Social Worker
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
Also called: Clinical Social Worker · Hospice Social Worker · LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) · Medical Social Worker · Nephrology Social Worker · Oncology Social Worker · Psychosocial Coordinator · Renal Social Worker
O*NET-SOC 21-1022.00 (Healthcare Social Workers)
Social Worker salary
Wages for healthcare social workers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $32.63.
Social Worker pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $54,220 | $89,660 | $134,880 |
| Texas | $40,210 | $69,990 | $98,150 |
| Florida | $45,760 | $64,820 | $88,470 |
| New York | $47,750 | $73,070 | $103,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,770 | $61,900 | $83,220 |
| Illinois | $47,290 | $64,270 | $96,970 |
| Ohio | $45,150 | $63,610 | $84,050 |
| Georgia | $43,260 | $62,420 | $86,990 |
| North Carolina | $40,650 | $63,280 | $85,070 |
| Michigan | $47,640 | $67,600 | $91,190 |
Social Worker job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 194,800 jobs in 2025 to 211,300 in 2035 (9% change).
- About 16,900 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become a social worker
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma2.1%
- High school diploma or equivalent13.9%
- Some college, no degree12.1%
- Associate's degree5.9%
- Bachelor's degree27.1%
- Master's degree36.3%
- Doctoral or professional degree2.7%
Related training programs
- Clinical/Medical Social Work
- Forensic Social Work
- Hospice and Palliative Care
- Medical Family Therapy/Therapist
- Social Work
- Social Work, Other
- Thanatology
What does a social worker do?
Common tasks
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
- Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in clients' status.
Most important skills
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Social Worker certifications
8 of 32 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Behavioral Intervention Certification Council · Specialty
- The Breining Institute · Advanced
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) · Specialty
- American Association of Directors of Nursing Services · Core
- Board of Oncology Social Work Certification · Specialty
- National Association of Social Workers · Advanced
- National Association of Social Workers · Advanced
- The Breining Institute · Advanced
See all 32certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Social Worker jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more social work jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Social Work jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Mental Health Counselors
- Child and Family Social Worker
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Clinical Psychologist
- Community Health Workers
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Health Education Specialists
More social work careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Healthcare Social Workers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.