What Jobs Can You Get with Your BSW?
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?
Here are some tips from a recent discussion online.
For jobs specific to BSW degrees
- Social Security Administration
- 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"
- Case management titles: "Support Coordinator" "Case Manager" "Client Manager" "Intake Coordinator" "Discharge Coordinator" "Discharge Planner" "Psychiatric Technician" "Case Aid" "Program Specialist"
- 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.
Author: Lara Klopp, FSU MSW Alum 2022