MSW Salary

[movershaker]

Hello all,

I am a longtime reader of this forum, and joined today to post this concern.

I am a first year MSW student with a BA in psych. I have been thinking a lot about my financial future, and would like any comment or advice about making a decent living with an MSW.

In my program, there are jokes from professors and the like that we will basically be living on bread and water, etc. I find it disconcerting that this is some type of given we should all accept. Now, obviously if money were my only concern I'd be in law school right now, I'm much more interested in quality of life, which means satisfaction, happiness, meaning, AND financial security. I don't think it's fair that smart people with this hard earned masters degree should start at 30k and work 20 years to make 60k. (While a bachelors in a technology/science field can start you at 60k, which leads me into the valuing of the traditionally masculine over the traditionally feminine but that's neither here nor there right now!)

While I know none of you can instantly fix that obvious societal imbalance, I'd like to know how you or someone you know might have overcome it.

I've heard of an MSW that makes a good living earning $500 per court room testimony in child custody battles. I've also heard in the right circumstances a private practice LCSW can earn quite well. I'm also aware of govt jobs (the VA) and the salary ranges there. Is there any other avenues anyone can share?

I'm also considering a second masters or doctorate after this, most likely returning to the psychology field. Any comments on this are welcome also.
(Considering I/O or counseling psych phd but uncertain)

My interests are broad, and I'm good at school. After all I've invested in it so far (and willing to continue!) I really need for it to pay off! I don't want diamonds but I want to travel a lot, support my family, be there for my parents if needed, have a nice house, etc- reasonable wishes, I'd say.

Thanks for reading and offering any thoughts, advice, or direction! (And understanding!)

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[slinger]

I share your sentiment as I have been hearing the same stuff throughout my MSW program. I am in my last semester of Clinicals, and you have pretty much covered it as far as salaries. Something to contribute to your thinking:

The FBI has a relatively new program called Victim Assistance, they primarily hire LMSW/LCSW Social Workers. The pay is very good, and the FBI takes real good care of it's people.

Of course you mentioned your knowledge of the VA and their good government salaries.

Another agency to think about is Department of Defense, Department of Army, Air Force - These agencies all hire Social Workers YA and GS pay grade.

To be honest, to make a good salary, I plan on working for the Army, and joining a private practice group. You could also do mediation work if you get certified within your state to do this. Good Luck!

 

[Tranquility]

I am going through the same struggle as well. I am currently a Medical technologist that wants to move into a field that allows me to work more with people, rather than being stuck in a lab. I was originally looking at Physician assisting, however, in order for me to get a GPA that is high enough for such a competative program, I would have to get a Master's in something else first. Too expensive!! I then realized that Social work or counseling might work very well for me.... but the thought of starting at 30k-40k after achieving my masters, while I am currently making 55k with a BS kind of discourages me...🙁 I'm really not sure what to do 🙁

On top of that....I also have my BA in Public health...and a) there are no jobs and b) if there were, they also start at 35k a year...

There were some sites that were saying that an LCSW could make up to 80k a year....federal government or private practice....does anyone know this to be true?

 

[BSWdavid]

I am going through the same struggle as well. I am currently a Medical technologist that wants to move into a field that allows me to work more with people, rather than being stuck in a lab. I was originally looking at Physician assisting, however, in order for me to get a GPA that is high enough for such a competative program, I would have to get a Master's in something else first. Too expensive!! I then realized that Social work or counseling might work very well for me.... but the thought of starting at 30k-40k after achieving my masters, while I am currently making 55k with a BS kind of discourages me...🙁 I'm really not sure what to do 🙁

On top of that....I also have my BA in Public health...and a) there are no jobs and b) if there were, they also start at 35k a year...

There were some sites that were saying that an LCSW could make up to 80k a year....federal government or private practice....does anyone know this to be true?

80k per year is definitely pushing the upper limit for an LCSW. Granted, in private practice, you have more control over how much you make, but you will likely hit a ceiling well before 80k unless you have a great referral source and can charge a lot per hour.

Government and agency work don't pay nearly much, even for seasoned clinicians. In the midwest, the average starting salary for an LCSW is around $38,000 - $43,000, and the median is around $53,000 for a seasoned clinician. Granted, this could increase or decrease depending on location.

 

[slinger]

80k per year is definitely pushing the upper limit for an LCSW. Granted, in private practice, you have more control over how much you make, but you will likely hit a ceiling well before 80k unless you have a great referral source and can charge a lot per hour.

Government and agency work don't pay nearly much, even for seasoned clinicians. In the midwest, the average starting salary for an LCSW is around $38,000 - $43,000, and the median is around $53,000 for a seasoned clinician. Granted, this could increase or decrease depending on location.

I think you might be a little bit off on this. VA and Department of Army alike both hire just LMSW's straight out of college at the GS-9 level. With basic locality pay, you are currently looking at $47,500 per year. After 52 weeks you are automatically promoted to GS-11 which is approximately $57000 per year. I would say that is a pretty good salary for one year of experience. Have a private practice on evenings and a weekend day, you can easily be bringing in 80-90K a per year, which is a perfectly fine salary for me.

 

[BSWdavid]

I think you might be a little bit off on this. VA and Department of Army alike both hire just LMSW's straight out of college at the GS-9 level. With basic locality pay, you are currently looking at $47,500 per year. After 52 weeks you are automatically promoted to GS-11 which is approximately $57000 per year. I would say that is a pretty good salary for one year of experience. Have a private practice on evenings and a weekend day, you can easily be bringing in 80-90K a per year, which is a perfectly fine salary for me.

Yes, you are right about the VA and army. I guess they are the exception to the rule though. I have always heard that the VA pays very well.

 

[Voc Doc]

I worked at the VA for 10-11 years as a Voc Rehab Counselor and program director. MSW start at a GS 9 and progress to GS 11. Actual payrate will varry by local but in general the government pays about 20% more than the private sector. To do credible courtroom testimony, expect to spend at least 10 years in the field, otherwise you won't be considered an "expert"--even with the license. If you want to know payrates for your local, go to your states Dept of Labor website and look up salaries and wages by occupation. Good Luck.

 

[cplreyes]

I've worked for local government - mental health- for five years and my salary upper limit is $84K. Once I hit that, I'll probably move into middle management and max out in the low $100K. Upper management is in the $150k. Not too shabby for a very inexpensive MSW degree.

 

[VerryBerry]

I've worked for local government - mental health- for five years and my salary upper limit is $84K.

What title are you referring to? A LCSW?

 

[Darian]

For salary survey purposes: I'm an LSW (taking the clinical exam this month) working in NJ, in a hospital setting (inpt psychiatry, which I love) where the clinical license is not required. Graduated in 2007, making 46K. Nurses are not required to have a master's and make nearly double. I will need the clinical licensure for private practice, but there are TONS of LCSWs in pvt practice here and I'd just be one of thousands. I'm now thinking about getting a ph.d or psy.d to increase my earnings potential, most psychiatrists here refer pts to psychologists instead of LCSWs. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lizzo76]

I just want to jump in here... just lurking even though I am not planning to apply to MSW programs. I have an undergrad degree in psychology and am applying to Occupational Therapy programs. I did look at MSW programs once upon a time.

The problem you describe is not at all unique to social work. I have a two-year masters degree in another profession (which I won't name, just because I like to keep my identity private and have already given a lot of very specific details about myself.) I "lucked out" and started at about $45K at graduation, a big increase over the $30K I was making as a paraprofessional in the field two years earlier. But, there were many people who just wouldn't bother to get the masters degree (making them ineligible for any professional position in the field) because they would actually have to take a paycut if they accepted an entry-level post-masters position. It doesn't "make sense", but that's how it is. (Actually in that field, I think it does make sense, because an experienced parapro actually knows more about the world than a new masters grad who didn't have experience before getting the masters.) I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I don't have much sympathy for someone who didn't research the field into which they are going... you need to make an informed decision about doing the MSW program. Some fields are simply traditionally low-paying.

Occupational Therapy, by the way, is another option for Psych grads. Applying to an OT masters program is a bit more involved than applying to MSW programs... almost every program requires two semesters of Anatomy & Physiology with lab and Statistics on top of a bunch of psych prereqs, and some also want neuroanatomy with lab. Some even requires Gross Anatomy before starting the program. But the pay is significantly higher than in social work and the job market is good, and expected to grow. It will also be meaningful work.

I have heard fantastic things about working for the VA, in any capacity.

P.S. I don't think the pay disparity is about valuing traditionally masculine over traditionally feminine. Science/technology are money-makers; social work is not. Science and technology requires more of a body of knowledge (which is different from "years spent in school", social work does not. If Sci/tech were easy, everyone would go into those fields instead of getting the MSW.

 

[PhDMBALCSW]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=804394

click on the above post to get one idea about pay.

 

[movershaker]

If Sci/tech were easy, everyone would go into those fields instead of getting the MSW.

Everyone would go into science and/or technology if it were easy instead of social work? Does that mean to say everyone with an MSW wants to do a sci/tech field but can't because it's too hard for them?

 

[BSWdavid]

If Sci/tech were easy, everyone would go into those fields instead of getting the MSW.

This has to be one of the most inaccurate posts I have read on SDN. Not everyone wants to be a scientist, regardless of the level of difficulty. 😱

 

[xela007]

So is 30K a year bad as a freshly new employee?

Anywhere you'd live in this world you could live a decent life on that kind of money.

 

[BSWdavid]

So is 30K a year bad as a freshly new employee?

Anywhere you'd live in this world you could live a decent life on that kind of money.

There are many places (NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, LA) where one would not be able to live on anything close to $30k/year.

 

[KayJay85]

So is 30K a year bad as a freshly new employee?

Anywhere you'd live in this world you could live a decent life on that kind of money.

I'm not so sure about that. It depends on your stage of life. If you are married or thinking of having a family, 30k is not much, even in areas with low cost of living.

 

[Savagebee]

If youre mobile and get a good rep going your income can increase dramatically in a short period.

I went from less than 30k/yr (significantly less) as a BA in sociology working in mental health to over 40k with three years experience at a hospital mental health case management job. The hospital job opened up even more doors for me and I now work in a nursing home, making about the same as the hospital, but with better benefits and more flexibility.

I graduated in 2006 with my ba, and had an increase of over 40% in salary in 3 years.

I had a lot of luck and a lot of connections made (I did some marketing at the hospital) with my work, but it wasnt anything miraculous, just the course of things.

The worst part is in 3 years when I finish my MS I will probably take a pay cut while under supervision for licensure 🙁

 

[helfpr]

Salaries vary depending on your setting, experience and area of the country. I am two years out of my MSW program and still don't have my independent license, and currently earn $28/hr plus benefits in a medical hospital setting. I work part-time (by choice). My first post-MSW job was $42,000/yr full-time in mental health. I live in the Northeast. I do have a number of years of work experience pre-MSW that at least in my current job has helped me earn a higher starting rate. I won't get rich as a social worker, but salaries are not as bad as some would lead you to believe. During my internships (both in inpatient mental health) my supervisors were making in the low 60s to high 70s range and were on average about 8-10 yrs post-MSW. Many social workers I know also supplement their day jobs with fee-for-service work.