SOC 21-1029.00

    Social Workers, All Other

    All social workers not listed separately.

    Median pay
    $71,900
    Growth
    +2.3%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    5,800
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $43,620
    Median
    $71,900
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $115,610
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    62,930 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Social workers in this category handle specialized community and social service duties not covered by other social work titles. They earn a median annual salary of $71,900, with top earners making over $115,610.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What social workers, all other do

    All social workers not listed separately.

    What the work is like

    People in this career serve their communities under various titles, such as case managers, adult protective services social workers, and children's counselors. Their daily tasks involve assessing client needs, coordinating support services, and investigating cases to protect vulnerable individuals. They often work as case supervisors or case reviewers to monitor the quality of care provided to families and individuals.

    To succeed in this field, workers must have strong active listening, speaking, and social perceptiveness skills to understand complex human behaviors and emotions. They need a solid foundation in psychology, therapy, and counseling principles. This work appeals to those with social interests who enjoy helping, teaching, and advising others. Important work styles for these professionals include integrity, concern for others, stress tolerance, and self-control, as they frequently navigate sensitive and emotionally challenging situations.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree. Students preparing for this career often choose college majors such as social work, or mental and social health services and allied professions. These academic programs provide the foundational knowledge of human behavior, ethics, and social systems necessary for effective practice.

    Depending on where you plan to work, you may need to obtain professional credentials. Some states list a license for this work. Available certifications include the Associate Social Work Licensing Examination and the Bachelors Social Work Licensing Examination, both administered by the Association of Social Work Boards. These credentials verify that a candidate has met the standard educational and ethical requirements to practice safely in their jurisdiction.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these social workers is $71,900. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience, location, and employer, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $43,620 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $115,610.

    There are 62,930 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 2.3 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal turnover, is expected to result in about 5,800 job openings each year.

    Also called

    Adult Protective Services Social Worker · Case Consultant · Case Investigator · Case Manager · Case Reviewer · Case Supervisor · Case Worker · Children's Counselor · Community Center Worker · Community Chest Officer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to social workers, all other

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. This career

      • Social Workers, All Other$71,900 median pay

    2. Majors

    3. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Pennsylvania UPENN logo
      University of Pennsylvania UPENN

      Philadelphia, PA · Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $70,054
      4 yrs after
      $76,395
      Median debt
      $13,021
    2. 2Providence College logo
      Providence College

      Providence, RI · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $70,356
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3
      CUNY Hunter College

      New York, NY · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $46,845
      4 yrs after
      $70,273
      Median debt
      $11,000
    4. 4California State University-San Bernardino logo
      California State University-San Bernardino

      San Bernardino, CA · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $59,991
      4 yrs after
      $69,201
      Median debt
      $11,000
    5. 5
      San Francisco State University

      San Francisco, CA · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $44,889
      4 yrs after
      $68,524
      Median debt
      $21,763
    6. 6
      California State University-Long Beach

      Long Beach, CA · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $45,614
      4 yrs after
      $68,448
      Median debt
      $11,000
    7. 7Pacific Lutheran University logo
      Pacific Lutheran University

      Tacoma, WA · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $67,458
      Median debt
      $18,862
    8. 8University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Social Work · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $51,615
      4 yrs after
      $67,393
      Median debt
      $8,893

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What social workers, all other may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Forensic Social Work
    • Hospice and Palliative Care
    • Social Work
    • Social Work, Other

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    46 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Questions about social workers, all other

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are known by many names depending on their specific role. Common titles include case investigator, community center worker, adult protective services social worker, and case manager.

    What level of education is typically required to start?

    Most people entering this career need a bachelor's degree. Relevant college majors that prepare students for these roles include social work as well as mental and social health services and allied professions.

    Are there licensing requirements for these social workers?

    Yes, some states list a license for this type of work. Candidates can pursue credentials such as the Associate Social Work Licensing Examination or the Bachelors Social Work Licensing Examination through the Association of Social Work Boards.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.