Social workers counsel people with a wide range of problems.
Social workers have favorable job prospects, with projected employment growth of about 16 percent in this occupation between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social workers in rural areas have especially good opportunities, as these areas tend to have difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified social work professionals. The salary scale for social workers depends partly on the specialty and type of employment.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Mental health social workers work with clients who have problems with mental illness or emotional issues. This category of social workers includes those who help clients deal with addictions to alcohol or other drugs. The average salary for these social workers as of May 2009 was $41,350 per year, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent of mental health and substance abuse social workers had annual salaries of $30,480 to $49,840. Some of the higher-paying types of employment on average included positions with local government agencies, with an average pay rate of $46,240 per year, and in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, where the average salary was $47,010 per year.
Child, Family and School Social Workers
Child, family and school social workers work to improve the well-being of children and families when the youngsters have problems affecting their progress at school or other aspects of their lives. Some of the work of these professionals includes finding foster homes for abused children, counseling pregnant teenagers and single parents, and resolving truancy issues. The average pay in this field in 2009 was $43,540 per year, with the middle 50 percent earning $31,950 to $52,410, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Generally higher pay rates were provided by local government agencies with an average annual salary of $48,320, and in elementary and secondary schools at $56,660 per year.
Medical and Public Health Social Workers
Medical and public health social workers help patients and their families cope when the patient has a severe chronic illness or a terminal illness. The average annual salary for these social workers was $48,340 in 2009. The middle 50 percent on the salary scale had annual wages of $36,090 to $58,490. Medical and public health social workers in general hospitals had higher average salaries at $53,730 per year.
Other Social Workers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes a category for all other social workers, such as those who work with sexual assault victims, and criminal justice and forensics social workers. The average salary for this group of professionals was $50,470, with the middle 50 percent earning $36,700 to $62,780 per year. They earned higher salaries on average in local government at $56,190 per year, in general hospitals at $58,260 per year, and with the federal government at an average of $67,830 per year.
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