Marriage & Family Therapist
Median wage · national
$66,940
Range: $50K – $94K
Employed
67K
Openings/yr
8K
Typically: master's degree
HUMANITIES
Healthcare Social Worker
Healthcare Social Worker earn $67,880 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $56,710 and $82,240. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Healthcare Social Worker
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
- Median Wage
- $67,880
- Employed Nationally
- 188K
- Openings / Year
- 18,400
- Entry Education
- Master's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
AIDS Social Worker
Bereavement Counselor
Case Manager
Case Worker
Caseworker
How Much Do Healthcare Social Workers Make?
Healthcare Social Worker earn $67,880 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $56,710 and $82,240. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$67,880
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$57K–$82K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$56,710
Entry-level
$67,880
Median
$82,240
Experienced
What Do Healthcare Social Workers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Healthcare Social Worker roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking
Service Orientation
Coordination
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Healthcare Social Workers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Healthcare Social Workers?
The BLS projects +7.7% employment change for Healthcare Social Worker through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 18,400 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +7.7%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
18,400
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
188K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Healthcare Social Worker professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $67,880 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 22,880 | $67,250 | -0.9% |
| 2 | California | 19,680 | $92,970 | +37.0% |
| 3 | Texas | 11,470 | $69,960 | +3.1% |
| 4 | Florida | 8,950 | $67,090 | -1.2% |
| 5 | Ohio | 8,700 | $64,750 | -4.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Healthcare Social Worker positions require a master's degree to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 59,381 | $51,790 | 850 |
| 2 | Mental Health Services | 31,550 | $52,119 | 987 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Healthcare Social Workers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Healthcare Social Worker, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Healthcare Social Worker pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Healthcare Social Worker Pros & Cons
The data on Healthcare Social Worker shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $67,880 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +7.7% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Healthcare Social Worker Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Healthcare Social Worker professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Healthcare Social Worker is $67,880, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $56,710 and $82,240. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Healthcare Social Worker a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $67,880 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +7.7% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Healthcare Social Worker?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Social Work are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $67,880 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become a Healthcare Social Worker?
It depends heavily on program cost. At $67,880 median, expensive graduate school debt can take 20 or more years to recover. In-state public schools, employer-sponsored programs, or income-driven repayment make the strongest case. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Healthcare Social Worker?
The BLS projects +7.7% employment change for Healthcare Social Worker through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 18,400 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 188K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Healthcare Social Worker professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Healthcare Social Worker roles: Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Service Orientation, Coordination, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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