Social workers attempt to help their patients through challenging times.
Social workers are professionals who possess at least a bachelor's degree and in many cases a master's degree. These professionals work to help improve the lives of people who are in their care by offering assistance with family, personal, relationship and other matters. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salary data for social workers depending on their specialty; from this information the average starting salary of social workers can be determined.
Categories
The BLS divides social workers into four categories: child, family and school social workers; health care social workers; mental health and substance abuse social workers; and social workers, all others. In May 2010, the bureau published information about each category including salary averages.
Child, Family and School Social Workers
Social workers who work primarily with families earn a mean annual wage of $43,850 as of May 2010, reports the bureau. The starting salary of a new social worker most likely falls within the lower percentiles of such social workers. For those in the 10th percentile, the average annual salary is $26,170. For those in the 25th and 50th percentiles, their annual salaries are $32,270 and $40,210, respectively.
Health Care Social Workers
The mean annual wage for social workers who are in the health care industry is $49,200, as of May 2010. These professionals provide counseling for the sick and dying and for their families and make referrals as needed. Those in the 10th and 25th percentiles earn average salaries of $29,460 and $37,040, respectively. The middle 50 percent earn approximately $47,230 per year, according to the BLS.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Some social workers specialize in working with people challenged by mental health issues and others assist substance abuse patients. Some help both. These professionals typically earn the lowest annual salaries among all social workers, averaging $41,880 per year, according to the BLS. For those in the 10th percentile, their average annual salary is $25,210. For those in the 25th and 50th percentiles, their wages average $30,870 and $38,600, per year, respectively.
Social Workers, All Others
Not all social workers can easily be categorized, or their work is generalized and doesn't fit neatly in the first three categories. For those in the "all others" category, their mean annual salary generally is the highest in the nation at $52,270, according to the bureau. For those in the 10th percentile, their annual salary is approximately $29,340. Those in the 25th percentile average $37,550 per year, while those who are in the 50th percentile earn $51,500 per year on average.
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