Masters in Social Work (MSW) Salary
Having you Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree will not only give you a much greater diversity of possible careers, it will also enable you to command a significantly higher salary. The difference between someone holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and someone with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is substantial.
This is easily apparent just by looking at different salary brackets for social workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports this national data for all social workers:
- Bottom 25% salaries: $48,680 and below
- Average salary: $67,050
- Top 25% salaries: $78,500 and above
- Top 10% salaries: $99,500 and above
If you consider these salary differences as representative of the salary differences between a BSW-holder and an MSW-holder you can see the differences start to add up quickly, not to mention over the course of a 25-year career. The additional cost of earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree begins to pale in comparison.
Some specific job roles for MSW-prepared social workers along with the salaries for each can be found below:
Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker
If you are interested in working in the counseling end of social work and wish to help families of terminally ill people as well as the dying work with their grief, you may wish to consider a career as an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker. For these specialized social workers, the BLS reports a median salary of $61,170. (BLS: healthcare social workers working at skilled nursing facilities).
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Salary
If you are interested in working in mental health counseling within the social work field, then you may want to investigate the possibility of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Depending on whether you are in private practice, working for a state agency and also the state in which you work, you can anticipate a median yearly salary of $60,060. Explore our in-depth career description. (BLS: mental health and substance abuse social workers).
The School Social Worker Salary
If you have a strong affinity for children and wish to help them work through their emotional problems in order to perform better at school, you might want to explore the idea of becoming a school social worker. For the School Social Worker depending on the state in which you work as well as school district you work within, you can look forward to a yearly median salary of $58,570. (BLS: child, family, and school social workers).
The Certified Social Work Case Manager
For those who feel drawn to practicing counseling as a mental health professional within the structure of a medical organization you may want to consider a career as a Certified Social Work Case Manager. Your main tasks will be found in working with individuals and families who are experiencing stress due to some necessary but invasive medical treatments. As a Certified Social Work Case Manager you can look forward to a median salary of $65,570 per year. (BLS: mental health and substance abuse social workers working with local government agencies).
Having a Masters in Social Work (MSW) will give you a variety of high end Social Work opportunities in a diverse number of contexts. Finding the career that resonates with you is a key consideration.
In addition to having tremendous options and opportunities within the Social Work sector, having attained your Master’s in Social Work (MSW) will also allow you to have significantly increased earning potential compared to those who only have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). This makes the Master of Social Work a very worthy investment in time and money.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. Salary figures for Social Workers, Child, Family, and School Social Workers, Healthcare Social Workers, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. Salaries based on national data not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
