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Online Master of Social Work

Career Outlook with an MSW

MSW Careers, Titles, and New Roles Available

Ignite your passion for helping others by pursuing your master’s degree in social work. This program can open doors to roles and industries not available to those holding only an undergraduate degree. Graduate with the skills you need to work directly with clients and gain autonomy in your treatment plans.

 

Careers

Listed here are some of the career titles, overarching responsibilities, and salaries available to you as a graduate of our Master of Social Work degree program. By adding an optional Addiction Studies Certificate to your MSW degree, you could stand out for careers in mental health and substance abuse counseling. These positions can be found in treatment centers, community centers, medical offices, schools and more.

  • Clinical social workers are mental health professionals who provide a holistic perspective while working with individuals, groups, and communities. They use a person-in-environment approach to consider how the micro, mezzo, and macro systems interact to influence the client system’s lived experience. All clinical work, including diagnosis and treatment, considers the biological, psychological, and social aspects of individual functioning as well as the cultural and spiritual aspects of the person, group, and community.

    Projected job growth from 2022 to 2032: 7 percent1

    2022 median wage: $55,3501

  • These social workers engage with families to further their well-being. They work to strengthen parenting skills, prevent child abuse, and identify permanent and temporary homes for abandoned or abused children.

    In schools, they work with teachers and families to maximize the academic functioning of children. They also address teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy.

    Projected job growth from 2022 to 2032: 5 percent1

    2022 median wage: $50,8201

  • In this role, social workers assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Activities to help people better their mental state and take control of their addiction may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Additional licensing may be required.

    Projected job growth from 2022 to 2032: 11 percent1

    2022 median wage: $51,2401

  • Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise social service programs within communities and corporate organizations, such as healthcare companies. They work to implement and evaluate social service programs as well as manage those who provide those services to the public.

    Much of this occupation’s growth results from an aging population. Employment opportunities will expand the most in industries that serve the elderly or persons with disabilities, like adult services, insurance agencies, and meal services.

    Projected job growth from 2022 to 2032: 9 percent3

    2022 median wage: $74,2403

  • Healthcare social workers often work in settings such as hospice care, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, though a new trend shows growth within insurance agencies as well.

    Typically, their role is to provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. They advise family members who act as caregivers on making sound decisions that benefit everyone, provide patients with education and counseling, and make referrals for other services. They may also provide care, case management, or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers that inhibit access to healthcare.

    Projected job growth from 2022 to 2032: 10 percent1

    2022 median wage: $60,2801

7 percent growth in social work employment is projected from 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the national average.1

91.9 percent of new social workers would recommend social work degrees to their peers, according to a 2020 report.2

Is Getting the MSW Degree Worth It?

Pursuing an MSW degree is a serious commitment, and many graduates consider it a worthwhile investment. A study published by the National Association of Social Workers in August 2020 indicated a strong job market for new social workers, as more than 80 percent of job seekers had secured employment within months of earning their MSW.2

The report also showed:

  • 91.9 percent would recommend a social work degree to others
  • 90.4 percent of practitioners in new positions are satisfied
  • 82 percent work in direct practice with individuals, families, or groups
  • 80 percent plan to earn clinical social work licenses within five years

Top-Paying Industries for MSW Graduates

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following annual mean salaries for social workers by industry:

  • Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation): $86,0304
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $72,5505
  • Offices of Other Health Practitioners: $68,5406
  • Insurance Carriers: $66,4307
  • Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance-Related Activities: $665,5808

Achieving the License You Need

Saint Mary’s Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. The CSWE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States. With a curriculum aligned to CSWE standards, the MSW program prepares students for state licensure eligibility. Applicants for social work licensure must also meet additional requirements in every state and U.S. territory, including but not limited to additional training,  supervised clinical experiences, and national licensure examination. For more information about the MSW program and social work licensure, visit State-by-State Guide to Social Work Licensing Requirements.

Earning Your Social Work Licensure

Get Started Now

Request more information to learn more about Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s online programs. An enrollment counselor will contact you shortly to share more information and answer your questions. When you’re ready, you can click Apply Now to start your online application.

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Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Social Workers.” Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
  2. National Association of Social Workers. Findings From Three Years of Surveys of New Social Workers. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1_j2EXVNspY%3d&portalid=0.
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Social and Community Service Managers.” Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm.
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “NAICS 999100 – Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation).” Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999100.htm.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “NAICS 622100 – General Medical and Surgical Hospitals.” Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_622100.htm.
  6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “NAICS 621300 – Offices of Other Health Practitioners.” Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_621300.htm.
  7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “NAICS 524100 – Insurance Carriers.” Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_524100.htm.
  8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “NAICS 524200 – Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities.” Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_524200.htm.