What Does a Social Worker Do (and How Can You Become One)?

作者：Coursera Staff • 更新于 Oct 6, 2025

Learn how you can help improve the lives of others with a role in social work.

[Featured Image] A senior citizen welcoming a social worker into their home.

A social worker is a trained professional who works with vulnerable people, groups, and communities to help them learn to live better lives. Social workers tend to work with populations suffering from poverty, discrimination, or other social injustices.

Professional social workers aim to create change and encourage the resilience of individuals, families, and communities. This career can be fulfilling for those who enjoy giving back to the community and making a difference in society.

Discover what social workers do, why you should consider a career in social work, and how you can start your social work journey. If you're ready to get started right away, consider enrolling in the Mindfulness and Well-being Specialization from Rice University. You'll have the opportunity to explore the theory and methods of mindfulness that aim to increase your awareness and decrease suffering for those you will work with.

Social work is “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people,” as defined by The International Federation of Social Workers [1]. As a social worker, you may implement important changes to your community's social services and well-being.

Settings where social workers may work include:

Hospitals
Mental health facilities
Child welfare and human service agencies
Community development organizations
Schools
Halfway houses
Adoption agencies
Private practices

What does a social worker do? Tasks and responsibilities

Social work combines many aspects of counseling and psychology while focusing on client case management. Explore the types of responsibilities you may have if you become a social worker in one of these main settings:

Family and schools: Social workers who work with families in the community may advocate for what’s in the best interest of a child’s upbringing. Social workers in educational settings work with teachers, students, and families to solve problems impacting children, such as bullying and learning challenges.

Health care: Social workers in medical and public health settings support critically ill patients and their families by helping them find resources and satisfy health care needs. Geriatric social work is a growing need in health care because of the rapidly aging population, especially in the United States.

Substance use disorder: Social workers in mental health and substance use disorder settings assist patients with therapy and finding financially available rehabilitation. Social workers may also work in the community, participating in outreach and preventative programs related to substance use disorder.

Learn more about the three main categories of social work:

Depending on where you work, you will need specific skills and knowledge relevant to your working population. Building a strong foundational skill set will empower you to help others in the most effective way possible.

Set yourself up for success by building the following interpersonal skills:

Communication skills help you form relationships with people and gather information about their challenges. These skills include active listening, setting boundaries, and effective communication.

Empathy equips you to understand how another person feels about a situation.

Critical thinking helps you to objectively analyze information about a client’s situation based on observations, interviews, and research.

Organizational and time management skills are necessary to manage and document complex cases and the many needs of multiple clients.

Self-care techniques empower you to maintain a healthy work-life balance in what can be an emotionally demanding field.

As you earn your degree and progress in your career as a social worker, you’ll build more specialized knowledge targeted toward your day-to-day work:

The core frameworks of social work create the foundation for understanding ecological systems, social justice, cultural humility, and other practices that define populations.

Active and reflective listening skills equip you to engage in meaningful conversation with someone to understand their thoughts and allow for effective problem-solving.

Interviewing and counseling techniques include a range of approaches used with clients to help them understand how they can make desired changes in their lives.

Global assessment of functioning (GAF) is a tool used to assess a client’s ability to function.

Degree in social work

Typically, social workers pursue a specific social work degree, such as a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work. According to Zippia, the most popular degree for a social worker is a bachelor’s degree, with 59 percent earning one and 33 percent obtaining their master’s [2]. After completing your Master of Social Work, you may pursue a Doctorate or PhD in Social Work, which would then qualify you to teach social work classes at a college or university.

As a social worker, you can make a real difference in your community by addressing growing problems in mental health, aging, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, chronic illness, homelessness, and food insecurity. According to the National Institutes of Health, social work is one of the five core mental health professions [3].

Social worker salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for social workers in the United States was $61,330 in 2024. Depending on where you live and other factors, you could earn from $41,580 to $99,500 annually [4].

Social worker job outlook

The overall employment of social workers is set to grow 6 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than average [5]. Health care, substance abuse, and mental health fields may see the most significant growth due to a large aging population and a trend toward more mental health treatment programs.

Professionals with a master's in social work and an interest in mental health can consider becoming therapists. Many psychological modalities requiring specialized training exist within talk therapy, which can also be a fulfilling and well-paid career (depending on your location and qualifications).

What is the difference between a social worker and a therapist?

Social workers typically assist clients facing hardships in a variety of locations, such as hospitals, religious organizations, or school settings, often acting as advocates to change a client’s circumstances. Therapists may also work in similar settings; however, they provide treatment more directly related to relationships and overcoming challenges through psychological practices pertaining directly to mental health.

As you pursue a career in social work, you can choose whether to work in a clinical or nonclinical capacity.

As a nonclinical social worker, you can offer job, career, and academic counseling services or work on policies that affect welfare and social assistance. Counseling and entry-level administrative roles typically require a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree.

A position as a clinical social worker requires specific knowledge to handle many difficult situations, including substance abuse counseling and support, family abuse cases, and working with patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

To be a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), you'll need the following:

A Master of Social Work (MSW) degree (A leadership position may require a Doctor of Social Work or DSW)

Two years of post-master's degree supervised clinical experience

A license in the state you plan to practice

If you are passionate about helping people obtain the social support they need, take the next step in your career by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, where you can network and keep up on career trends. You can also explore the following free, digital resources to:

Watch on YouTube: What Should I Major In?

Take the quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

Prepare for the future: What Does My Future Workplace Look Like?

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