Social Workers Who Earn the Most: Top Specializations

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Social worker plays a critical role in our society. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been evident that social workers have been underrated professionals who are our last line of defense against overwhelming social problems.

Social workers provide services and guidance to those in need. Social workers help a broad range of people facing challenges, including but not limited to victims of mental and physical abuse, the homeless, addicts, and children suffering abandonment and abuse.

The demand for social care workers has been high and is projected to grow even further over the next ten years. If you have clicked on this article, we are sure you are interested in learning more about social work and some of the best-paying jobs on offer with a master of social work degree.

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs in Social Work?

Here is the list of roles you can take up with a degree in social work, including information about their salary, work responsibilities, and career growth.

• Social Worker
  Social workers work with select groups of clients, including children, the elderly, and families in crisis, and support them resolve the difficulties they’re facing. Generally, social workers specialize in either adult or child social care.
  On average, a social worker in South Africa annually earns around R191,009.

• Substance Use and Recovery Treatment Counselors
  Substance Abuse Counselors are mental health professionals who help people overcome alcohol, drug, and destructive behavioral compulsions. Their duties include evaluating and treating patients’ mental and physical health and providing support to addicts and their caregivers.
  On average, substance use and recovery treatment counselors make around R56,700 annually.

• Child Welfare Social Worker
  Child welfare social workers specialize in supporting vulnerable and at-risk children, as well as families in need. Child welfare social workers also aid families in applying for public benefits, such as food stamps, therapy, Medicaid. They may also check and intervene in family affairs when children are in danger of neglect, negative influence, or abuse.
  A child welfare social worker, on average, makes around R189,802 annually.

• Mental Health Counselor
  Mental health counselors help people and trauma victims cope with mental, emotional, and also substance dependence disorders. Their patients might be fighting with drug and alcohol addiction, needing to cope with a sibling or relative with mental issues, marital and inter-family problems, or dealing with stress and anxiety.
  Mental health counselors, on average, make around R158,604 annually.

• Director of Corporate Social Responsibility
  Corporate social responsibility directors are accountable for establishing and expanding the policies which underpin a company’s corporate social responsibility objectives.
  They also lead research, develop policies, create detailed plans, build relationships with partner organizations, and implement and coordinate various activities and initiatives to positively impact the environment and local communities.
  Corporate social responsibility directors are in charge of teams to analyze and optimize existing and new implementations. They make around R475,459 annually.

• Marriage and Family Counselor
  Marriage and family therapists focus on maintaining and improving interfamily relationships and married couples. Therapists help people focus on solving differences and understand each other’s perspective better. Their primary goal is to maintain balance and help relatives and couples see each other for who they are and forge stronger relationships for a better future.
  Marriage and family counselors generally earn around R414,000 annually.

• Gerontology Social Worker
  Gerontology social workers, also known as gerontology social workers, help older people adjust to the challenges of growing older. They develop programs and direct agencies that offer counseling, advocacy, and special services.
  They evaluate clients’ needs and help them arrange for such things as meal service, housing, transportation, and legal and medical assistance. Geriatric social workers also develop recreation and educational programs for the elderly.
  Gerontology social workers make around R79,568 annually.

• Medical Social Worker
  A medical social worker is responsible for care management areas and helps patients and families understand patient health and treatments. They help family members and patients assess patient needs, generate coping strategies, assist in explaining treatment plans, and present emotional and mental assessments.
  The salary for a medical social worker is around R260,474 annually.

• Employee Assistance Program Counselor
  EAP Counselor counsels and assists employees with issues affecting job-related performance and personal well-being. Evaluates and recommend outside treatment and counseling if necessary.
  The salary of an EAP counselor is around R504,364 annually.

• Policy Analyst
  A social policy analyst’s primary function is to examine social dilemmas and develop appropriate policies to resolve them. These professionals are committed to at least one of the four standard stages of policy review. The social poly analyst’s role is based on social policy analysts gathering data, using either present information or generating new data through research.
  The salary of a policy analyst is around R703,901 annually.

• Humanitarian Aid Worker
  Humanitarian aid work often involves responding to emergencies, helping those affected by natural and human-made disasters, such as earthquakes and war.
  The salary of a humanitarian aid worker is around R196,234 annually.

• Palliative and Hospice Care Worker
  A palliative care assistant’s primary duties and responsibilities include applying simple wound dressings, administering medication using syringes or inhalers, medicines, changing medical equipment such as catheters when required, and ensuring that all the equipment used for the patient are cleaned and stored correctly.
  The salary of a palliative and hospice care worker is around R189,830 and R132,000 annually.

• Human Resources Coordinator/Specialist
  Human resources coordinators supervise issues related to compensation, employment, labor agreements, and employee connections. Their work is frequently focused on enhancing HR processes, policies, and practices and recommending HR management changes.
  HR coordinators perform substantial research, data analysis, and reporting related to employee productivity to ensure efficient operations.
  The salary of an HR coordinator/specialist, on average, earns around R353,000 annually.

• Social Science Researcher
  Social researchers design and set up programs of investigation. They research various means, such as focus groups, surveys, interviews, and record and analyze the results using statistical techniques and packages.
  The social science researcher earns, on average, R339,798 annually.

• Veterans and Military Social Worker
  Military social workers help veterans, military personnel, and their families access the government and community resources by educating their clients about the various benefits they qualify for.
  These professionals are tasked with educating and guiding them to apply for these benefits, such as financial aid for school, career counseling, medical services.
  Veterans and military social workers make around R298,000 annually.

• Clinical Coordinator
  Clinical Coordinators are liable for planning and supervising a healthcare facility’s daily activities. They manage staff, supply, communicate with various departments, and ensure adequate patient care.
  Clinical coordinators, on average, earn around R366,251 annually.

As you can see, the career scope of social work is massive and ripe for the taking in many African countries. The question now is, are you ready for it?

So you have understood the scope of social work and made up your mind about pursuing a master’s in social work degree.

What are some of the qualities you should look for while choosing a college for a social degree?

• The best university to study social work often has a universally accepted degree and will be of utmost value to students.
• The best university to study social work also offers an international curriculum to train the students on the best practices to adapt to the dynamic field of social work.
• The best university to study social work is the one that offers students hands-on training and exposure to various like-minded individuals to expand their minds on the matter.

The social work profession is not for everyone. One has to have the compassion to work with difficult people with mental illnesses. Social work practice and social services revolve around helping others get through difficult times and mentally taxing without the right mindset.

Social work education offering social work degrees look for empathy and prior experience with helping at-risk children and families during the selection process. You can volunteer with various organizations helping family and school socially.

Online Master of Social Work Degree

In association with the University of Central Nicaragua, Taksha Smartlabz’s (TSL-UCN) acclaimed MSW online degree is provided on a par with the regular program. This social work master’s program blends online learning flexibility with hands-on activities to get students fit to become a licensed social worker.

Enrolling and earning a social work course will train you in the best curriculum and process to fetch you a better social work opportunity and lay a solid foundation for building your career.

TSL-UCN is one of the best universities to study social work. With a wide range of career opportunities to choose from, one needs to enroll in the best university to study social work. This choice ensures that the candidate is fit to take on any role on offer and do it with the best capacity.

Why Should You Choose TSL-UCN for Your Online MSW Degree?

TSL-UCN offers some unique advantages over other institutions that significantly benefits the students.

• The program offers a world-class interactive curriculum in a practical learning module.
• The program provides a degree that has international recognition.
• The program offers an extensive network of students from different nationalities and professional backgrounds.
• Continuous academic support from the faculty, student mentors, academic advisors
• More emphasis on research and publication to enable the students to practice and research advanced concepts.
• Access to high-quality resource materials and e-journals throughout the course.

With that, we hope you now understand the broad range of roles that you can take up after graduating with the master of social work degree and hopefully inspired to do so yourself. Good luck.