Social workers practice in various settings. Typically, a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is required to start a career as a practicing clinical social worker. However, pursuing a postgraduate degree may lead to higher salaries and more career options, including leadership or education roles. With numerous online degree programs available, it may be more convenient than it used to be to fit a postgraduate degree program into your busy schedule.

In this article, we discuss two options to consider when it comes to doctoral social work programs: a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree or a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (PhD). Both of these educational paths may help you further your career, but they each have a different professional focus. One degree may be a better choice for you than the other, depending on your professional aspirations.

A PhD is a common terminal degree, a term used to describe the highest degree in an academic discipline.

A PhD in social work is a type of social work degree that prepares candidates to become researchers and educators in the field of social work, according to the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE Social Work). Are you interested in a career in academia? You could spend your time “behind the scenes” of the social work world, training the next generation of social workers and performing social work research. 

Would you rather get a postgraduate degree that’s designed to improve your clinical and leadership skills? GADE Social Work indicates that a DSW degree emphasizes advanced clinical training. With this doctoral degree, your job duties may revolve around providing advanced clinical services. But what does a Doctor of Social Work graduate do? Similar to the PhD option, a DSW degree may also prepare candidates to assume leadership roles within their organizations. Additionally, a DSW may be beneficial for those looking to expand their clinical knowledge beyond what’s offered through continuing education classes. If you’re an experienced social worker who wants to advance your skills and stay in a clinical practice setting, a DSW may be a beneficial choice. Even if you want to transition to a social work career, doctoral programs may be worth considering.

A social worker with a postgraduate degree can work in many environments, including clinical settings, educational organizations, nonprofits, governmental departments and more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s worth noting that many of these career paths, such as working as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), are available to those without a doctoral degree. For example, if you’re considering an LMFT vs. LCSW, a master’s degree is the minimum degree requirement.

However, a DSW graduate may assume leadership roles in their Doctor of Social Work careers within organizations. They may coach, manage and lead other social workers at the organization. They may also develop and steer the organization’s programs.

Possible work settings for Doctor of Social Work jobs may include:

A doctorate in social work doesn’t mean you have to leave your practice behind. In fact, some may pursue a postgraduate degree to improve their clinical social work skills. There are numerous online social worker resources to help you find inspiration and explore all your career opportunities.

What can you do with a doctorate in social work? If your future ambitions include moving into a leadership position, a DSW may help you do so in a clinical setting. Depending on your interests, you may pursue a clinical social work career path in one of the below areas noted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) notes multiple other specialty areas of social work, such as:

PhD in Social Work Career Paths

In comparison to DSW graduates, those with a PhD in social work may focus more on research and academic careers. Below are two types of PhD in social work careers listed by GADE Social Work:

• Academic professor: Teaching and research positions may be available in settings such as universities. As a professor, you may also train future professors.
• Professional researcher: You may conduct research and analyze data that supports the work of government agencies, the military and research centers.

To prepare students for these work settings, PhD curriculum may focus on social work research methods and preparing students for research careers.

Social worker employment is expected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much faster than the average of all occupations. While the need for social workers may vary by location and specialization, the BLS reports that some types of social workers are more in demand than others. For example, consider the following breakdown of projected job growth by social work specialization, as noted by the BLS (May 2024).

Many factors may affect your doctorate in social work salary. Some of these factors include your geographic location, years of experience in the field and education level. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a doctoral degree had higher weekly earnings than those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree in 2024.

Another influence on doctorate in social work salary may be your specialization. Below is an overview of 2024 median salaries for social workers by specialization, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The median annual salary for social workers was $61,330 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There is no specific salary range for an MSW vs a DSW holder. The top 10% of earners made more than $99,500. Your doctorate in social work salary depends on multiple factors; however, key factors influencing social worker salaries include your industry and years of experience.

Here’s a breakdown of social worker salaries by industry, provided by the BLS:

A more recent national snapshot is from the 2024 Social Work Workforce Survey (published in 2025 as part of the Social Work Census study series). Instead of separating earnings by DSW vs PhD, the report summarizes licensed social workers’ earnings by practice category. In 2024 (inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars), the median annual gross earnings from a primary social work job were $57,680 for Bachelors, $66,950 for Masters, $72,100 for Advanced Generalist, and $77,250 for Clinical social workers.

Median annual earnings (primary job), licensed social workers (2024 dollars):

Note: When the analysis is limited to full-time, year-round workers, the median rises to $58,710 (Bachelors), $67,980 (Masters), $76,220 (Advanced Generalist), and $82,400 (Clinical).

There are many cities where to pursue Doctor of Social Work jobs. Some areas have a higher concentration of jobs than others. If you’re looking for DSW degree careers, here are the 10 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of social worker jobs, as noted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

The employment and salary information above reflects all social workers, not just those in Doctor of Social Work careers.

If you’re looking for a doctorate in social work jobs in a specific state, you may approach your career search in several different ways. One way to pursue a DSW degree is to see which states have a high concentration of social worker jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the states with the highest concentration of social worker jobs are Minnesota, California, Florida, New York, and Oregon. More details on each state are below.

If you’re looking for well-paying doctoral programs in social work careers, consider these top-paying states for social workers, as reported by the BLS: District of Columbia, Nevada, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Hawaii.

Not sure if a Doctor of Social Work careers are right for you? There are many other related subjects, such as psychology degrees and counseling degrees, to explore. Below are some related degree programs you may consider.

If you’re still not sure if a doctoral degree in social work is right for you, ask yourself these questions:

If you answered yes to any of these questions, Doctor of Social Work programs and careers may be worth considering.

Information last updated: January 2026