|
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.
|
|
