Social work is a profession that aims to help vulnerable people and communities work through challenges they face in their everyday lives. Social workers assist people by helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. They work in a variety of settings, including child welfare and human service agencies, healthcare providers, schools, and mental health facilities. Some social workers help clients who face a disability or a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse. Social workers are creative problem solvers who advocate for social and economic justice. They work directly with, and on behalf of, a wide variety of populations, including children and adolescents, individuals with disabilities, individuals who are experiencing poverty or homelessness, medical patients, LGBTQ individuals, individuals suffering from addiction, students, individuals with mental health concerns, refugees and immigrants, aging individuals, couples and families, victims of violence or trauma, individuals who are incarcerated or in the criminal justice system, and veterans.

To become a social worker, one typically needs a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Clinical social workers need a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and a license from the state in which they practice. Social workers are required to adhere to a code of ethics and are expected to embody the values of the profession, including service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. The median annual wage for social workers was $55,350 in May 2022, and overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.