 Employment
and Earnings
Social workers hold
about 642,000 jobs in the United States. About 54 percent jobs were in
healthcare and social assistance industries, and 31 percent were
employed by government agencies. Although most social workers are
employed in cities or suburbs, some work in rural areas. Employment by
type of social worker follows:
|
Child, family and
school social workers |
292,600 |
|
Medical and
public health social workers |
138,700 |
|
Mental health and
substance abuse social workers |
137,300 |
|
Social workers,
all other |
73,400 |
Median annual wages of
child, family, and school social workers is about $39,530. The middle 50
percent earned between $31,040 and $52,080. The lowest 10 percent earned
less than $25,870, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,430.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of
child, family, and school social workers are:
|
Elementary
and secondary schools |
$53,860 |
|
Local
government |
46,650 |
|
State
government |
39,600 |
|
Individual
and family services |
34,450 |
|
Other
residential care facilities |
34,270 |
Median annual wages of
medical and public health social workers were $46,650. The
middle 50 percent earned between $35,550 and $57,690. The lowest 10
percent earned less than $28,100, and the top 10 percent earned more
than $69,090. Median annual wages in the industries employing the
largest numbers of medical and public health social workers are:
|
General
medical and surgical hospitals |
$51,470 |
|
Home health
care services |
46,930 |
|
Local
government |
44,140 |
|
Nursing care
facilities |
41,080 |
|
Individual
and family services |
38,370 |
Median annual wages of
mental health and substance abuse social workers were $37,210. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,910 and $48,560. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,770, and the top 10 percent
earned more than $61,430. Median annual wages in the industries
employing the largest numbers of mental health and substance abuse
social workers are:
|
Outpatient
care centers |
$36,660 |
|
Individual
and family services |
35,900 |
|
Residential
mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse
facilities |
33,950 |
Median annual wages of
social workers, all other were $46,220. The middle 50
percent earned between $34,420 and $60,850. The lowest 10 percent earned
less than $27,400, and the top 10 percent earned more than $74,040.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of
social workers, all other are:
|
General
medical and surgical hospitals |
$55,940 |
|
Local
government |
51,700 |
|
Individual
and family services |
36,660 |
|
Residential
mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse
facilities |
36,460 |
|
Community
food and housing, and emergency and other relief services |
31,890 |
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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