Why Get a Master’s in Social Work?
| 7 Min Read
Many social workers enter the field because they want to contribute to their community and help others. As you consider ways to advance in social work, you may wonder: Is an MSW worth it? And the answer is yes, if you want to pursue social work licensure and increase the impact you make in your community.
There are many advantages available to social workers with master’s degrees, including increased earning potential and job security. Let’s explore some of the key benefits of being a social worker with an MSW.
Benefits of a Master’s in Social Work
Your decision to choose an MSW program will involve many factors. As you consider the investment required to continue your education, here are key benefits that make MSW programs worth it:
Expand Your Ability to Serve Others
Social workers are passionate about social justice and make a measurable impact on the people in their community. They identify those who need help, assess their situations, and develop plans to address their needs.1 A benefit of being a social worker with an MSW is increasing your knowledge for working with people from vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, people without housing, victims of abuse, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Social workers tend to have similar interests, including a desire to serve others, fight for social justice, make a difference in people’s lives, and act with integrity. They are kind, compassionate, generous, and caring, all of which are directly connected to the nature of their work.
Thrive in a Growing Field
A common reason why many people become social workers is this field’s impressive job growth, which stems from the considerable need for resources and advocates in communities nationwide.2 The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth for social workers is expected to increase by 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average growth rate.3
Engage in Advanced Education and Training
MSW programs combine academics with practical training in the field, allowing you to demonstrate your ability to do the work before you even graduate. In addition to fieldwork, Widener’s online MSW courses offer advanced training in social work research, trauma treatments, and economic and social justice.
Additionally, earning an MSW is worth it for practitioners wanting to receive training for:
- Working in healthcare, administration, and schools
- Specializing in an area, such as working with patients battling addiction or counseling children in schools
- Getting certified as a licensed social worker, being able to open your own practice, and collecting third-party insurance payments in private practice in most states
Boost Your Earning Potential
As previously mentioned, one of the benefits of being a social worker is getting the opportunity to help others. However, increased income is an important consideration when planning one’s career. The median average salary for a social worker was $58,380 in May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.3
Social work jobs with MSW requirements often offer higher salaries. A survey performed by the NASW Workforce Center showed that no matter the social work setting, the wages of social workers holding master’s degrees are usually higher than those who don’t have one. And that difference can be tremendous — sometimes as much as $30,000 annually.4
What Can You Do with a Master’s in Social Work?
Depending on demand, you may be able to get a job if you only have a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), but your career options will be limited. By earning your master’s in social work, career options will likely be more widespread, and you’ll be a more competitive job candidate. Social workers with more experience and credentials get positions where they can make a larger impact on clients’ lives.5
An MSW degree also increases your chances of getting a higher-level position with more responsibility earlier in your career. After all, the MSW prepares you to earn two types of licenses:
Become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
State licensing for social workers protects the public and regulates the practice of social work. Once you’ve obtained your Master of Social Work degree in a CSWE-accredited program, you’ll likely need to pass your state’s licensing exam to become an LSW before you can begin practice or attain a position at some agencies.
Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
If your career goals include private practice or accepting third-party payments, you’ll need to become an LCSW. Attaining this credential requires you to have a minimum of two years of supervised clinical practice under your belt, and it allows you the freedom to see patients independently. It’s considered the highest-ranking license in the field.
If you’re interested in becoming an LSW or LCSW, be sure to check the licensing requirements in your state.
What Jobs Can You Get with a MSW?
There is a wide range of settings and opportunities for licensed practitioners, and that variety explains why many people become social workers. You’ll find MSW-level social workers providing services and resources to children, families, groups, and communities, as well as working in administration, policy, and advocacy on behalf of governmental and non-governmental organizations. Social workers can also be found providing services in private therapy practices and the corporate sector. One compelling aspect of the work is that it often involves being on an interdisciplinary team.
If you’re interested in earning your MSW, social work jobs may be available to you in these fields:
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Social workers serve people with clinical mental health and/or substance use diagnoses in community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, day treatment settings, clinics, homes, schools, family service agencies, prisons, and employee assistance programs.
Services to Children and Their Families
Social workers help to ensure the safety and well-being of children and support parents to protect and care for their children in agencies focused on child welfare, foster care, and adoption, among others.
Criminal Justice
Social workers serve incarcerated individuals, ex-offenders, families, and victims through rehabilitative and other justice-oriented functions in prisons, courts, police departments, probation offices, and victim services agencies.
Health and Well-Being
Social workers assist those suffering from disease or disability in hospitals, health centers, hospice or palliative care, nursing homes, and Veteran’s Administration hospitals and clinics.
Educational Needs
Social workers serve children in schools, school districts, Head Start programs, and other agencies to assist them with educational, emotional, and developmental difficulties.
Policy/Advocacy
Social workers assist with community programming, advocacy, education, and political action. Possible settings for this work are community development corporations, community centers, and governmental institutions.
Reach Your Potential as an Advanced Social Worker
So, is an MSW worth it? As demonstrated by the information shared here, having an MSW offers a rewarding, creative, and authentic career path for people seeking to make a difference in the world. If you’re ready to take the next step in a supportive environment, pursue your Master of Social Work online at Widener.
Our CSWE-accredited MSW program incorporates trauma as a central theme in all coursework. By gaining an understanding of trauma, you’ll be prepared to advance your client base and career in treating individuals, families, and communities. We offer Regular Standing admission to everyone with a bachelor’s degree and Advanced Standing admission for students with a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited institution.
To learn more about earning your master’s in social work degree at Widener, contact a program manager at 844-386-7321 or request information.
Sources
- Become, “How to Become a Social Worker.” Accessed September 5, 2016, https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/social-worker/.
- WorkItDaily.com. “5 Reasons Why a Career in Social Work Might Be Right for You.” Accessed September 5, 2016, https://www.workitdaily.com/career-social-work/.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Social Workers.” Accessed September 4, 2024, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
- CareersInPsychology.org, “Benefits of Being a Social Worker with a Master’s Degree.” Accessed September 5, 2016, http://careersinpsychology.org/benefits-social-worker-masters-degree/.
- WorkItDaily.com. “Why Social Workers Should Get Their MSWs.” Accessed September 5, 2016, https://www.workitdaily.com/social-workers-msws/.