The 25 Best Master of Social Work Degree Programs

A Master’s in Social Work (MSW) is one of the best degrees you can have for helping others and getting paid to do so. Social workers serve individuals, families, and communities. They can work for themselves, corporations, schools, and the government.

Direct-service social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, while clinical social workers diagnose and treat behavioral, mental, and emotional issues. Those with an MSW degree usually are employed as case workers, counselors, or therapists.

Full-time students typically complete work on their MSW degree in two years. However, many schools offer advanced-standing MSW programs to students with a bachelor’s degree in social work. These programs take less than two years to complete.

Salaries

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary in 2011 for social workers was $53,900.  The annual mean wage for social workers in industries with the highest level of employment for the occupation was the following, in descending order: Federal executive branch; general, medical, and surgical hospitals; local government; state government; and individual and family services.

The median salaries by skill/specialty of employees with a Master of Social Work degree are shown below:

• Counseling: $49,500
• Case Management: $54,267
• Geriatrics: $40,976
• Spanish language: $45,750
• Psychiatric: $51,000
• Operations Management: $64,709
• Fundraising: $49,500
• Program Management: $57,250

(Source: PayScale, April 2012)

Employment Growth

The BLS forecasts a 25% employment growth for social workers, faster than the average for all occupations. The expected job growth is due to an increase in demand for social services and healthcare, but will vary by specialty. The BLS forecasts a 34% employment growth for healthcare social workers, 31% for mental health and substance abuse social workers, and 20% for child, family, and school social workers.

Some of the employment opportunities for people with an MSW are shown below:

• Aging
• Public welfare
• Child welfare
• Justice corrections
• School social Work
• Health care
• Employment/occupational social work
• Developmental disabilities
• Community organization
• Mental health/clinical social work
• Management/administration
• International social work
• Research
• Politics
• Policy and planning
• Adoption and foster care agencies
• Private practice
• Employee assistance programs
• Advocacy and coalition groups
• Domestic violence agencies
• Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers
• Nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities
• Homelessness & hunger advocacy networks
• Women’s shelters
• Long-term care facilities
• Military counseling offices
• Assisted living facilities
• Senior centers
• Social and human services centers