School Social Worker

Whether you’re already a social worker or want to get into the field, one position that might be of interest to you is a school social worker . Whether you end up working at a small school or prestigious university, this career gives you the opportunity to help children and adolescents improve their health and well-being while also reaching their full academic potential.

In this guide, you’ll learn what it takes to become a school social worker.

A school social worker is a mental health professional who has received extensive training. You can earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) to gain the education necessary to start this career. In this position, you’ll be the link between the school, home, and the broader community. Your services can be provided to students and their families for the purpose of helping students improve their social and academic standing.

The exact qualifications you need depend on the school you apply with. Along with a bachelor’s degree, you may be expected to earn a license from the state you work in. The job responsibilities you’re tasked with performing can vary as well. For instance, you’ll likely be expected to perform assessments of a student’s social and academic history. You may also need to determine if students are experiencing peer pressure, substance use, or notable obstacles to academic performance.

Your everyday responsibilities can involve:

• Implementing treatment plans
• Providing therapeutic services to students and their families
• Consulting with administrators and faculty members
• Helping special needs students
• Administering crisis management services
• Performing home visits
• Conducting community outreach
• Helping staff members make improvements to their teaching methodologies.

Even though most school social workers are hired to work in schools, it’s also possible for you to work in a private practice or office. In this scenario, the school would refer students to your practice. In schools, social workers provide therapeutic services to tend to a wide range of different school-related issues, which include everything from bullying to being frequently absent from class.

If you choose to work outside of the school setting, you could help develop local, statewide, or nationwide education systems that help provide students with easier access to the mental health care they need. In this role, you could work for the government or on behalf of lobbyists.

Instead of being hired directly by a specific school, you could be hired by a school district to provide them with recommendations about district-wide policies that could be implemented. If you gain enough experience and have a strong reputation as a school social worker, you can open your own private practice, which means that you’ll likely be contracted by the school for your services.

Every type of social worker is almost always in high demand. The same is true for school social workers. According to BLS , the social work industry is expected to grow by around 9% over the next decade, which is faster than the average rate for all industries. Another 64,000 people are estimated to enter this profession by 2031.

As of 2022, more than 344,000 people were employed as child, family, and school social workers in the U.S. Around 51,550 of these workers are employed in elementary and secondary schools. Employment is highest in states like California, New York, and Texas.

The median salary for this position is $56,680. However, different states pay better than others, which you should consider when deciding if you should relocate for your job. The top paying states include:

• New Jersey – $75,590
• Connecticut – $71,970
• New York – $70,690
• District of Columbia – $69,980
• Maryland – $66,850

The exact path to obtaining this job differs with each state. Since school social work is often considered to be a social work specialization and career advancement opportunity, you’ll likely need to earn a Master of Social Work as well as the right license.

When you wish to start a career that involves social…