NASW Responds to Article on Worst Paying College Degrees
Photo courtesy of Huffington Post.
Social work was recently listed in this article on Huffington Post as one of the worst paying college degrees. That generated a healthy response from social workers who left dozens of comments on the Huffington Web site as well as the National Association of Social Workers’ Facebook page.
The National Association of Social Workers is sending this response to Huffington Post:
The National Association of Social Workers is concerned with salary information posted in the Huffington piece, which cited Payscale data. Payscale, which limited its data collection to social workers with bachelor’s degrees, listed the starting median salary for a social worker at $33,400 and $41,600 for a mid-career social worker.
However, those median salary levels are below those in a new National Association of Social Workers Compensation Study, which includes data from social workers with master’s degrees. That study puts the median annual salary for all social workers at $55,000 a year.
Social workers with less than five years experience earn a median annual salary of $43,700; those with 10- 19 years of experience earn a median annual salary of $52,000; and those with 20 -29 years of experience earn a median annual salary of $60,000, according to the NASW study.
To read a summary of the salary report click here.
You can find social workers in all areas of society. For instance, they help veterans who have risked their lives for our nation get the benefits they need, counsel families in crisis, and help keep children safe. Many social workers say the good they bring into the lives of others is far more important than getting rich.
However, there is no question social workers should be paid more for the invaluable work they do. That is why NASW supports Congressional passage of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Social Worker Reinvestment Act, which would secure federal and state investment in the social work profession.
We would also like to point out that social work is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, according to Labor Department data. And a May U.S. News and World Report article said medical and public health social work will be one of the 50 best careers in 2010 and beyond.
Judgments on the monetary value of certain careers are always subjective. Thank goodness many people continue to choose life-affirming careers such as social work despite the naysayers.
Sincerely,
Tracy Whitaker, DSW, ACSW
Director, Center for Workforce Studies and Social Work Practice
National Association of Social Workers
Thank you so much for responding to the article posted by HP. I was truly disappointed in their recent claims about the social work field being the worst in terms of compensation. I feel their portrayal was misleading and detrimental to the profession. Once again, thank you for speaking out for social workers.
I am interested to find this, as I too had laughed at that article two days ago when I first saw it. Glad this was addressed. As a current MSW graduate student at Louisiana State Unviersity, I am glad to see that this information was provided
maybe Huffington Post can update their list now!
The article on Yahoo lists the salaries for a BSW, so it may be accurate. Earning potential is more for MSW and LCSW.
Thank you for the speedy and well articulated response to the Huffington Post article. I too saw it first on Yahoo, so hopefully they will catch wind of this response as well. And although the “disappointing” salary figures may indeed deter some from the profession, I would say you’d be hard pressed to find a social worker who’s in it for the paycheck. The deeper and much more valuable reward of our profession comes from the services we provide to those most in need. A soon to be (BSW) graduate, the non-monitary rewards are what drew me, and keep me in the profession. As one of the fastest growing professions(despite the pay), its wonderful to see that we as social workers continue to resonate that message every day.
I understand how the negativity from the article could deter future social workers from pursuing our profession, but how else is that article negative??? People need to know that we don’t make anything as to raise awareness of what we do, and so we can get help to lobby our legislators for more funding for our services. I laughed at the NASW figures, not the original ones. I don’t know more than 2-3 colleagues of mine that make $55,000 or more. I have a MSW and LCSW, as does almost everyone I know. I don’t expect to make more than $35,000 anytime soon. Am I missing something as to why people are saying this stuff???
Even using the NASW’s numbers still the lowest paid Masters Degree… Yes?
Compensation for social workers is disproportionate to the level of education required (a masters degree for licensure where I live in California)and the amount of time, effort, and money it takes to get licensed, particularly in the State of California. Social work is often a labor of love.
Thanks for this response! What they also don’t account for is regional differences in pay scale. The wonderful people who go into social work see it as a calling to help others…I’m not sure I would want the profession to attract the same types that are only in a job for a pay check. That being said, social workers are undervalued, and I hope that does improve.
I made 40k my first year out of my master’s program, and I know LCSW in my area make more. Some fields of social worker may pay lower than others, but I haven’t heard of LCSW’s making no more than 35k / year.
Is NASW in denial or delusional that social work isn’t one of the worst paying degrees? A certificate RN (2-3 year education) often has a higher starting salary than a MSW with 6 years of education. I see ads for a LCSW with hourly pay of $12-$17 in an expensive part of the country no less. If I had a Master degree in any other field my salary would be at least $40,000 higher. I didn’t realize I was taking a vow of poverty when I became a social worker.
I’m currently in college as a double psychology and social work major and when my mom read that article she called to convince me not to become a social worker but a psychologist instead and have biology as my second major. Beautiful way to wake up in the morning.
I am questioning the scales quoted by the NASW for social worker salaries. Is this information relevant to all social workers or only the social workers that belong to the NASW. That piece of information would be necessary to draw informative conclusions about payscales. I have worked with many social workers that could not afford to join the NASW, so that says something in itself and the payscales. These salaries seem to be representative of federal employees, not non-profits, or even state employees. So I question the payscales and where the data was drawn from to reach these conclusions.
I have been in the social work profession for 14 + years and am now working towards my DSW. I can truly say I went into social work to help others, however we all need money to survive on. Living in poverty is just not acceptable, especially in a profession where stress and burn out rates are high. The social work and the profession has got to start advocating for itself, improving our self image, payscales, benefits, and making licensure a national standard, as each states licensing regulations can significantly differ.
I’m sorry to say that I agree with the premise of the article. After over 25 years of experience post-masters and working in Massachusetts, North Carolina and New Hampshire, my present salary is the same as my salary of 20 years ago. It’s so sad…but I have to add, I love what I do and have invested in my career with post-master fellowships and trainings and really feel I can make an impact in my field. While I am not compensated financially, the flexibility and versatility of the field is extraordinary. I also have made the choice to continue being a clinician rather than move into administration and teaching which offers higher salaries.
Thank you for responding to them quickly. After raising four children and taking care of a sick mother, grand mother and grandfather (all are deceased) I decided it was time to pursue my degree in Human Services which is something I have wanted to do since I was young. I did not choose this profession to get rich. I chose this profession so I can be a voice for those who are not strong enough or able to speak for themselves. I chose this profession to help make a difference in someone’s life, my community and the world.
To Social Workers everywhere, Money can’t buy happiness. We understand better than anyone the joy we feel when we know a difference has been made. For us that’s payment.
When I began my journey to become a social worker, I was a single young woman with very few financial obligations. Upon completing my masters degree and becoming licensed, I was married. My salary was a comfortable supplement to our household income. Over the course of 10 yrs, 3 children, divorce and cost of living increases, what was once a comfortable supplement has become my only means of income. Through my eyes, social work salaries do not offer competitive pay, not even with the salaries cited in Dr. Whitaker’s response to the Huffington Post Article Re: Social Work Salaries. It isn’t about getting rich. It is about our livelihood and our responsibilities as parents while meeting the needs of others.
David-I am an LCSW and make $33,000. Every one of my colleagues with my credentials earns the same. Now you’ve heard of it!
Thank you, NASW, for your prompt response to this article. It is important NASW advocates for its members by educating the public about our education, ethics and experience.
NASW also continues to promote higher, and more competitive salaries for professional social workers. NASW’s work toward research leading to evidence-based practices proving the efficacy and efficiency of our interventions. Just “knowing” we’re doing the right thing will no longer get us what we need salary-wise. Let’s prove how great we are!
I do challenge NASW to include the “non-traditional” areas of social work in which our profession is branching out. One example: health care quality improvement is a great field for LCSWs–our clinical skills are perfect for facilitating improvements in heatlh care safety, satisfaction and efficiency.
Rock on, NASW!!!
This is not encouraging to know at all as I just applied to a university for my MSW. Yes you want to be the voice for those who cannot speak, yes you want to make a difference in your community , you want to go home knowing that you have help to make a difference in someone life to day. However, we live in a high price economy, and our salary will be next to nothing, what is the survival rate with an income like this?
I agree with those social workers that feel we are underpaid for what we do. Our salaries have not kept up with the rising cost of living. Because we need continuing course work to keep our licenses and the cost of belonging to NASW and yearly licenses continues to rise, we are unlike many fields who have none of these expenses . I also know social workers who cannot afford to belong to NASW but beyond that I have friends that must purchase high deductible health insurance policies at high cost. We are definitely one of the lower paid master’s level professions. It is however, a labor of love and even though I was employed as an account executive in a previous life, I have never looked back or regretted my decision.
I’m about to start a MSW program but this is very troubling. I won’t be able to have a family with that wage.
There are no jobs in NY, let alone that pay well. The article is absolutely true and until NASW starts better promotion of the field, it is an absolutely useless degree. Sorry – but it is the truth! I make more now with a paralegal certificate than I did being licensed and holding an MSW. The universities are the only ones making money on this degree or, maybe, if you have a private practice in addition to an agency job. Social work is a dead-end profession.
It is not always about the money when we become social workers but our passion for helping right wrongs, working with the disenfranchised, developing rapport with the mentally ill and advocating the acceptance of diversity and culture. We choose our paths but we must be assertive and firm in demanding equitable pay. Social workers, in what ever they do and however they define themselves, will continue to break barriers of social injustice–we are not about rebellion but are about advocating for others…we will always be needed!
This is very disheartening. I did not see the article, but to hear all of your comments, I am reconsidering my decision to pursue a degree in social work. I am 33 with 2 kids, a mortgage, and a husband about to retire from the Navy in 3 (which means he’ll be starting over professionally). I, like many others, want to be a social worker and am not looking for an enormous paycheck, but I have to survive and help my family. I wanted to practice social work in the criminal justice field and eventually work towards an LCSW. That is a long journey to undertake if the financial benefit is so small. I truly want to help others and society but not at the expense of my family. I think now it is time to do some serious soul searching.
I am a LSW in Pennsylvania where nurse case managers with a 2 year degree or diploma make an average of $10 an hour more to start than a a LSW (required where I work). Not fair, but then again we don’t go into social work for the money but a decent wage would be nice!!!!
It all depends, right now the veterans affairs is paying $58,000 and some MSW’s are walking in with a license getting $72,000. If you are the head of a non-profit organization you can make about $100,000 easily. It all depends on who you are and who you work for.
I have both a masters level social worker license and a masters level addictions certification and working for the state of maryland i only get $40,000. it IS hard to get more than that for an entry level masters level position in maryland.
I am planning to begin a part time MSW program this fall. I have a mixture of excitement and fear regarding the degree. I am 32 and I have a good paying job, but I have been wanting to get into a career helping others for years now. For the past 3 years I have been trying to decide between Social Work and Nursing. Fortunately, my wife is very supportive whichever way I go, but I am afraid of being able to provide for my family. It is nice to know that I can always find work as a Social Worker, but it’s disheartening to look at a career like nursing, which is more valued in society and more lucrative. It’s disheartening to see nursing job ads that will pay starting bonuses and help pay back student loans. When I researched Social Work salaries in my area, I found out that therapists start at around $30,000 per year. I think it makes aspiring Social Workers devalue themselves, their field and their degree when they aren’t paid equal to other lateral professions. It makes little sense in today’s world where there is such a need for Social Workers, that they are not more valued.
I agree with Mary that social work is a dead-end profession. I have been unemployed 12 months since April 2009 with an MSW and LCSW. What social work schools WONT tell you is that the market is oversaturated with MSW’s, especially in the big cities. So the more MSW’s there are to choose from , the less these agencies can pay you. The highest paying social work jobs are the hardest to get and involve a lot of “dirty work” (politics in the workplace)- that are mostly in the hospitals and government- where I have both worked at. I even called my local NASW chapter for career advice and you know what they told me? that now is not a good time to be in the social work field- all the agencies are paying fee for service (no salary, no benefits) and no one will give you the supervision you need for independent licensure. If you want to help people, go volunteer in your free time, help your friends, families, neighbors, etc. but dont make it a profession. I wish I went for an MBA which my friends all have and are making good money at huge firms.
For those thinking about going for an MSW- talk to people who are in the field. not only the recruiters from the colleges but to practitioners at all levels and at different agencies. All of the jobs are in rural areas and in the elderly/hospice speciality. That is why the next big NASW conference is on end of life and not children/families- a very popular and oversaturated concentration.
i would love to talk to those who responded who are still in the field and what planet are they working on. Every agency/institution i have worked for allows clients to treat social workers like (expletive) and for management to treat social workers like (expletive).