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Social Services & Nonprofit
Social Worker
About this Career
Help people cope with challenges in their lives including poverty, addiction, and mental health.
Pay
$41,580
Lower reported wage
$61,330
Median
$99,500
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
Make this your goal
Build a personalized Roadmap Plan with CLEP savings and school matches.
Create free account →Entry requirements
- Choose a social-work degree that fits the population and type of work you want.
- Complete supervised field experience and learn assessment, referrals, and case documentation.
- Check state rules; clinical social work requires a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and licensure.
Licenses, exams, and ongoing requirements
Licensing varies by state and role. Clinical social workers must be licensed after qualifying graduate study and supervision. [1]
Find the licensing agency for your work state
Search CareerOneStop by occupation and state, then confirm the rules with the issuing agency. Coverage is incomplete; an empty result does not mean no license is required.
About license data coverageTraining pay & costs
Can I earn while training?
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Sources and review dates
- BLS — Social Workers · Reviewed
U.S. career guide. Program, employer, and state requirements can differ.
About this data
Parent group 21-1020 covers all social workers. OOH median $61,330; 6% growth. 810,900 social workers.
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