Healthcare Social Workers
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.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,360 | $50,450 | $24.26 | |
| Alaska | 250 | $60,320 | $29.00 | |
| Arizona | 3,670 | $60,790 | $29.23 | |
| Arkansas | 1,100 | $57,650 | $27.72 | |
| California | 13,050 | $84,690 | $40.72 | |
| Colorado | 3,380 | $58,450 | $28.10 | |
| Connecticut | 1,800 | $72,010 | $34.62 | |
| Delaware | 560 | $56,330 | $27.08 | |
| District of Columbia | 370 | $87,000 | $41.83 | |
| Florida | 9,010 | $58,420 | $28.09 | |
| Georgia | 4,570 | $54,710 | $26.30 | |
| Hawaii | 690 | $73,960 | $35.56 | |
| Idaho | 660 | $63,990 | $30.77 | |
| Illinois | 4,820 | $59,090 | $28.41 | |
| Indiana | 5,070 | $56,460 | $27.14 | |
| Iowa | 1,140 | $57,840 | $27.81 | |
| Kansas | 1,500 | $59,940 | $28.82 | |
| Kentucky | 1,640 | $55,540 | $26.70 | |
| Louisiana | 1,680 | $55,060 | $26.47 | |
| Maine | 540 | $58,900 | $28.32 | |
| Maryland | 3,420 | $62,560 | $30.08 | |
| Massachusetts | 10,830 | $64,250 | $30.89 | |
| Michigan | 5,530 | $59,390 | $28.55 | |
| Minnesota | 3,430 | $62,740 | $30.16 | |
| Mississippi | 1,250 | $54,810 | $26.35 | |
| Missouri | 5,010 | $51,340 | $24.69 | |
| Montana | 550 | $55,830 | $26.84 | |
| Nebraska | 850 | $53,840 | $25.89 | |
| Nevada | 1,390 | $65,530 | $31.51 | |
| New Hampshire | 530 | $68,240 | $32.81 | |
| New Jersey | 2,640 | $71,310 | $34.28 | |
| New Mexico | 870 | $60,320 | $29.00 | |
| New York | 21,910 | $61,680 | $29.66 | |
| North Carolina | 3,050 | $62,540 | $30.07 | |
| North Dakota | 340 | $55,580 | $26.72 | |
| Ohio | 6,960 | $58,120 | $27.94 | |
| Oklahoma | 2,280 | $52,820 | $25.39 | |
| Oregon | 1,830 | $79,870 | $38.40 | |
| Pennsylvania | 6,380 | $61,990 | $29.80 | |
| Rhode Island | 620 | $73,230 | $35.21 | |
| South Carolina | 2,100 | $56,870 | $27.34 | |
| South Dakota | 550 | $47,260 | $22.72 | |
| Tennessee | 7,440 | $52,920 | $25.44 | |
| Texas | 11,550 | $64,840 | $31.17 | |
| Utah | 1,270 | $67,880 | $32.63 | |
| Vermont | 530 | $57,020 | $27.42 | |
| Virginia | 3,460 | $57,420 | $27.60 | |
| Washington | 4,040 | $71,800 | $34.52 | |
| West Virginia | 860 | $54,830 | $26.36 | |
| Wisconsin | 4,290 | $59,000 | $28.36 | |
| Wyoming | 260 | $62,560 | $30.08 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counseling, and that focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. Includes instruction in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counseling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counseling.
Any program providing instruction in social work and related services not listed above.
A program that prepares individuals for the specialized professional practice of social work, in collaboration with other health care professionals, in hospitals and other health care facilities and organizations. Includes instruction in social work, psychiatric case work, clinical interviewing techniques, therapeutic intervention strategies, patient testing and evaluation, patient and family counseling, social rehabilitation, patient care planning, record-keeping, and support services liaison.
A program that prepares individuals to work with patients and their families who are experiencing emotional, physical, relational and spiritual difficulties related to acute and chronic illnesses. Includes instruction in cultural context, ethics, family dynamics, family therapy, gender, human development, marriage counseling, psychopathology, research design and methods, sexuality, and systems thinking.
A program of study that prepares individuals to work with patients in hospice and palliative care and focuses on the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of patients and families affected by advanced illness. Includes instruction in aging, thanatology, pharmacology, complementary and integrative therapies, pathophysiology, and ethics.
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$62,310 per yearNational average salaryVery HighJob growth rate
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Master's degreeTypical education requirement
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Internship/residencyTypical on-the-job training requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as healthcare social workers.
- Less than high school 3%
- High school graduate 12%
- College dropout 16%
- Associate’s degree 9%
- Bachelor’s degree 27%
- Master’s degree 30%
- Doctorate degree 2%
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