide to Gerontological Social Work explains where gerontological social workers work, their daily and long-term responsibilities, and the challenges and rewards of their profession. It also provides advice to social work students on how to prepare for working with older populations.

The classification of hospice and palliative social workers falls within the category of health care social work. Their responsibility is to help patients and their families cope with a terminal illness. Hospice and palliative social workers provide grief counseling or connect patients and their loved ones to outside resources that may include support groups.

Our Introductory Guide to Hospice and Palliative Social Work describes the work settings and responsibilities of hospice and palliative care social workers and explains the rewards and difficulties of the profession. This article also explains how individuals can prepare for a career in hospice social work.

Medical social workers are another branch of social work within the health care social work structure. They help patients cope with chronic or terminal illnesses through psychological and social support. Other duties include discharge planning, assisting patients in connecting with other services, organizing support groups and performing home visits to recently discharged patients.

Our Introductory Guide to Medical Social Work describes the diverse work settings and core responsibilities of medical social workers and explains the challenges and rewards of the profession. It also provides advice on how social work students can prepare for a job in medical social work.

Military social workers provide military members and their families with resources they need to help them succeed in areas such as mental health and employment. Other social work opportunities within the military vary and include clinical work at Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Our Introductory Guide to Military Social Work explains the different types of military social work roles and work environments, describes the typical responsibilities that military social workers fulfill, and provides advice to students considering a career in military social work.

Pediatric social workers join physicians to provide a holistic approach to children and their families faced with medical adversity. While it is typical for a sick child to be the primary client, pediatric social workers may provide support to a child with a parent or family member suffering a health condition.

Our Introductory Guide to Pediatric Social Work describes pediatric social workers’ typical responsibilities and work environments and explains the challenges and rewards of the profession. It also offers advice from practicing pediatric social workers about preparing for this career.

Psychiatric social work is a type of medical social work that involves supporting, providing therapy to and coordinating the care of people with severe mental illness and who require hospitalization or other types of intensive psychiatric help.

Our Introductory Guide to Psychiatric Social Work describes the common types of psychiatric social workers, their responsibilities and the challenges of working closely with individuals suffering from complex and hard to manage conditions who are in deep emotional distress and/or may be a danger to themselves or others.

Depending on state regulations, private practice social workers may offer clinical and nonclinical services. Clinical work may involve counseling and providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. Nonclinical services may include mediation, education and conflict resolution, among others.

Our Introductory Guide to Private Practice Social Work explores different types of private practices that licensed clinical social workers can establish, the kinds of client populations they can assist, and the challenges and rewards of starting one’s own private psychotherapy practice.

These professionals work with children at every grade level. The responsibilities of school social workers include assisting students with issues such as truancy and behavior, which can affect academic progress. As an advocate for children, school social workers connect with outside agencies and resources when necessary.

Our Introductory Guide to School Social Work provides detailed information about school social workers’ daily and long-term responsibilities and offers advice from practicing school social workers on how to prepare for this career.

Macro social workers focus on fostering positive change in a community based on the diversity and cultural values of its residents. They join community leaders and residents to develop solutions that help resolve issues, encourage involvement and improve the community.

Our Introductory Guide to Macro Social Work discusses the key ways in which macro social workers can affect positive change at the local, state and national levels and also provides advice for prospective social workers about entering this broad and diverse field of practice.

If you’re interested in working abroad, or working for international organizations, check out our guide to international social work.

The career guides above draw upon a combination of research and interviews with experts in the field. To supplement each of our guides, we’ve published these expert interviews in full so readers can gain additional authoritative information on the topics that we explore. Their detailed responses provide insights into what it is like to be a specific type of social worker, including what they do, the challenges they face and why they decided to work in that specific field.

All interviewees were compensated to participate in these interviews.

Although requirements vary from state to state, some social work careers listed above may require a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) or a master’s degree in social work (MSW). Depending on your interests, you may want to explore various concentrations offered in online MSW programs to see what options are available. We have listed some 60+ graduate schools along with their concentrations.

Other related social work positions may require either a BSW degree or a doctorate.

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Explore our full list of accredited online BSW programs.

Doctorate in Social Work (PhD & DSW)

Explore our full list of online DSW programs, or browse the online PhD programs.

It is important to remember salary figures vary according to several factors—including but not limited to location, education level and professional experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the national median pay for social workers was $51,760 in 2020. For more information on salaries, please refer to our article on how much social workers make.

According to the BLS, job prospects should be very good for the social work industry. The agency reports a continued increased demand for health care will provide social workers with a higher number of opportunities compared to social workers who do not offer treatment services.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social Workers Job Outlook 2020

The ideal candidate for a career in social work is one who strives to help others and enjoys a challenging role. A position in social work requires empathy, understanding and devotion to making a difference.

According to ONet Online, a resource maintained by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, these are skills social workers need to succeed at their jobs:

What are the license requirements for a social worker?
Because rules and regulations vary state to state, it is essential you look over the standards for whichever state in which you wish to work. You can view individual state requirements at the Association of Social Work Boards website.

How long does it take to become a licensed social worker?
It depends on the level of licensure you want to obtain and your state’s requirements. These are general estimates: BSW degree, four years; master’s degree in social work, two years; internship/practicum hours, varies. Social work credentials and licensing are obtainable through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

For a full discussion, see our article “How long does it take to become a social worker?”

Is a master’s degree in social work (MSW) worth it?
You may find employment within the social work industry with a traditional or online BSW. However, your career opportunities may be limited. With a master’s degree in social work, you will increase your options to a variety of workplaces, including hospitals, schools or within the judicial system. The advanced degree may further enhance your earning potential.

See our article “What is an MSW?” for more information, including the pros and cons of earning one.

Can you earn your degree in social work online?
Yes. Today, many CSWE-accredited schools offer full- and part-time social work degree programs online, including BSW, MSW, DSW and PhD programs.

How do I know if social work is right for me?
If you are interested in a demanding yet flexible and rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of others, social work may be an ideal career choice for you. Whether you choose to work with children, families, patients or communities, you can find a career in social work that will prove both challenging and rewarding.

Last Updated February 2022

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.