What Do Social Workers Do?
Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people’s lives. There are two main types of social workers: direct-service social workers who help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, and clinical social workers, who diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Direct-service social workers assess their clients’ needs and situations and develop plans to improve their clients’ well-being. They may help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, divorce, or unemployment, and may also respond to crisis situations, such as natural disasters or child abuse. They will also advocate for and help clients get the resources they need to improve their well-being such as community and government benefits, food stamps, child care, and health care. These social workers help clients cope with difficulties at every stage of life, from childhood to old age, and through a wide range of situations such as job loss, adopting a child or the death of a child, addiction issues, to being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Clinical social workers, also called licensed social workers, may diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. In addition to many of the tasks that a direct-service social worker may do, clinical social workers also provide individual, group, family, and couples therapy; develop treatment plans to best help their clients, work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations; and refer clients to other resources or services, such as support groups or other mental health professionals. Important qualities include empathy, problem-solving skills, organizational skills, and communication skills.
Both direct-service social workers and clinical social workers may specialize in a number of areas:
Child and family social workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social functioning and psychological well-being of children and their families. They help families in need of assistance and protect vulnerable children. Clinical social workers provide mental health care to help children and families cope with changes in their lives, such as divorce or other family problems.
School social workers help teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development. They may also help to deal with problems such as aggressive behavior, bullying, or frequent absences from school.
Medical and public health social workers provide psychosocial support to individuals, families, or vulnerable populations so they can make necessary adjustments to their lifestyle to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, or AIDS.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers assess and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems. Such services include individual and group therapy, outreach, crisis intervention, social rehabilitation, and teaching skills needed for everyday living.
Other types of social workers include social work administrators, researchers, planners and policymakers, who develop and implement programs and regulations to address issues such as child abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, and violence.
For more information about social workers, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Many social workers work in private practice, either solo or in a group with other social workers or mental health professionals. Some social workers also work in hospitals, outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, school districts, and nursing and residential care facilities. Although most social workers work in an office and often handle their own recordkeeping and billing, they may also spend a lot of time out of their offices visiting clients in their homes or wherever they may be and traveling to schools, institutions, or other locations.
How Much Do Social Workers Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for healthcare social workers in the United States was $62,760. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, healthcare social workers in New York earned a median annual salary of $57.023 (healthcare social workers in the 25th percentile made approximately $41,980 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $73,148).
Supply and Demand
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2016 and 2026, employment of all social workers in the U.S. is expected to increase by 9%. As with annual wages for social workers, the percentage of growth varies with type of social work, although all social work professions are expected to grow faster than the average of all occupations.
According to the New York State Department of Labor, between 2020 and 2030, jobs for child, family, and school social workers in the state are projected to grow 24%; jobs for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the state are projected to grow 26%; jobs for health care social workers in the state are projected to grow 27%; and jobs all other social workers in the state are projected to grow 13%.
Growth in the social work professions will be due to an increase in demand for health care and social services in a variety of ways. For example, more social workers will be needed in schools to respond to rising student enrollments; and employment of health care social workers is expected to grow as baby boomers age and they require help to find the health care they need.
For more information on employment projections of child, family, and school social workers by New York labor regions, 2018-2028, click here.
Educational Requirements
Social workers typically have a degree in social work from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker; however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may qualify for some entry-level jobs, especially in small community agencies.
A master’s degree in social work (MSW) is usually required for positions in health and school settings and is required for clinical work, as well. MSWs generally take two years to complete. Some programs allow those with a BSW to earn their MSW in one year. MSW programs prepare students for work in their chosen specialty and develop the skills to do clinical assessments, manage a large number of clients, and take on supervisory duties. All programs require students to complete supervised fieldwork or an internship. A BSW is not required to enter MSW programs. In fact, a degree in almost any major is acceptable. However, coursework in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended.
A doctorate in social work (DSW) is usually required for college and university teaching positions and research appointments.
New York Licensure Requirements
In New York, there are two professional licenses for social workers, with different qualifications. Only licensed social work professionals may legally use the title Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York. The LCSW may provide all social work services, including clinical services such as the diagnosis of mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental, and addictive disorders, the development of treatment plans, and the provision of psychotherapy. The LMSW may provide these clinical services only under supervision of an LCSW, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist. Social work services may also be provided by an unlicensed person with a BSW degree, under the supervision of an LMSW or LCSW, although non-licensees cannot diagnose or treat mental illness.
In order to be licensed in New York, MSWs must receive a master’s degree from a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and pass a national licensing exam. CSWs must complete an MSW degree that includes clinical courses, have three years of post-degree supervised experience in clinical social work, and pass a clinical licensing examination.
LCSWs must complete an MSW degree that includes clinical courses, have three years of post-degree supervised experience in clinical social work, and pass a clinical licensing examination.
For more information on New York licensing requirements for Licensed Master Social Workers, go to: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/licensed-master-social-worker/license-requirements. For more information on requirements for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, go to: https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/licensed-clinical-social-worker/license-requirements
Financial Support
The National Association of Social Workers offers scholarships to social work students. For more information, go to: http://www.naswfoundation.org/fellowships.asp.
The Council on Social Work Education provides a number of funding opportunities for students. Check the Web site for information: http://www.cswe.org/.
Social Work Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
Note: Please click on each school’s name to view its Web site for information about which social work degrees the school offers.
| Adelphi University 1 South Ave. Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 887-4300 *Adelphi Social Work programs are also available in Manhattan, Poughkeepsie, and Hauppauge |
Binghamton University- SUNY University Downtown Center 67 Washington St. Binghamton, NY 13902 (607) 777-5999 |
| Buffalo State College-SUNY 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 (716) 878-5705 |
College at Brockport- SUNY 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420 (585) 395-2324 |
| College of Saint Rose 432 Western Ave. Albany, New York 12203 (800) 637-8556 |
Columbia University 1255 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY 10027 (212) 851-2300 |
| Syracuse University 119 Euclid Avenue Syracuse, New York 13244 (315) 443-5555 |
Daemen College 4380 Main Street Amherst, NY 14226 (800) 462-7652 |
| Dominican College of Blauvelt 470 Western Highway Orangeburg, NY 10962 (845) 848-4078 |
Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus 113 W. 60th Street New York, NY 10023 (212) 636-6656 |
| SUNY Fredonia 280 Central Avenue Fredonia, NY 14063 (716) 673-3470 |
Hunter College-CUNY 2180 Third Avenue New York, NY 10035 (212) 396-7500 |
| Iona College 715 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801 (914) 633-2471 |
Keuka College 141 Central Avenue Keuka Park, NY 14478 (315) 279-5000 |
| Lehman College-CUNY 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West West Bronx, NY 10468 (718) 960-8192 |
Touro College 43 West 23 Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10010 (212) 463-0400 |
| York College-CUNY 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard Jamaica, NY 11451 (718) 262-2613 |
Long Island University C.W. Post Campus 720 Northern Boulevard Brookville, NY 11548 (516) 299-2750 |
| Marist College 3399 North Rd. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (845) 575-3000 |
SUNY Plattsburgh 101 Broad Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 564-2000 |
| Yeshiva University 2495 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY 10033 (212) 960-0810 or (212) 960-5400 |
Nazareth College 4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 (585) 389-2753 |
| New York University Silver School of Social Work Ehrenkranz Center 1 Washington Square North New York, NY 10003 (212) 998-5900 |
Niagara University 5795 Lewiston Road Niagara University, NY 14109 (716) 286-8520 |
| Alliance University NYC Campus 2 Washington Street New York, NY 10004 (646) 378-6170 or Rockland Campus 1 South Blvd. Nyack, NY 10960 (845) 675-4555 |
Mercy College Dobbs Ferry Campus 555 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 or Bronx Campus 1200 Waters Place Bronx, NY 10461 (914) 674-7301 (for both) |
| Roberts Wesleyan College 2301 Westside Drive Rochester, NY 14624 (585) 594-6400 |
Siena College 515 Loudon Road Loudonville, NY 12211 (518) 786-5046 |
| Skidmore College 815 North Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 580-5428 |
University at Albany-SUNY135 Western Avenue Albany, NY 12222 (518) 442-5320 or (518) 442-5815 |
| SUNY Buffalo 685 Baldy Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 (716) 645-3381 or (800) 386-6129 |
Stony Brook University-SUNY Health Sciences Center Stony Brook, NY 11794 (631) 444-3141 |
| College of Staten Island 2800 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10310 (718) 982-2000 |
St. Joseph’s University 5600 City Ave Philadelphia, PA 19131 (610) 660-1000 |
| Utica University 1600 Burrstone Rd. Utica, NY 13502 (866) 295-3106 |
Additional Web Links
For more information about social workers, please visit these websites:
The American Board of Clinical Social Work https://www.abcsw.org/
The Association of Social Work Boards www.aswb.org
The Council on Social Work Education www.cswe.org
The National Association of Social Workers www.naswdc.org
The National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter www.naswnyc.org
The National Association of Puerto Rican/Hispanic Social Workers www.naprhsw.com
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