Social work opens doors across healthcare, education, government, policy and community organizations. Some roles are accessible with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), while others require a Master of Social Work (MSW). Whether you’re a high schooler weighing majors, a career changer or considering graduate school, this guide breaks down 12 social work careers, including common degree requirements and responsibilities on the job.
A Role-by-Role Breakdown of Social Work Careers
Understanding the degree you need to be a social worker for each role helps you map a clear path forward. This list of social work careers reflects the range of settings and specializations available to BSW and MSW graduates.
1. Case Manager
As a case manager, your days center on coordinating services and developing care plans that link clients to housing, healthcare, employment and benefits. Government agencies, nonprofits and healthcare facilities employ case managers as a common entry point for BSW graduates.
Assessing client needs, building relationships with service providers and tracking progress toward goals make up the core of this work. A BSW with LBSW licensure or the bachelor-level equivalent in your state qualifies you for most positions, with a national median wage of $58,570 in the child, family and school social workers category in 2024.
2. Child Welfare Specialist
Child welfare specialists investigate reports of abuse or neglect and coordinate foster care or adoption services for at-risk children and families. This work carries gravity and purpose. Stepping in during some of the most vulnerable moments in a family’s life requires both skill and compassion.
Child protective services agencies, government departments and family-serving nonprofits hire specialists with a BSW and Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) license, the standard credential in Michigan and various other states.
3. School Social Worker
Supporting students’ academic success, mental health and family relationships within K–12 settings defines the school social worker’s role. The position bridges families, teachers and community resources while addressing attendance issues, behavioral concerns and home-life challenges that affect learning.
If you want to become a school social worker in Michigan, you’ll generally need an MSW, social work licensure through LARA and a school social worker credential through the MDE. Other states may have different requirements, and some accept a BSW with endorsement.
4. Medical Social Worker
Hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers rely on medical social workers to help patients and families navigate the emotional, financial and logistical challenges of illness or injury. Discharge planning, insurance navigation and resource coordination fill the workday.
A BSW with LBSW licensure opens access to many positions, while an MSW unlocks more advanced clinical roles and higher earning potential.
5. Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker
End-of-life care settings rely on hospice and palliative care social workers to provide emotional support, coordinate resources and facilitate conversations about care preferences during one of life’s most difficult transitions.
Hospice agencies, hospital palliative care teams and home care programs employ social workers in this specialized field. The role typically requires a BSW and LBSW license for support positions, while clinical designations need a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
6. Mental Health Social Worker
Community mental health centers, residential facilities, crisis lines and behavioral health programs employ mental health social workers in non-clinical support roles. Client intake, case coordination, group facilitation and resource linkage form the foundation of these positions.
BSW-level roles focus on support and coordination, while providing therapy or diagnosing mental health conditions requires an MSW and clinical licensure. With a national median salary of around $60,000 in 2024 for mental health and substance use social workers, entry-level support roles remain accessible with a BSW. A clinical designation requires MSW licensure.
7. Clinical Social Worker
Providing therapy, diagnosing mental health conditions and practicing independently all require an MSW and clinical licensure, depending on your state. Private practice, hospitals, outpatient behavioral health centers, schools and community mental health settings all employ clinical social workers.
Post-MSW supervised hours and the ASWB Clinical exam are required for licensure. This discipline is an example of the jobs for those with a master’s in social work that can offer some of the highest earning potential in the field. Starting salaries depend heavily on location, experience and employer.
8. Substance Use Counselor
Substance use counselors develop treatment plans, facilitate group sessions, provide crisis intervention and help individuals managing addiction access recovery resources. Rehabilitation facilities, community health centers, correctional facilities and VA programs offer positions at multiple levels. Entry-level work is accessible with a BSW, while advanced clinical roles typically require an MSW with specialization.
9. Community Outreach Worker
Grassroots-level work defines the role of the community outreach worker. Organizing community programs, conducting needs assessments and advocating for systemic change at the local level characterize this hands-on position.
Nonprofits, community development organizations, public health agencies and faith-based organizations hire outreach workers with a BSW and LBSW license as the standard credential in many states. These accessible social work major jobs offer direct, ground-level impact.
10. Social and Community Service Manager
Overseeing social service programs, managing staff, developing budgets and leading community-level advocacy define this leadership role. The position bridges direct service and administration, representing where BSW and MSW graduates land after gaining experience or where MSW graduates can step in more directly. A BSW with significant experience or an MSW typically meets hiring requirements.
11. Victim Advocate
Supporting survivors of crime, domestic violence or trauma through legal processes requires navigating the justice system, securing protective orders and linking clients to emergency services and counseling.
Nonprofit advocacy organizations, legal aid offices, law enforcement agencies and courts employ advocates with a BSW and LBSW license in most states. This mission-driven entry-level role carries varied salary ranges depending on setting and organization type, with government-sector positions tending toward higher wages than nonprofit roles.
12. Policy Analyst
Influencing social systems through research, analysis and advocacy characterizes the policy analyst role. The core work in this position includes:
- Studying the impact of legislation.
- Developing policy recommendations.
- Reshaping programs that affect communities.
Government agencies, nonprofits, think tanks and advocacy organizations employ analysts, with an MSW strongly preferred or required for most positions. Some entry-level policy roles accept a BSW with research experience.
What’s the Difference Between Social Work and Counseling?
The key difference between the two career paths lies in the focus. Social workers address foundational needs and systems advocacy, while counselors concentrate primarily on therapeutic intervention.
If you’re weighing both paths, explore clinical mental health counseling as a separate but related option. Here are the main differences:
- Training requirements: Social workers earn a BSW or MSW focused on systems-level practice, case management and policy. Counselors complete graduate-level clinical training centered on therapeutic technique, assessment and diagnosis.
- Scope of practice: Social workers address foundational needs like housing, resources, advocacy and coordination. They can provide therapy with an MSW and LCSW licensure. Counselors focus primarily on mental health treatment and behavioral intervention.
- Work settings: Social workers practice across schools, hospitals, nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations. Counselors most commonly work in clinical, outpatient and private practice settings.
Start Your Social Work Career at The University of Olivet
The University of Olivet’s online Bachelor of Social Work program offers a flexible path into the field. This degree opens access to most roles outlined here, including case manager, child welfare specialist and medical social worker. Advanced roles, like clinical social worker, require an MSW, but the BSW serves as your essential first step.
Many MSW programs offer advanced standing to BSW graduates, significantly shortening the timeline to your master’s degree. Starting salaries depend on role, location and experience, but the BSW opens the door while advancement and specialization build earning potential over time. Ready to take the next step? Apply today or explore the program to learn more.
