Ever since the early human discovered the need to put themselves in different roles, the need to work for a living came into play, and thus civilization was created.
While some people may choose the typical run-of-the-mill jobs, you are not thinking about that, are you? Considering that you are reading an article about the salary of a social worker, it is safe to say that a data analyst is not at the top of your list.
Before we answer that question, we need to find out what social work is.
To improve the individual and collective wellbeing of people, families, groups, communities, and society, social work is an academic and practice-based profession. To interact with institutions and policies, perform evaluations, design treatments, and improve social responsibility and functioning, social work practice draws on various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, and economics. The realization of social justice is the ultimate objective of social work.
The social work profession emerged in the 19th century, with some foundations in volunteerism and community organizing. However, there have long since been responses to social needs, mostly from public almshouses, private charities, and religious institutions. Due to the consequences of the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression in the 1930s, social workers were pressured to respond to concerns about children’s wellbeing resulting from widespread poverty and the use of child labor in industrial settings.
The services provided by a social worker are geared toward helping individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities achieve optimal psychosocial functioning.
Types of Social Workers
Micro, mezzo, or macro are the three practice levels available to social workers.
Micro: Workers at this level usually have a one-on-one client relationship and are licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs).
Mezzo — These social workers, who are often LCSWs, also support client systems that include families. While concentrating on individuals, they also have other people.
Macro — Macro social workers use methods like study and lobbying to advance their communities or society.
There are several venues where criminal justice social workers can work, including courts, domestic violence shelters, jails, and prisons. Each function carries specific responsibilities. For instance, people working in prisons support convicts while they are incarcerated. This can entail conducting mental evaluations and helping convicts adjust to life outside jail.
Social workers in the medical field are prepared to assist those going through these kinds of difficulties. They have the tools to support patients and their families through acute, chronic, or terminal illnesses.
To ascertain the requirements of patients, these social workers cooperate with other medical personnel. They might provide referrals to other agencies, look into child abuse or neglect cases, conduct research to guide social policy and help with paperwork for Medicaid and Medicare.
This field’s social workers work to enhance the well-being of kids and their families. Child and family social workers can assist in setting up adoptions and locating foster homes for children who have been abandoned or abused. They help pupils in the classroom by tackling truancy, behavioral concerns, teenage pregnancies, and other issues.
A distinct area of practice within social work, international social work aims to enhance the social and material wellbeing of everyone. It is used at all social and economic organization levels and practiced across all geographical boundaries.
As they organize and manage community-wide programs catering to marginalized communities’ needs, community social workers frequently work with a diverse spectrum of people. Additionally, they might work one-on-one with community members to determine their specific needs and direct them to nearby services.
Civilian military social workers may work in hospitals, schools, veterans’ facilities, or support facilities for the American armed forces.
Military bases with medical and mental health facilities employ active-duty social workers to serve soldiers who are currently serving.
Veteran social workers often work for the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist retired service members with monetary difficulties, home searches, navigating military benefits, and locating suitable medical or mental health treatments.
Even though this field may be unknown, gerontological social workers will remain important as the baby boomer group ages. These experts help seniors preserve their quality of life while living independently. Regardless of where their clients now reside—at home, with family, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home—social workers in this field aid them with applying for housing, linking them with various programs, and more. Gerontological social workers often serve clients in long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, or adult protective organizations.
Medical Social Workers
To offer care for patients throughout their lives, medical social workers collaborate with other multidisciplinary healthcare team members. Their duties include educating patients’ families about their conditions and the services that are accessible. Medical social workers play a crucial role in patients’ care from when they are admitted to the hospital until their discharge and frequently even after that.
The average pay scale of a social worker ranges between 50000 USD to 60000 USD per annum. Depending on the specific field of social work and the experience incurred, the pay scale is expected to change.
The pay scale of a social worker also varies depending on the state you live in and the organization you work for.
- The highest social worker wage is $67,057, paid in Oregon.
- The lowest social worker pay is $42,906 in South Dakota.
- Social workers make an average of $50,102 a year across the country.
- Social workers receive a national hourly wage of $24.09
The educational qualification of the person in question also bears an element to the pay grade received by the person.
Gerontological Social Workers- $65,076
Medical Social Worker- $62,645
International Social Worker- $60,818
Military Social Worker- $58,838
Child, Family, School, and Social Worker- $54,730
Community Social Worker- $54,179
Criminal Justice Social Worker- $52,731
Environmental Social Worker- $51,970
Becoming a social worker is a noble pursuit that would help several people’s life. The industry is highly competitive and offers good compensation and helps achieve something good.