97 Jobs You Can Land With a Social Work Degree
Social work is easily one of the most versatile degrees. While most degrees funnel you toward a narrow band of job titles or a single industry, social work does the opposite, creating many possibilities. Whether you’re considering pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW), understanding the range of opportunities available can help you determine if a social work degree is right for you.
What Do Social Workers Actually Do?
At the most basic level, social workers help people navigate life’s challenges and advocate for a more just and equitable society. Whether working one-on-one with clients or promoting change at the policy level, their goal is the same: to improve lives and strengthen communities.
Social workers do this through several core functions:
Providing direct support to individuals, families, and groups through counselling, crisis intervention, case management, and resource navigation.
Preventing future challenges by offering education, early intervention, and support services to reduce the risk of crises and promote well-being.
Advocating for social justice by addressing systemic barriers, challenging discrimination, influencing policies, and promoting access to basic human rights.
Empowering communities by supporting community-led solutions, building local capacity, and fostering resilience through grassroots engagement.
Collaborating with other professionals to coordinate holistic care in schools, hospitals, nonprofits, justice systems, government, and private practice.
A Flexible Career Path
A unique feature of social work degrees is how versatile they are. Social work isn’t limited to one setting or population. Social workers develop highly transferable skills, allowing them to shift between different fields and specialties as their interests or life circumstances change. The social work perspective, specifically seeing people in the context of their environments, recognizing strengths, and addressing barriers, makes social workers valuable in a wide range of industries and roles.
Depending on the job, a social worker might:
Provide therapy for individuals with anxiety, depression, or trauma.
Help hospital patients and their families navigate the healthcare system.
Run support groups for caregivers, survivors, or people in recovery.
Develop programs that support youth, seniors, or newcomers to the country.
Partner with communities to address systemic inequities and advocate for policy change.
Support children and families involved in the child welfare system.
Train and educate future social workers as professors or field instructors in social work educational programs.
Design and evaluate public health initiatives that address mental health, addiction, poverty, or other social issues.
Manage nonprofit organizations or social service programs, and oversee budgets, staff, and strategic direction.
Supervise and mentor frontline social workers and students in hospitals, schools, community agencies, and private practice.
Serve as policy advisors or consultants to government agencies or elected officials.
Conduct community-based research to inform services that are culturally relevant and responsive.
Evaluate the impact of social programs or policies to guide funding and implementation decisions.
Whether you’re drawn to direct support, systems change, leadership, research, teaching, or something else, there’s likely a role in social work that aligns with your values, skills, and interests.
Social Work Jobs
Here’s a list of social work jobs for inspiration, ranging from entry-level to advanced roles. Some require social work licensing and additional training, while others are more flexible.
Mental Health & Clinical Social Work
Focuses on therapy, assessment, and mental health support in individual, family, or group settings.
Clinical Social Worker
Psychotherapist
Mental Health Case Manager
Community Mental Health Worker
Behavioral Health Clinician or Specialist
Private Practice Therapist
Crisis Worker
Eating Disorder Specialist
Psychiatric Social Worker
Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapist
Grief and Bereavement Counselor
Telehealth Therapist
Psychological Health & Safety Consultant
Clinical Supervisor
Intake Clinician
Healthcare & Medical Social Work
Involves working in hospitals, clinics, hospices, and other health-related settings.
Medical Social Worker
Hospital Social Worker
Palliative Care Social Worker
Oncology Social Worker
Organ Transplant Social Worker
Hospice Social Worker
Health Navigator
Primary Care Social Worker
Geriatric Social Worker
NICU Social Worker
Dialysis Social Worker
Travel Medical Social Worker
Public Health Social Worker
Emergency Department Social Worker
Aging & Family Services Worker
School and Education-Based Social Work
Roles based in K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, or youth-serving education programs.
School Social Worker
School Counselor
School-Based Therapist
College Mental Health Counselor
Student Success Coach
Early Intervention Social Worker
Manager of Student Wellness
Child Welfare & Family Services
Includes work in child protection, foster care, family reunification, and parenting support.
Child Protection Worker
Family Services Worker
Family Support Worker
Adoption Social Worker
Foster Care Case Manager
Kinship Support Worker
Family Reunification Social Worker
Child Welfare Supervisor
Permanency Planning Worker
Child and Family Wellness Worker
Substance Use, Criminal Justice & Crisis Intervention
Addresses addiction, rehabilitation, justice-involved individuals, and high-risk environments.
Substance Use Social Worker
Harm Reduction Specialist
Peer Support Coordinator
Forensic Social Worker
Youth Justice Worker
Domestic Violence Social Worker
Legal Aid Social Worker
Probation Worker
Police Social Worker
Court Advocate
Victim Advocate
Mitigation Specialist
Corrections Social Worker
Re-entry Social Worker
Disaster Response Social Worker
Community, Advocacy & Macro Social Work
Focuses on community engagement, program development, systems change, and collective advocacy.
Community Organizer
Community Development Worker
Community Outreach Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Community Program Manager
Housing Support Worker
Immigrant Settlement Worker
Indigenous Social Worker
International Social Worker
Environmental Social Worker
Policy, Research & Academia
Involves research, policy analysis, government roles, teaching, and academic work.
Policy Analyst
Disability Policy Worker
Program Evaluator
Academic Researcher
Research Coordinator
Research Analyst
Legislative Assistant
MSW Instructor or Field Liaison
Professor of Social Work
Adjunct or Sessional Instructor
Leadership, Supervision & Administration
Covers organizational leadership, clinical supervision, and management of programs or teams.
Clinical Supervisor
Program Manager
Nonprofit Executive Director
Director of Community Services
Operations Manager
DEI Manager or Specialist
Other Social Work Roles
Case Manager
Travel Social Worker
Veterinary Social Worker
Library Social Worker
Corporate Social Worker
Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist
Financial Social Worker
Military Social Worker
Sports Social Worker
How to Find Social Work Jobs
You don’t always have to search for “social worker” to find relevant roles. Many social work jobs on Indeed, LinkedIn, or other job boards are listed under alternative job titles like case manager, counselor, program coordinator, or policy analyst. Here are some tips for finding these roles:
Job Boards are Your Friend
Start with the big ones like Indeed and LinkedIn, but don’t stop there! Look for specialized job boards as well. For example, you can search Idealist or Charity Village for nonprofit roles. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has a job posting section on their website, along with state and provincial social work associations like Ontario Association of Social Workers’ socialworkjobs.ca. Social work programs and faculties often send out email newsletters with job opportunities to their students and recent graduates. You can also check government websites for public sector jobs. Healthcare systems, educational institutions, and large nonprofit career portals are also worth checking regularly.
Think Beyond the “Social Worker” Title
Many jobs that require or strongly prefer social work skills or licensure don’t have “Social Worker” in the job title. For example, a role managing a youth mentorship program might be called “Program Manager” but heavily utilizes social work skills in assessment, relationship-building, resource connection, and evaluation. So, expand your search terms, and don’t limit yourself to only searching for social work-specific titles. Think about the functions you want to perform as well. Try searching for terms such as case management, advocate, or other terms from the social work jobs list provided earlier in this post.
Network, Network, Network
Networking can supercharge your career search, and it’s never too early to start! Reach out to practitioners in areas you’re interested in before graduation for informational interviews. I have found that most social workers are happy to talk with a student who is genuinely interested in their work. You can also connect with alumni from your program, join social work special interest groups, or volunteer with organizations in your desired field. Oftentimes, the best opportunities come through people you know, so it pays to build your network and make meaningful connections while you’re still in school.
Leverage Field Placements
Your field placements are not just learning experiences; in some cases, they can also lead to job offers. Even if you don’t end up working directly for your placement, the connections you make there are invaluable and can lead to other opportunities.
Highest Paying Social Work Jobs
While social work isn’t known for sky-high salaries, there are certain specialties and settings where compensation is considerably higher. These tend to be the most lucrative paths:
Private Practice
Clinical social workers who work in or establish successful private therapy practices can earn significant incomes, often charging $100+ per hour. However, it takes time and business acumen to build a full caseload.
Healthcare Settings
Medical and hospital social workers, especially those in specialized units (e.g., transplant, oncology, or dialysis) and healthcare administration/management roles, often earn higher salaries than their peers in community-based organizations.
Government Positions
Social workers employed by government agencies, like the VA (Veterans Affairs) and the military, tend to earn higher salaries with excellent benefits and clearly defined advancement paths.
Administration and Leadership Roles
Social workers who move into program management, executive leadership, or other administrative positions often earn noticeably higher salaries than frontline workers. However, reaching those competitive positions generally requires several years of practice plus proven supervisory and budgeting skills.
For more social work employment and wage data, which can be broken down by industry, state, and other filters, check out the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Profile Tool.
Do I Need to Be Licensed to Work as a Social Worker?
The short answer is it depends, but licensure is frequently required and recommended.
What is Licensure?
Social work licensure is regulated at the state and provincial levels, with the goal of protecting the public by ensuring that social workers meet specific educational and professional standards. In most areas of Canada and the U.S., the title “Social Worker” is protected by law, meaning that to be called a “Social Worker,” you must have a BSW or MSW and be registered with your state or provincial college or licensing board. Common licensing titles include Registered Social Worker (RSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), though specific titles may vary by location.
When Is It Required?
If you want to provide psychotherapy as a clinical social worker, you need to be licensed. Many jobs in healthcare, mental health, and schools also require licensure as a condition of employment. International mobility improves with licensure as well.
When Might It Not Be Required?
Some social work-related jobs, such as “Case Manager,” “Program Coordinator,” or purely macro-level jobs in community organizing, policy analysis, research, or non-profit administration, do not require licensure and are open to those with relevant degrees or experience. That said, even in these roles, having a license can enhance your credibility and open the door to more opportunities and higher pay.
Ultimately, the best way to determine whether you need to be licensed is to look at the qualifications employers require for the roles you're interested in by searching job postings.
Is a Social Work Degree Right for You?
Social work isn’t a one-way ticket to a single job or industry; it’s an incredibly versatile degree that can lead to working with all types of populations in all sorts of ways.
Social work might be right for you if you:
Find meaning in helping others navigate challenges
Are interested in understanding both individual and systemic issues
Value flexibility and diverse career options
Are comfortable with complexity and gray areas
Want skills that transfer across multiple settings
Are passionate about social justice and equity
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