Private and Public Social Worker Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
A bachelor’s degree in social work is essential to get a job as a social worker. Those who major in psychology and sociology may also receive an entry-level job. A master’s degree in social work helps one advance in the profession and earn jobs in medical facilities. The Council on Social work education approved 458 bachelor’s curriculums and 181 master’s programs in 2006.
Training and Education
Education or job training for employees typically involves a bachelor's degree. At least 77% of private and public social workers had a degree of four or more years. About 16% of workers had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 7% of employees had just a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Private and public social workers help people in need of assistance. They also assist people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, drug abuse or problems at home.
Job Requirements
Almost all the states have a requirement for licensing to allow social workers to practice. Most of them ask for clinical experience under supervision for about two years before earning licensure. Emphasis is also on the candidates understanding of cultural diversity, communication abilities and ethics in the profession.
Certification and credentials help those who work as private social workers. Credentials can be obtained from the National Association of Social Workers. Those with experience in social work and who possess a master’s degree may aspire for the credentials of Qualified Clinical Social Worker, Academy of Certified Social Workers or the Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.
Social workers need to be receptive and responsive to the problems of their clients, but at the same time they need to be emotionally stable to help people at a time of need. They also need to be objective regarding their work. It is important for them to be able to shoulder responsibility and also maintain good relationships with colleagues and clients.
Nature of Work
Private and public social workers might extend psychological assistance to help struggling children or families. They may help parents who are single, children who are orphaned or the elderly. Many public social workers support people to deal with diseases like cancer, AIDS or Alzheimer’s. Many also help those saddled with substance abuse problems.
Social workers spend a lot of their time at housing facilities or offices. When required, they travel to meet clients and those who provide service. Generally, they work for forty hours a week but may extend their work hours depending upon their work schedule and in cases of emergency. In many care facilities and hospitals they may need to work with people from different professions.
Area Job Conditions
The cities with the most private and public social workers per capita are Danville (Illinois), Madera (California), and Springfield (Illinois), while the worst cities are Hartford (Connecticut), Allentown (Pennsylvania), and Charlotte (North Carolina).
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Salinas (California), Vallejo (California), and Newark (New Jersey). The lowest-paying areas are Wheeling (West Virginia), Worcester (Massachusetts), and Albany (Georgia).
Part-Time and Self Employment
An estimated 9% of private and public social workers work part-time. An estimated 3% of workers were self-employed.
Private and Public Social Workers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $46,000 | 130 | -45% |
| Tuscaloosa | $50,000 | 60 | +49% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $61,000 | 290 | -66% |
| Prescott | $53,000 | 50 | +116% |
| Tucson | $63,000 | 80 | -51% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $41,000 | 30 | -47% |
| Little Rock | $45,000 | 310 | +87% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $67,000 | 70 | -43% |
| El Centro | 40 | +89% | |
| Los Angeles | $59,000 | 4,060 | +105% |
| Napa | $76,000 | 90 | +231% |
| Oakland | $65,000 | 1,030 | +112% |
| Sacramento | $56,000 | 1,550 | +268% |
| Salinas | $78,000 | 30 | -60% |
| San Diego | $61,000 | 840 | +32% |
| San Francisco | $64,000 | 770 | +59% |
| San Jose | $59,000 | 340 | -22% |
| San Luis Obispo | $71,000 | 140 | +237% |
| Santa Ana | $58,000 | 950 | +34% |
| Santa Barbara | $38,000 | 60 | -23% |
| Santa Cruz | 70 | +80% | |
| Santa Rosa | $63,000 | 50 | -38% |
| Stockton | 320 | +224% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $53,000 | 110 | -8% |
| Denver | $48,000 | 430 | -29% |
| Fort Collins | $36,000 | 50 | -13% |
| Pueblo | $45,000 | 40 | +64% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $50,000 | 30 | -85% |
| Hartford | $57,000 | 60 | -78% |
| New Haven | $58,000 | 100 | -23% |
| Norwich | $48,000 | 30 | -47% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $62,000 | 110 | -29% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $56,000 | 740 | -38% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $52,000 | 40 | -56% |
| Deltona | $44,000 | 80 | +12% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $46,000 | 170 | -50% |
| Gainesville | $65,000 | 70 | +26% |
| Jacksonville | $53,000 | 150 | -48% |
| Miami | $50,000 | 260 | -46% |
| Orlando | $45,000 | 270 | -45% |
| Palm Bay | $45,000 | 80 | -14% |
| Pensacola | $54,000 | 70 | +2% |
| Port St Lucie | $44,000 | 60 | +10% |
| Sarasota | $43,000 | 100 | -14% |
| Tallahassee | $43,000 | 40 | -47% |
| Tampa | $55,000 | 300 | -46% |
| West Palm Beach | $53,000 | 130 | -48% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $56,000 | 260 | -77% |
| Augusta | $66,000 | 90 | -7% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $57,000 | 240 | +13% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $57,000 | 70 | -44% |
| Lewiston | $52,000 | 40 | +341% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $49,000 | 80 | +73% |
| Chicago | $53,000 | 3,260 | +77% |
| Danville | $56,000 | 80 | +636% |
| Decatur | $43,000 | 60 | +214% |
| Kankakee | $53,000 | 40 | +134% |
| Peoria | $51,000 | 150 | +88% |
| Rockford | $61,000 | 90 | +39% |
| Springfield | $52,000 | 250 | +412% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $55,000 | 40 | -58% |
| Gary | $42,000 | 90 | -30% |
| Indianapolis | $48,000 | 260 | -40% |
| Kokomo | $40,000 | 40 | +149% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $39,000 | 60 | -6% |
| Davenport | $55,000 | 70 | -20% |
| Des Moines | $49,000 | 160 | +1% |
| Iowa City | $55,000 | 50 | +61% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | $56,000 | 50 | +125% |
| Topeka | $54,000 | 90 | +79% |
| Wichita | $49,000 | 130 | -5% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $63,000 | 40 | +115% |
| Lexington | $60,000 | 60 | -47% |
| Louisville | $65,000 | 80 | -73% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $63,000 | 70 | +151% |
| Baton Rouge | $48,000 | 280 | +56% |
| Lafayette | $49,000 | 50 | -24% |
| New Orleans | $50,000 | 280 | +9% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | $33,000 | 50 | +133% |
| Portland | $49,000 | 190 | +101% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $65,000 | 650 | +2% |
| Bethesda | $55,000 | 200 | -29% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $55,000 | 530 | -38% |
| Brockton | $46,000 | 130 | +222% |
| Framingham | $42,000 | 40 | -47% |
| Haverhill | $47,000 | 40 | +9% |
| Springfield | $75,000 | 60 | -58% |
| Worcester | $39,000 | 200 | +67% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | 180 | +131% | |
| Battle Creek | $58,000 | 70 | +217% |
| Bay City | $43,000 | 40 | +203% |
| Detroit | $53,000 | 390 | +20% |
| Flint | $35,000 | 120 | +100% |
| Grand Rapids | $46,000 | 240 | +32% |
| Lansing | $48,000 | 40 | -57% |
| Muskegon | $45,000 | 70 | +191% |
| Saginaw | $59,000 | 60 | +64% |
| Warren | $56,000 | 340 | -35% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $62,000 | 280 | -68% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $69,000 | 40 | -67% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | $35,000 | 70 | +274% |
| Columbia | $45,000 | 70 | +97% |
| Kansas City | $46,000 | 280 | -43% |
| Springfield | $35,000 | 70 | -22% |
| St Joseph | 30 | +38% | |
| St Louis | $43,000 | 470 | -28% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $42,000 | 100 | +167% |
| Great Falls | $43,000 | 50 | +231% |
| Missoula | $40,000 | 80 | +258% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $41,000 | 120 | +61% |
| Omaha | $46,000 | 150 | -34% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $45,000 | 270 | -35% |
| Reno | 100 | +11% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $55,000 | 50 | +7% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $48,000 | 130 | -49% |
| Edison | $58,000 | 120 | -76% |
| Newark | $53,000 | 270 | -45% |
| Trenton | $54,000 | 60 | -44% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $49,000 | 150 | -19% |
| Farmington | $30,000 | 90 | +328% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $57,000 | 420 | +93% |
| Buffalo | $49,000 | 1,000 | +273% |
| Elmira | $42,000 | 40 | +154% |
| Glens Falls | $44,000 | 80 | +258% |
| Ithaca | $48,000 | 80 | +369% |
| Kingston | $49,000 | 30 | +15% |
| Nassau | $57,000 | 1,550 | +151% |
| New York | $58,000 | 6,120 | +141% |
| Poughkeepsie | $58,000 | 520 | +344% |
| Rochester | $49,000 | 1,020 | +317% |
| Syracuse | $52,000 | 620 | +314% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $47,000 | 110 | +33% |
| Charlotte | $43,000 | 60 | -86% |
| Durham | $56,000 | 120 | -9% |
| Greenville | $40,000 | 60 | +103% |
| Hickory | $36,000 | 40 | -41% |
| Raleigh | $42,000 | 130 | -48% |
| Winston Salem | $43,000 | 60 | -40% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $39,000 | 270 | +75% |
| Canton | $37,000 | 100 | +29% |
| Cincinnati | $46,000 | 720 | +46% |
| Cleveland | $51,000 | 590 | +18% |
| Columbus | $43,000 | 710 | +58% |
| Dayton | $46,000 | 250 | +36% |
| Lima | $50,000 | 40 | +79% |
| Mansfield | $47,000 | 80 | +262% |
| Toledo | $44,000 | 340 | +142% |
| Youngstown | $53,000 | 160 | +49% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | $61,000 | 70 | +312% |
| Oklahoma City | $33,000 | 330 | +18% |
| Tulsa | $42,000 | 110 | -47% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $41,000 | 40 | +46% |
| Eugene | $41,000 | 120 | +84% |
| Medford | $50,000 | 80 | +133% |
| Portland | $49,000 | 1,000 | +101% |
| Salem | $38,000 | 170 | +146% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $53,000 | 40 | -32% |
| Lebanon | $60,000 | 50 | +161% |
| Philadelphia | $67,000 | 310 | -67% |
| Pittsburgh | $55,000 | 200 | -64% |
| Scranton | $61,000 | 50 | -60% |
| York | $34,000 | 40 | -52% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $58,000 | 150 | -44% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $57,000 | 160 | +16% |
| Columbia | $52,000 | 170 | +1% |
| Florence | $44,000 | 70 | +99% |
| Greenville | $45,000 | 110 | -23% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $41,000 | 30 | -72% |
| Clarksville | $64,000 | 60 | +73% |
| Johnson City | $55,000 | 90 | +184% |
| Memphis | $53,000 | 150 | -50% |
| Nashville | $52,000 | 260 | -28% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $34,000 | 270 | -29% |
| Beaumont | $35,000 | 100 | +33% |
| Brownsville | 40 | -33% | |
| Corpus Christi | $41,000 | 50 | -40% |
| Dallas | $47,000 | 530 | -48% |
| El Paso | $47,000 | 120 | -8% |
| Fort Worth | $48,000 | 300 | -29% |
| Houston | $60,000 | 510 | -60% |
| Killeen | $69,000 | 140 | +137% |
| Mcallen | $41,000 | 50 | -54% |
| San Antonio | $50,000 | 440 | +4% |
| Tyler | $35,000 | 50 | +23% |
| Victoria | $33,000 | 40 | +97% |
| Waco | $52,000 | 60 | +33% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $39,000 | 100 | +7% |
| Salt Lake City | $46,000 | 320 | +8% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $35,000 | 70 | +165% |
| Lynchburg | $48,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Richmond | $56,000 | 190 | -36% |
| Roanoke | $60,000 | 80 | +10% |
| Virginia Beach | $58,000 | 140 | -62% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $52,000 | 80 | +146% |
| Bremerton | $54,000 | 90 | +143% |
| Kennewick | $50,000 | 90 | +99% |
| Olympia | $54,000 | 120 | +169% |
| Seattle | $50,000 | 1,290 | +88% |
| Spokane | $52,000 | 310 | +221% |
| Tacoma | $56,000 | 520 | +313% |
| Wenatchee | $55,000 | 60 | +273% |
| Yakima | $53,000 | 160 | +329% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $61,000 | 50 | -4% |
| Wheeling | $43,000 | 50 | +76% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $60,000 | 100 | -38% |
| Milwaukee | $55,000 | 260 | -36% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | $51,000 | 80 | +352% |