Why We Love It
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$54,020Potential Avg. Salary
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19.3%Job Growth Rate
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
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Dependable Daily WorkloadCareer Attribute
Clinical Social Workers assist individuals with their problems and issues that they may experience throughout their lives. They also diagnose and treat individuals with emotional, behavioral and mental health issues.
Recommended Schools
What is a Clinical Social Worker?
The following responsibilities are common for Clinical Social Workers:
- Research and refer clients to the appropriate community resources such as food stamps, welfare, child care or health care
- Assists and advocates for clients work with government agencies to apply for and receive government benefits like Medicare or Social Security
- Helps clients adjust to life changes and challenges like death, divorce or illness
- Responds to crisis situations like child abuse or neglect
- Develops strategies to improve and cope with a clients emotional and mental issues
A Day In The Life
Clinical Social Workers are highly disciplined experts that help clients that are dealing with a variety of issues like addiction, mental and emotional illnesses or mental, emotional and physical abuse issues.
These professionals help clients gain access and take advantage of resources while also confronting any of the clients personal issues like emotional or mental illness or addiction. They provide individuals, couples and families individual and group counseling. They also develop treatment plans with the client, doctors, and any other healthcare professionals.
Typical Work Schedule
This is a full-time, 40 hour work week position. Some over-time may be required because of heavy case-loads.
Projected Job Growth
As the American population steadily increases the need for individuals to assist them with their every day lives will be an increasing demand.
Typical Employers
Most clinical social workers work in private practices, hospitals or mental health facilities and some work in hospice are or assisted living facilities.
Recommended Schools
How To Become a Clinical Social Worker
Courses like psychology, sociology, economics and political science are all recommended. A Bachelor’s degree in social work is not required to enter a Mater’s degree program in clinical social work. Those interested in pursing clinical social work need a Master’s degree in social work. Along with two years of post-master experience in a supervised clinical setting. All programs require students to complete a practicum and internship.
A license is also requires to work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Clinical Social Worker Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$40,690Average
$54,020High Range
$77,880National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$20/hrAverage
$26/hrHigh Range
$37/hrHow do Clinical Social Worker salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Clinical Social Worker's can make an average annual salary of $54,020, or $26 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $40,690 or $20 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#343 Nationally for All Careers
Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Clinical Social Worker. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Clinical Social Workers
- 2.1% Doctorate
- 35.6% Masters
- 40.8% Bachelors
- 5.7% Associates
- 9.1% College
- 5.6% High School
- 1.2% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
160,1002024 Est. Jobs
191,000Job Growth Rate
19.3%Est. New Jobs
30,900How does Clinical Social Worker job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 30,900 jobs for a total of 191,000 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 19.3% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#57 Nationally for All Careers
What Companies Employ The Most Clinical Social Workers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 35,100 | 2,500 | 3% |
| Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities | 17,700 | 3,300 | 3% |
| Home healthcare services | 17,300 | 10,500 | 11% |
