Careers related to Social Work

Social workers advocate for disadvantaged and troubled members of society.

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Social work is a field that some consider to be stressful and full of little financial reward. It often requires professionals to handle difficult situations, including domestic violence, abuse and delinquency. Social work has the potential to be an intrinsically rewarding career for professionals who have a strong desire to help others. The highest paying social work related positions tend to be in the medical and education industries. Nonprofit agency management also tends to pay higher than average.

Medical Social Workers

Medical social workers help connect patients with community services, such as homeless shelters and substance abuse programs. They typically work in hospitals and medical centers, often interacting with emergency room and soon-to-be discharged patients. Healthcare social workers who worked in hospitals earned an average salary of $53, 400 as of May 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is above the average annual salary of $42, 480 for all social workers and above the average annual salary of $39, 250 for counselors and other social work specialists.

School Counselors

Child, family and school social workers employed by elementary and secondary schools earned an average annual salary of $54, 260 as of May 2010, according to the BLS. School counselors work with a number of students and focus on helping them meet their academic potential. Counselors often work with the child, the school's educators and his or her family to address issues related to poor attendance, and risky and defiant behavior. Many school counselor positions require a professional license, in addition to a college degree.