A lot of times, when "Social Worker" is in a job title, the employer is looking for someone with an MSW. So where can people with their BSW look to find a job that pays well and uses their social work skills?
The Social Security Administration is one of the largest employers of BSWs in the U.S.
Search USAJOBS for Federal employment
Counties often hire BSWs
Look for: "Family Reunification Liaison" "Mental Health Assistant" "Mental Health Technician" "Counselor"
Often "Social Work" will not be in the title
Note that county jobs can take a very long time (up to a year) to respond
Search by state - Some states have greater need/pay more than others
For instance, Washington State has a huge need for social workers, as of June 15, 2022. The state pays $25-$35/hour for people with BSWs serving in "social work-adjacent" jobs.
While some areas of Washington are expensive, such as around Seattle/the Puget Sound, there are many far more affordable areas in the state.
Check out your state's DCF.
As an example, New Jersey's Department of Children & Families CP&P Team hires Family Service Specialist Trainees, BSW allowed, for slightly more than $54,000/year.
Public welfare programs
Eligibility Caseworkers for public welfare programs are often BSWs
Agencies with residential facilities can be good options for BSWs.
These can be recreation-based, life skills, group support, and education-based roles.
They can be with people with developmental disabilities, dementia, the elderly, and children, among others.
Skilled nursing facilities often hire BSWs.
Care Manager for an MCO (Managed Care Organization)
School social work
Some schools/school districts will hire BSWs as school social workers, especially given the current difficulty hiring in education.
Some Pieces of General Advice
Cast a wider net - Use an employment search engine, like Indeed
Look for jobs seeking someone with "a degree in social work, sociology, psychology, or something related"
Think of alternate roles where social work skills would be useful, such as human resources, insurance, and personnel management
Find the organizations where you'd like to work and read through their available job openings that require a Bachelor's degree. Apply to those that are related to your social work training.
Pursue a CAS (Certified Addiction Specialist) designation.
Often those with BSWs and their CAS are eligible for positions in addiction treatment centers.
The CAS costs several thousand and a few months of weekend classes, but is not as expensive or time-consuming as earning an MSW.
Join a local social work Facebook group, as they often have many position listings for BSWs and MSWs.
Take advantage of tuition benefits
Get a job at a university with an MSW program, and use the tuition benefit to earn your MSW part-time.
Alternatively, work for any organization with a tuition benefit and do the same.
