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phd in social work salaries

Manager of government agency

Managers of government agencies plan and coordinate the federal, state, or local services allocated to specific populations. Responsibilities include appropriate utilization of funds and delivery of services.

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Salary

According to the BLS, the average annual salary for all management occupations within a government agency is $99,470.

Other requirements

Qualification as a government employee may be necessary.

You may qualify for financial aid as a social work doctoral student. While some financial aid is need-based, you might qualify for awards based on academic merit or other criteria. Some sources include:

  • Federal student aid
  • State incentive programs
  • Professional social work organizations
  • Private businesses and organizations
  • Financial awards from your educational institution
  • Nontraditional student scholarships and grants
  • Employer tuition reimbursement
  • Military scholarships
  • Student loans

Social work salaries vary depending on several factors, including location and industry. Washington, D.C., offers some of highest-paying social work jobs, with healthcare social workers earning an annual mean wage of $74,160; child, family, and school social workers earning $71,590; and mental health and substance abuse workers bringing home $66,080, according to the BLS.

Healthcare social workers also make high annual mean salaries in California ($79,620), Oregon ($74,050), Connecticut ($72,980), and Nevada ($72,640). Child, family, and school social workers earn annual mean salaries ranging from about $62,000-$69,000 in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maryland.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn the highest salaries in New Jersey, where the annual mean wage reaches $83,050. Other top-paying states include California, Connecticut, and New York, where these professionals make mean salaries ranging from about $63,500-$65,000.

In Hawaii, social workers in other specializations earn an annual mean wage of $81,520. These social workers make average wages ranging from about $73,830-$74,520 in the other top-paying states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Georgia.

In terms of industry, healthcare social workers can find high-paying jobs working for computer systems design, religious organizations, junior colleges, general medical and surgical hospitals, and other ambulatory healthcare services. Mean income for these industries ranges from about $65,000-$74,800.

Child, family, and school social workers can also land a well-paying job at junior colleges, where they earn an annual mean wage of $64,110. They can also earn higher-than-average salaries at elementary and middle schools, home healthcare services, technical and trade schools, and employment services.

Finally, mental health and substance abuse social workers earn the highest wages while working at insurance carriers, specialty hospitals, other ambulatory and healthcare services, healthcare practitioners offices, and higher education institutions. Mean salaries for these industries range from $61,250-$68,650.

Colleges and universities offer several types of degrees for social workers. Those include a bachelor of social work (BSW), master of social work (MSW), doctor of social work (DSW), or a Ph.D. in social work.

Social workers often start with a BSW, which can help graduates land entry-level social work jobs like case managers or behavioral management aids. Licensed social workers almost always need to obtain an MSW degree. Clinical social work — which typically comes with higher salaries — also requires an MSW and additional supervised work experience, licensure, and sometimes certification.

Generally speaking, higher-level degrees lead to higher social worker salaries. A community outreach officer — a job that only requires a BSW — earns a median salary of about $43,640. Case managers, who also need a BSW, bring home median wages of about $39,212.

In contrast, clinical social work requires an MSW and comes with a median salary of $56,200. Someone who earns a terminal degree like a DSW or Ph.D. in social work may become a professor of social work and can earn a median annual wage of $68,300

Social work teachers work as faculty members and professors at colleges or universities. They can teach at community college, undergraduate, or graduate levels. These professionals lead classes and lectures about social work and may also carry out social science research, testing hypotheses about the effectiveness of various social work methods or programs. Professors take on additional responsibilities as student advisors, including hosting office hours and writing recommendation letters. Teachers need a doctoral degree in order to work at the postsecondary level. You can find more information about social work professors here.

Salary: $68,300 median annual wage

These professionals work in leadership or management positions at various social and community organizations, including nonprofits and local government agencies. Some of these managers work in roles supervising social workers. Generally speaking, these managers can find employment with a bachelor’s degree in an area like social work or business administration. Some employers prefer job candidates with a master’s degree. For more information about social and community service managers, read this guide.

Salary: $67,150 median annual salary

Healthcare social workers work with patients undergoing certain illnesses and medical conditions. These social workers are not medical professionals; they provide resources to help patients deal with their disease or illness. They might connect patients to support groups, or they could help patients adjust to a new living situation like hospice care. Like other social workers, those who specialize in healthcare need both a BSW and an MSW. They also need state licensure to legally practice. Read more about healthcare social worker jobs with this resource.

Salary: $56,750 median annual salary

School counselors guide students in elementary, middle, and high schools. They might help children who experience difficult home lives affecting their ability to succeed with their schoolwork; many of these responsibilities are similar to child and family social workers’ duties. This guide provides more details about the job. You can become a school counselor with a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field. Some students use an undergraduate degree in social work to prepare for this master’s degree. School counselors also need state licensure to practice.

Salary: $56,310 median annual wage

In certain circumstances, you might qualify for student loan forgiveness following graduation from your program. Most programs require you to work in a government or non-profit agency for a specific period of time in locations where access to social workers is limited.

Depending on your situation, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program, or the National Health Services Corp Loan Repayment Program. In addition, many states sponsor individual student loan forgiveness programs that have similar employment and location requirements.

Professional organizations are valuable resources for staying informed on social work news and trends. Many also offer opportunities for professional development, networking, mentoring, and job searching. Some professional organizations to consider are:

American Clinical Social Work Association (ACSWA)

The American Clinical Social Work Association (ACSWA) is open to all clinical social workers, from graduate students to senior practitioners.

Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA)

The Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) is open to Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), promoting “identity, integrity, and parity” for LCSWs.

National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW)

The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) is committed to advocacy, human service delivery, and research.

National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers (NAPRHSW)

The National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers (NAPRHSW) is comprised of social workers and other human service professionals focused on the welfare of Puerto Rican and Hispanic families.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

With more than 120,000 members, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) promotes professional development, sets professional standards, and works in advocacy.

Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care (SSWLHC)

Members of the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care (SSWLC) are dedicated to promoting the psychosocial components of health and illness in healthcare.

Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)

The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) supports social workers, social welfare professionals, and students, faculty, and researchers in social work and related fields.

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