While child welfare is often the most recognized area that social workers will tend to, modern social work spans healthcare, mental health, criminal justice, substance use recovery, schools, and government services. In short, it’s a vast field that touches many different areas.
If you’re considering a career in social work or wondering how your skills can apply across fields, this guide will break down the main areas of practice and help explain what you can do with a social work degree.
This article explains the main fields of social work, such as child and family services, healthcare, mental health, substance abuse, criminal justice, and public welfare, so you can see where social workers are needed the most.
As of 2025, more than 750,000 social workers are employed in the United States, and the field is projected to grow by 7 percent in the next decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations.¹
What Is Social Work?
Social work is a profession that is focused on enhancing the welfare of individuals, families, and their communities by connecting them with resources, advocating for their rights, and providing counseling and/or case management.
Social workers help individuals, families, and groups address challenges, with everything from housing and healthcare access to mental health needs being under their purview, so they can improve their patients’ quality of life. Social workers operate in nearly every aspect of society, with specializations in healthcare, schools, criminal justice, child and family services, and community advocacy.
In practice, this means that a social worker might help a child succeed in school, support a patient’s recovery plan in a hospital, or advocate for fair housing policies at the community level.
What Are the Different Fields in Social Work?
Those who have a degree in social work or a related field of study can go into various specializations. Below are some of the main fields of social work, updated for 2025.
- Clinical Social Work (Mental Health Social Work)
- Child, Family, and School Social Work
- Healthcare Social Work
- Criminal Justice Social Work
- Public Welfare Social Work
- Community Organization & Advocacy
- Substance Abuse Social Work
- International Social Work
- Administration and Management in Social Work
- Politics and Policy Social Work
Social Worker vs Therapist: Key Differences
Therapists, such as psychologists, counselors, or marriage and family therapists, primarily provide mental health treatment, often in private practice settings. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) may also provide psychotherapy, but social work as a profession extends beyond just therapy into case management, community advocacy, and connecting clients to essential resources like housing, food, transportation, etc.
A key distinction between the two is that therapists are usually chosen directly by clients, while social workers often become involved through schools, hospitals, courts, or community agencies that connect clients to support services (i.e., you will get a social worker assigned to you versus ‘shopping around’ for one like you would for a therapist).
The training requirements also differ by profession. Clinical psychologists typically need a doctoral degree, while marriage and family therapists usually hold a master’s degree. Social workers generally need a bachelor’s degree to enter the field, though clinical practice nowadays typically requires a Master of Social Work (MSW) and state licensure to get a working job in the field.As of 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median wage for social workers is $61,330, with a growth rate of 7% in the next decade.1 This highlights the demand and importance of going into this field right now.
What Field of Social Work Pays the Most?
As of August, 2025, the median annual wage for all social workers was $61,330, but some specialties within social work will earn more than others.1 Healthcare social workers had a median wage of $68,090, and those employed in local government (excluding schools and hospitals) earned $65,920.2 Experienced professionals who advance into leadership roles, such as social and community service managers, made a median of $78,240.3 These figures show that while entry-level positions may pay closer to the overall median, specialized and managerial roles will offer higher earning potential, especially for those with advanced degrees and licensure.
Social Work Specializations in Detail
Social workers can specialize in many fields, each offering unique career paths and salary ranges.
Child, Family, and School Social Work
These professionals support children’s safety, education, and well-being by linking families to essential resources.
Healthcare Social Work
Working in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics, healthcare social workers assist with discharge planning, care coordination, and patient advocacy. This field is one of the better-paying areas, with a median annual wage of $68,090.2
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) provide therapy and connect clients with recovery resources. The median annual wage for this specialization in 2025 was $63,870.4
Criminal Justice Social Work
These social workers advocate for individuals involved in the justice system and support survivors of violence.
Public Welfare and Community Organization
Social workers in public welfare programs coordinate benefits and promote independence for vulnerable populations.
International and Policy Social Work
Social workers can work with NGOs, governments, or intergovernmental organizations on global development, disaster relief, or human rights. Salaries vary widely but often will align with the general social work median.
How to Become a Social Worker: Step-by-Step
Becoming a social worker typically requires a combination of education, supervised experience, and state licensure. Here are the main steps:
1. Explore your interests.
Before committing to the field, consider whether you want to work directly with clients, in policy, or in community programs. In general, social work requires empathy, resilience, and a strong interest in advocacy.
2. Earn a bachelor’s degree.
A Bachelor of Social Work is the most direct path to entering the field of social work, but degrees in psychology, sociology, or related fields can also qualify you for entry-level positions.
3. Gain supervised field experience.
During a BSW or Master of Social Work program, social work students will complete supervised internships, often totaling 400–900 hours, depending on the state and program.
4. Obtain a state license.
Licensing requirements vary but typically include passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and completing supervised practice hours. An MSW is required for clinical licensure in every state.
5. Choose a specialization.
After earning your license, you can focus on your specialization, such as child and family services, healthcare, mental health, substance abuse, public welfare, or other specializations.
6. Pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW).
An MSW is optional for non-clinical roles but it is essential for becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Many MSW programs can be completed in two years full-time or three to four years part-time.
7. Continue professional development.
Social workers often pursue additional certifications, leadership training, or doctoral degrees (DSW/PhD) to advance into management, policy, or academic roles.
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What Are the Social Worker Skills Required?
Below are the top skills that employers seek when hiring social workers. Many of these competencies will also transfer to other industries, making alternative careers for social workers easily accessible if you ever choose to leave the field.
- Empathy and cultural competence – The ability to understand and respect clients’ diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Communication skills (written and verbal) – Clear, compassionate communication is essential for building effective trust and advocating.
- Problem-solving and critical thinking – Social workers must assess situations quickly and create actionable solutions.
- Organizational and time management skills – Caseloads can be heavy, which will require strong scheduling and documentation skills.
- Advocacy and policy knowledge – Understanding social policy helps social workers to connect clients with resources and push for systemic change.
- Collaboration and teamwork – Social workers will often partner with teachers, healthcare providers, or legal professionals to support their clients.
- Resilience and stress management – The field can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining a self-care routine is essential.
- Technological proficiency – It is increasingly important to understand technology for you to successfully managing electronic case files, telehealth services, and data reporting.
Conclusion: Advice for a Future Social Worker
No matter which field of social work you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to make a hugely meaningful impact on people’s lives. The social work specialization that you choose (if you want to choose one) will depend on your strengths, your interests, and the communities you want to serve. While some areas of practice may offer higher pay, most social workers go into this field because they genuinely want to help people navigate challenges and build better futures for themselves and their families.
Social work is both an incredibly rewarding and incredibly demanding field. You’ll meet people from all walks of life, de-escalate stressful situations, and help clients access the resources they need most. Some days will be emotionally challenging, but the moments when you see a real change in someone’s life are deeply fulfilling.
To succeed in this field, it’s important to build a strong support system and develop routines for managing your own stress. Remember that you are not responsible for “fixing” everything; rather, your role is to empower individuals, families, and communities to find their own path forward. That balance is what makes social work both sustainable and impactful.
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