Social work is a unique blend of psychology, interpersonal relationships, and public service. Social workers might help individuals, children, families or addicts overcome their challenges.

If helping people work through issues that affect their quality of life interests you, you may be wondering: is a master’s in social work worth it? Learn how a master of social work (MSW) can help you grow a social work career, plus explore MSW alternatives to consider if you’re interested in working with people and providing life-improving assistance.

There are dozens of master of social work online and on-campus programs to choose from. Typically, students who have completed a bachelor’s in social work may be able to find on-campus and online MSW programs that take one to 1 and 1/2 years to complete. Otherwise, typical MSW programs take about two years.

Considering the time and financial commitment you’ll make to go back to school, here are some reasons why an MSW program may benefit you.

If you’re already working in social work, an MSW may make you a more competitive candidate for your dream job. An MSW is typically a requirement to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Being licensed means you can provide mental health services to clients that might include diagnosing and treating mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. An LCSW can typically take on greater responsibilities than a social worker without licensure.

A master’s degree can also bring higher pay than a bachelor’s degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2024 median usual weekly earnings for those with a master’s degree were $1,840, compared to $1,543 for those with a bachelor’s degree.

If you already have your bachelor’s degree in a field not related to social work, an MSW can help you enter the social work field. Social workers work with a variety of clients, from the elderly to abused children. They help clients find appropriate treatments and resources to thrive.

Social workers often support people at their lowest points. Social workers can help vulnerable clients get the tools they need, from food stamps to childcare to housing, to lead meaningful lives.

A bachelor’s in social work usually offers a broad view of the field. An MSW program enables students to dive deeper into work with a particular population or set of issues. MSW degrees are typically required for clinical work, private practice, health care social work and social work training. In an MSW program, you can learn in classes that are geared toward these specialties.

An MSW is also a degree choice if working in private practice interests you, but you’re not interested in a counseling or psychology degree. Many counselors are licensed clinical social workers. In an MSW program, you’ll learn about how to treat mental health issues, but you’ll focus on at-risk populations.

The financial return on investment you get from an MSW will depend on your current work situation, how long you plan to work in social work and where you choose to take your social work career.

You may be able to offset MSW program costs with scholarships and financial aid.

The BLS reports 2024 median pay for all social workers, including those with only a bachelor’s degree, was $61,330. The highest paid 10% of all social workers earned more than $99,500, according to the BLS.

The median annual wage for social workers depends on social work type and industry. The BLS reports that the 2024 median annual wage for health care social workers was $68,090. For all other social workers – excluding those who are school, family, and child social workers, and substance abuse and mental health social workers – the 2024 median wage was $69,480.1

Licensure obtained after an MSW may increase earning potential. Because licensure can expand the job market and responsibilities for social workers, LCSWs can earn more than non-licensed social workers.

Social workers are in demand across many fields. According to the BLS (May 2024), the job outlook for social workers is projected to grow 6% between 2024 and 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. There were 810,900 social worker jobs in 2024, and 44,700 are expected to be added by 2034.

The type of social work field you should choose will depend on the type of population and issues you’re interested in. If you like working with kids, you might want to be a school or child social worker. If you are interested in helping people with addiction, a career as a substance abuse social worker may appeal to you.

Several social work specializations are available, especially for LCSWs. The following are three social work fields with a high demand for qualified social workers.

Substance abuse and mental health social workers help clients with addictions or mental illnesses. They refer clients to support groups and 12-step programs and may lead those groups or programs themselves.

According to the BLS, there were about 136,800 mental health and substance abuse social workers in 2024. Employment in this specialty is projected to grow by about 13,300 jobs from 2024 to 2034 (roughly 10% growth).

Health care social workers work with clients who are undergoing medical issues and who must make changes to lifestyle, health care or housing to live healthier lives. Health care social workers may refer clients to support groups or home health care services. They also work with doctors to help them understand how physical health affects mental and emotional health. Some health care social workers work in hospice and palliative care or geriatric social work.

According to the BLS, there were about 193,200 healthcare social worker jobs in 2024, and employment is projected to grow by about 14,800 positions from 2024 to 2034 (about 8% growth).

School, family and child social workers help families and children who need assistance, including housing services, childcare and benefits like food stamps. School, family and child social workers help families who are in adoption or foster care systems or who are looking to be reunited. They also help children who are abused or neglected.

According to the BLS, there were about 399,900 child, family, and school social workers in 2024. Employment in this specialty is projected to grow by about 13,400 jobs from 2024 to 2034 (about 3% growth).

When you’ve completed an MSW program, you can check state licensure requirements to become an LCSW.

Social workers are in demand throughout the country, according to the BLS. If you’ve always wanted to live in a certain state, you can try to obtain licensure in that state and work there. If you specialized in a certain area in your MSW program, you can apply for jobs that help that population.

With an MSW and licensure, you can also open your own private practice and become your own boss. LCSWs in private practice can work with clients of their choice on their own schedules.

If you want to help people but you are not sure if social work is right for you, here are some MSW alternatives to consider:

Marriage and family therapists work with couples and families who are experiencing mental, behavioral and emotional issues within their family units. A master’s in marriage and family therapy teaches students about human sexuality and intimacy, multicultural counseling, and ethics and law for mental health professionals.

Psychologists work with people and groups to improve how they handle emotions, social dynamics, thoughts, behavioral tendencies and cognitive processes. Those who get a master’s in psychology might pursue work as a counselor or go into research.

If you enjoy working with kids but don’t want to limit your work to vulnerable populations, you might enjoy a school counselor role. There are master’s degrees in school counseling and master’s in mental health counseling programs that prepare students to help children and teens overcome mental, emotional and behavioral issues.

If you think an MSW is right for you, online MSW programs let you learn and study on your own time, on your own device. You can attend the school you want without having to relocate. Online MSW programs can be a good fit for professionals who want to work full-time or part-time while they attend school.

¹Social Workers – Summary (BLS)↑
²Social Workers – Job Outlook (BLS)↑

Information last updated: January 2026