NASW: Social Workers and Salaries

In 2012, the National Association for Social Workers (NASW) released salary guidelines for social workers. It contains recommended salary ranges for BSW and MSW holders based on years of experience. Although the salaries don't take into consideration cost of living (social workers living in the Midwestern, Southern, and rural areas may earn lower salaries than what is posted in the document), I am glad that NASW is addressing the salary issue now.  As I mentioned in previous posts on this blog, many social workers are underpaid, overworked, and under-appreciated. Earning competitive salaries will increase the prestige and awareness of the social work profession and ensure that social workers can afford the cost of living in their respective regions.

Updated (08/25/13): Social Work License Map offers a link about social work salaries by state. The list includes average salaries (broken down to average and hourly wage) by specialization (child, family, and school; medical and public health; mental health and substance abuse; and all other).
based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The link also includes this infographic salary guide.

 

Brought to you by Social Work License Map