by our College Data Analytics TeamSocial Work is a major that allows you to work with and respond to people in need. This can be a very difficult but fulfilling job as you have the opportunity to help people with many issues and problems. Your clients will include those who suffer from substance abuse, racial inequalities, poverty, homelessness, or many other problems. You should be an open and understanding person when encountering diverse people and situations.
Students take a variety of classes focused on the subject of human behavior and social issues in families and groups as well as individuals. Examples of the classes you will take are alcohol and drug addiction, behavior and social environment, child welfare, gender issues, human diversity, and social welfare policy. Students sometimes have the opportunity to choose a concentration in Youth Services, which focuses more on helping children and adolescents.
Studying Social Work covers Social Work. Continue reading for the key facts every social work major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering social work programs.
Across the country, social work is a popular field of study, with 58,176 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Social Work Schools ranking analyzes these 798 schools to determine the best overall colleges for social work students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of social work programs later in this article.
Studies in Social Work build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations social work graduates commonly enter.
The most successful students in the field of social work are outgoing and confident. This field is very hands-on and involves constant people-interaction. Many of the people you work with are in stressful situations and need an empathetic person to help them. Sometimes the best way to help is simply to provide a listening and compassionate ear.
Organizational skills will help you manage classes in a variety of subjects. Practice time management in college in order to help you in a career managing multiple clients and completing paperwork. You will learn many theories and approaches to helping people and have the opportunity to apply those theories to come up with practical solutions to problems.
Many colleges have the opportunity for students to complete an internship or participate in field work. This will give you invaluable experience for your career as a social worker.
Skills developed in a social work program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a social work major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several social work degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 125 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,154 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 18,657 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 36,305 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 917 |
People currently working in careers related to social work tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.2% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in social work careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are several different fields you can choose from. Those who work in family, school, and child social work often help place children in foster care and investigate child abuse cases. Healthcare social work is another quickly growing field which involves working with aging populations. You can also choose to work in mental health and substance abuse helping clients get treatment instead of going to jail.
A degree in social work can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to social work.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to social work.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 253,503 | 5.8% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 251,555 | 12.1% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 229,049 | -3.8% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 181,916 | 13.3% |
| Social Workers, All Other | 142,086 | 4.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of social work graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,745 |
| 4 years | $51,599 |
| 5 years | $57,911 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for social work graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers social work grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $78,044 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $74,325 |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | $65,510 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $62,827 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $58,560 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $41,658 |
With 798 different social work programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased social work school rankings to help you.
Students interested in social work, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 57,279 |
| Social Work, Other | 622 |
| Youth Services/Administration | 267 |
| Forensic Social Work | 8 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 13,993 |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS | 11,674 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 6,183 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 2,651 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 518 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
