{"id":27989,"date":"2023-01-28T04:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T12:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=27989"},"modified":"2025-09-29T10:02:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T17:02:54","slug":"alternative-careers-for-social-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019re a social worker looking to make a change, deciding on a new career path can feel daunting and overwhelming. The good news is that the skills and experiences you\u2019ve gained as a social worker can actually open the door to many alternative careers that you might be interested in. Whether you have years of experience in the field or you recently earned your bachelor\u2019s or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, it\u2019s worth exploring your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Switching careers doesn\u2019t mean starting from scratch \u2014 your social work training in empathy, communication, and problem-solving gives you a strong foundation to succeed in other fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, you\u2019ll find a clear overview of the best jobs that are similar to social work, including careers in mental health, healthcare, criminal justice, child welfare, politics, education, and many more. We\u2019ll also outline the common reasons social workers may make a career change and the transferable skills that can help you succeed in a new role.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- load the widget code --><div class=\"esy_widget_container esy_type_search\" style=\"min-height:175px\"><\/div><script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {ESY.Widget({category_id: '',domain_id: 'careerkarma.com',widget_id: '945946',custom_options: '',tags: '',intro: '',type: 'search'});});<\/script><!-- END load the widget code -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Switch Careers from Social Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many valid reasons why social workers might consider switching careers from social work. While the profession is rooted in supporting individuals and communities, it often comes with long hours, limited resources, and emotionally challenging situations, which can affect and take a toll on job satisfaction over time.One common reason for exploring alternative careers is burnout. Burnout is common in fields where you are dealing with trauma and vicarious trauma, which is so much of clinical social work. Other reasons social workers change careers include wanting a new professional challenge or realizing that their long-term goals and skills may align better with different career paths. According to an article that was published by the Delaware Journal of Public Health, so many social workers experience burnout in their work and it\u2019s recommended to explore self care tools to help alleviate the challenges.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-best-alternative-careers-for-social-workers\">The Best Alternative Careers for Social Workers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-alexas-fotos-2277784-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sign with led lights spelling out the words \u201ctime for change.\u201d\n\" class=\"wp-image-27991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-alexas-fotos-2277784-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-alexas-fotos-2277784-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-alexas-fotos-2277784-1-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-alexas-fotos-2277784-1-20x13.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-alexas-fotos-2277784-1-385x257.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alternative careers for social workers can be found in a wide variety of fields.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Best Alternative Careers for Social Workers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to leave social work, we would recommend that you consider careers where your social work expertise, like empathy, systems thinking, and advocacy, can shine through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Psychologist <\/strong>\u2013 Psychologists nowadays earn a median annual wage of <strong>$94,310<\/strong> nationally.<sup>3<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Human Resources Specialist <\/strong>\u2013 The median salary for human resource specialists is approximately <strong>$72,910<\/strong> as of 2025.<sup>4<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Analyst <\/strong>\u2013 Financial and management analysts earn a median of <strong>$101,190<\/strong> annually, with higher pay common for those that are in professional, scientific, and technical areas.<sup>5<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High School Teacher <\/strong>\u2013 High school teachers earn an average of <strong>$64,580 <\/strong>nationally, with elementary and secondary school teachers earning more, at the national average of <strong>$66,930<\/strong>.<sup>6<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sociologist <\/strong>\u2013 The median annual wage for sociologists stands at <strong>$101,690<\/strong> nationally.<sup>7<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mediator <\/strong>\u2013 Mediators earn a median salary of <strong>$67,710<\/strong> nationally.<sup>8<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Real Estate Broker <\/strong>\u2013 Median earnings are <strong>$58,960<\/strong> nationally, with successful agents in luxury markets having the ability to exceed six figures.<sup>9<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>College Admissions Counselor <\/strong>\u2013 Median pay is approximately <strong>$65,140<\/strong> for these roles in 2025.<sup>10<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are Transferable Social Worker Skills?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To land jobs that are similar to social work, you\u2019ll need to highlight your transferable skills. Here are some of the most valuable skills that employers look for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Empathy<\/strong> \u2013 understanding others\u2019 perspectives and needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Active listening<\/strong> \u2013 ensuring clients, colleagues, or stakeholders feel heard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Written and verbal communication<\/strong> \u2013 conveying information clearly in reports, presentations, or daily interactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Problem-solving<\/strong> \u2013 addressing complex issues with practical, evidence-based solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interpersonal skills<\/strong> \u2013 building relationships and trust across diverse groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Negotiation skills<\/strong> \u2013 mediating and finding common ground in conflicts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Organizational skills<\/strong> \u2013 managing multiple cases, projects, or priorities effectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Resilience under pressure<\/strong> \u2013 staying focused and effective in high-stress environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Decision-making<\/strong> \u2013 weighing options and outcomes to choose the best course of action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Systems analysis<\/strong> \u2013 understanding how policies, organizations, and communities interact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These transferable skills give social workers an edge when they are moving into roles like consulting, education, healthcare, or corporate leadership. These are fields where communication, empathy, and structured problem-solving are in high demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Switching Careers from Social Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many alternative careers for social workers that allow you to leverage your existing education and skills while also finding meaningful and sustainable work. Whether you\u2019re feeling burnt out in your current role or simply seeking a new challenge, these career paths can provide you with opportunities for professional growth and personal fulfillment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you decide which alternative career path is the best fit, we recommend that you focus on building a strong resume and cover letter tailored to that role, completing any required certifications or training, and applying to opportunities in your chosen field. By strengthening your resume, gaining any additional training you need, and approaching the job search strategically, you can position yourself for success in a new career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you are moving into education, you may need a state teaching license, while shifting into consulting may require specialized training in project management or organizational leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Alternative Careers for Social Workers FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674910547327\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are jobs similar to social work that pay more?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Jobs similar to social work that often pay more include:<br\/>&#8211; <strong>Psychologists<\/strong>, who earn a median annual salary of <strong>$94,310<\/strong> nationally as of 2025.<sup>3<\/sup><br\/>&#8211; <strong>Sociologists<\/strong>, with a median annual wage of <strong>$101,690<\/strong> nationally.<sup>7<\/sup><br\/>&#8211; <strong>High school teachers<\/strong>, who earn about <strong>$64,580<\/strong> annually, with higher pay in certain districts and types of schools.<sup>6<\/sup>\u00a0<br\/><br\/>Other options, such as financial analysts, carry more income variability but can lead to six-figure earnings for top performers.<sup>5<\/sup><br\/><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674910560971\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What can I do with an MSW besides social work?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">With a Master of Social Work (MSW), you can transition into mediation, consulting, higher education roles, or positions in corporate social responsibility. An MSW also prepares you for management and coordination roles across healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors, where leadership and policy expertise are in demand.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674910574226\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are some non-traditional social work jobs?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Some non-traditional social work jobs include corporate social responsibility, research in the social sciences, roles in healthcare administration, and diversity and inclusion leadership. These careers will allow social workers to apply their skills in advocacy, systems analysis, and organizational change beyond traditional clinical settings.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1674910611070\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the different types of social work?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Common types of social work include:<br\/>&#8211; <strong>Clinical social work<\/strong>, supporting individuals and families with mental health and behavioral health needs.<br\/>&#8211; <strong>Child, family, and school social work<\/strong>, helping children succeed academically and socially.<br\/>&#8211; <strong>Public welfare and community social work<\/strong>, addressing poverty, housing, and resource access.<br\/>Social workers may also specialize in substance use recovery, trauma and disaster response, healthcare social work, or policy and advocacy.<br\/>These career paths show how your social work training can open doors to higher-paying, non-traditional, and emerging roles across industries.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10987033\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10987033\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/life-physical-and-social-science\/psychologists.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/life-physical-and-social-science\/psychologists.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/life-physical-and-social-science\/psychologists.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/life-physical-and-social-science\/psychologists.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/human-resources-specialists.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/human-resources-specialists.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/management-analysts.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/management-analysts.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/education-training-and-library\/high-school-teachers.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/education-training-and-library\/high-school-teachers.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/life-physical-and-social-science\/sociologists.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/life-physical-and-social-science\/sociologists.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/legal\/arbitrators-mediators-and-conciliators.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/legal\/arbitrators-mediators-and-conciliators.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/sales\/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/sales\/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/community-and-social-service\/school-and-career-counselors.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/community-and-social-service\/school-and-career-counselors.htm<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re a social worker looking to make a change, deciding on a new career path can feel daunting and overwhelming. The good news is that the skills and experiences you\u2019ve gained as a social worker can actually open the door to many alternative careers that you might be interested in. Whether you have years&hellip;","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":129493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17499],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-27989","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-career-advice"},"acf":{"post_sub_title":"","sprint_id":"","query_class":"{skill} skills","school_sft":"","parent_sft":"","school_privacy_policy":"","has_review":197,"is_sponser_post":"","is_guest_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Best Alternative Careers for Social Workers | Career Karma<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The best alternative careers for social workers are available in a broad range of fields. Learn about jobs similar to social work inside.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The best alternative careers for social workers are available in a broad range of fields. Learn about jobs similar to social work inside.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Career Karma\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/careerkarmaapp\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-01-28T12:58:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-29T17:02:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jacqueline Renouard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@career_karma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@career_karma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jacqueline Renouard\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jacqueline Renouard\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d\"},\"headline\":\"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-28T12:58:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-29T17:02:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1201,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Career Advice\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/\",\"name\":\"Best Alternative Careers for Social Workers | Career Karma\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-28T12:58:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-29T17:02:54+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d\"},\"description\":\"The best alternative careers for social workers are available in a broad range of fields. Learn about jobs similar to social work inside.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910547327\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910560971\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910574226\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910611070\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"A career coach holding an open folder and discussing alternative careers for social workers with two clients sitting across from her.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Career Advice\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/career-advice\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Career Karma\",\"description\":\"Latest Coding Bootcamp News &amp; Career Hacks from Industry Insiders\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d\",\"name\":\"Jacqueline Renouard\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/me_480-150x150.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/me_480-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/me_480-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Jacqueline Renouard\"},\"description\":\"Jacqueline is a writer at Career Karma, where she draws on her skills as a wordsmith to cover topics like higher education, technical skills, and occupations. After earning her BA in Television and Film Production from the University of Portsmouth, she worked for Wellbe, where she wrote extensively about health, wellness, and fitness. She joined the Career Karma team in September 2020, bringing expertise in digital marketing and content creation.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/jacquelinerenouard\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/jacqueline-renouard\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910547327\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910547327\",\"name\":\"What are jobs similar to social work that pay more?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Jobs similar to social work that often pay more include:<br\\\/>- <strong>Psychologists<\\\/strong>, who earn a median annual salary of <strong>$94,310<\\\/strong> nationally as of 2025.3<br\\\/>- <strong>Sociologists<\\\/strong>, with a median annual wage of <strong>$101,690<\\\/strong> nationally.7<br\\\/>- <strong>High school teachers<\\\/strong>, who earn about <strong>$64,580<\\\/strong> annually, with higher pay in certain districts and types of schools.6\u00a0<br\\\/><br\\\/>Other options, such as financial analysts, carry more income variability but can lead to six-figure earnings for top performers.5<br\\\/>\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910560971\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910560971\",\"name\":\"What can I do with an MSW besides social work?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"With a Master of Social Work (MSW), you can transition into mediation, consulting, higher education roles, or positions in corporate social responsibility. An MSW also prepares you for management and coordination roles across healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors, where leadership and policy expertise are in demand.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910574226\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910574226\",\"name\":\"What are some non-traditional social work jobs?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Some non-traditional social work jobs include corporate social responsibility, research in the social sciences, roles in healthcare administration, and diversity and inclusion leadership. These careers will allow social workers to apply their skills in advocacy, systems analysis, and organizational change beyond traditional clinical settings.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910611070\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\\\/#faq-question-1674910611070\",\"name\":\"What are the different types of social work?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Common types of social work include:<br\\\/>- <strong>Clinical social work<\\\/strong>, supporting individuals and families with mental health and behavioral health needs.<br\\\/>- <strong>Child, family, and school social work<\\\/strong>, helping children succeed academically and socially.<br\\\/>- <strong>Public welfare and community social work<\\\/strong>, addressing poverty, housing, and resource access.<br\\\/>Social workers may also specialize in substance use recovery, trauma and disaster response, healthcare social work, or policy and advocacy.<br\\\/>These career paths show how your social work training can open doors to higher-paying, non-traditional, and emerging roles across industries.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Best Alternative Careers for Social Workers | Career Karma","description":"The best alternative careers for social workers are available in a broad range of fields. Learn about jobs similar to social work inside.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025","og_description":"The best alternative careers for social workers are available in a broad range of fields. Learn about jobs similar to social work inside.","og_url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/","og_site_name":"Career Karma","article_publisher":"http:\/\/facebook.com\/careerkarmaapp","article_published_time":"2023-01-28T12:58:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-29T17:02:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jacqueline Renouard","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@career_karma","twitter_site":"@career_karma","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jacqueline Renouard","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/"},"author":{"name":"Jacqueline Renouard","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d"},"headline":"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025","datePublished":"2023-01-28T12:58:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-29T17:02:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/"},"wordCount":1201,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg","articleSection":["Career Advice"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/","name":"Best Alternative Careers for Social Workers | Career Karma","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg","datePublished":"2023-01-28T12:58:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-29T17:02:54+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d"},"description":"The best alternative careers for social workers are available in a broad range of fields. Learn about jobs similar to social work inside.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910547327"},{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910560971"},{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910574226"},{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910611070"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers-transfer-your-skills-to-a-new-career.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"A career coach holding an open folder and discussing alternative careers for social workers with two clients sitting across from her."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Career Advice","item":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/career-advice\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Alternative Careers for Social Workers: Top Jobs to Consider in 2025"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/","name":"Career Karma","description":"Latest Coding Bootcamp News &amp; Career Hacks from Industry Insiders","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d","name":"Jacqueline Renouard","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/me_480-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/me_480-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/me_480-150x150.jpg","caption":"Jacqueline Renouard"},"description":"Jacqueline is a writer at Career Karma, where she draws on her skills as a wordsmith to cover topics like higher education, technical skills, and occupations. After earning her BA in Television and Film Production from the University of Portsmouth, she worked for Wellbe, where she wrote extensively about health, wellness, and fitness. She joined the Career Karma team in September 2020, bringing expertise in digital marketing and content creation.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jacquelinerenouard\/"],"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/author\/jacqueline-renouard\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910547327","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910547327","name":"What are jobs similar to social work that pay more?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Jobs similar to social work that often pay more include:<br\/>- <strong>Psychologists<\/strong>, who earn a median annual salary of <strong>$94,310<\/strong> nationally as of 2025.3<br\/>- <strong>Sociologists<\/strong>, with a median annual wage of <strong>$101,690<\/strong> nationally.7<br\/>- <strong>High school teachers<\/strong>, who earn about <strong>$64,580<\/strong> annually, with higher pay in certain districts and types of schools.6\u00a0<br\/><br\/>Other options, such as financial analysts, carry more income variability but can lead to six-figure earnings for top performers.5<br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910560971","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910560971","name":"What can I do with an MSW besides social work?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"With a Master of Social Work (MSW), you can transition into mediation, consulting, higher education roles, or positions in corporate social responsibility. An MSW also prepares you for management and coordination roles across healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors, where leadership and policy expertise are in demand.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910574226","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910574226","name":"What are some non-traditional social work jobs?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Some non-traditional social work jobs include corporate social responsibility, research in the social sciences, roles in healthcare administration, and diversity and inclusion leadership. These careers will allow social workers to apply their skills in advocacy, systems analysis, and organizational change beyond traditional clinical settings.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910611070","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alternative-careers-for-social-workers\/#faq-question-1674910611070","name":"What are the different types of social work?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Common types of social work include:<br\/>- <strong>Clinical social work<\/strong>, supporting individuals and families with mental health and behavioral health needs.<br\/>- <strong>Child, family, and school social work<\/strong>, helping children succeed academically and socially.<br\/>- <strong>Public welfare and community social work<\/strong>, addressing poverty, housing, and resource access.<br\/>Social workers may also specialize in substance use recovery, trauma and disaster response, healthcare social work, or policy and advocacy.<br\/>These career paths show how your social work training can open doors to higher-paying, non-traditional, and emerging roles across industries.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27989"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27989\/revisions"}],"acf:user":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/197"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}