Have you ever wondered what other people with a degree in social work were earning? Or perhaps you feel like you are not being paid enough? By getting a masters degree in social work, you can considerably boost your paycheck. Find out what the average employee with a master degree in social work is earning. We list a few factors that influence masters in social work salary. We will also show you just what other social workers with a masters degree get paid and if you are earning more or less than your peers!
Average masters in social work salary
Many of the top functions in social work are only open for people who have a master degree in social work. It is therefore not very surprising that salaries of masters in social work are normally higher than salaries of social workers with a different degree. In almost all cases the salary for a social worker with a masters degree lies between $34,000 and $84,000, with an average of around $51,000. Of course there are always people that have a higher or lower than average salary.
Experience increases a masters in social work salary
Not everyone with a master degree in social work earns the same. It all depends on number of factors. The most important of these is experience. There is a huge difference in pay for experienced employees. With less than a year of working experience the average masters in salary is around $37,000 per year. If the same person were to have more than 20 years of experience, the salary would increase to an average of more than $60,000 per year. This is a huge difference, but it can be explained fairly easily. Most social workers with a master degree in social work tend to grow into management functions. Only the most seasoned employees are considered to be good enough for these top jobs so a masters in social work salary increases with experience. Bassically inexperienced, new employees have to slowly work their way to the top.
Effect of specialization on the salary of a social worker
As we have already seen experience greatly impacts a masters in social work salary. But how does specialization contribute to the salary of a person who has a degree in social work? Certain jobs require a great amount of expertise. The people that fill these positions are selected on both their experience in the field as well as their specialization (both in study and field work). A Public health social worker for instance will earn between $36,000 and $52,500, while a family- or school social worker will end up earning between $43,000 and $60,000. This shows that there are differences in masters in social work salaries. Some jobs pay more than others. The qualifications needed for these jobs are not the same. This may be something to take into consideration if you are planning to have a career in social work. It may pay off in the long run to choose a certain specialization so you will get a shot at a good masters in social work salary.
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