Social workers work in a variety of settings, including in the mental health/substance abuse industry, for nonprofit organizations, in schools and for local, state and federal government. They work with individuals and families to help them work through problems in their daily lives. They often specialize in working with one population to help them get assistance they need.
Education
The salary range for social workers depends in large part on their level of education and licensing. Licensed clinical social workers are licensed by their respective states, and social workers with master's degrees are able to provide counseling and therapy. A bachelor's degree in social work is the minimum educational requirement for many social work jobs, although having a bachelor's degree in a closely related field is acceptable for some positions.
National
The mean annual salary for child, family and school social workers is $43,540, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2009. Medical and public health social workers earn a higher mean salary of $48,340 per year. Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn significantly less on average: $41,350. Social workers in other fields earn $50,470.
South Carolina
The mean annual salary for a child, family and school social worker in South Carolina is about $10,000 less than the national average at $32,630. Medical and public health social workers social workers earn $43,760, which is almost $5,000 less than the national average. Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn just $28,830, and social workers in other fields earn $46,570.
Cities
Charleston child, family and school social workers earn a mean annual salary of $31,430. Medical and public health social workers earn an average salary of $53,240, and mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $35,150. All other social workers earn just over $50,000 per year. Child, family and school social workers in Greenville make a salary comparable to social workers of the same type in Charleston: $31,190. The salaries of medical and public health social workers is lower than those in Charleston, however, at $39,010. Mental health and substance abuse social workers in Greenville earn $34,620 per year. Other social workers in Greenville earn an average annual salary of $42,700, significantly less than their counterparts in Charleston.
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