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Healthcare Social Workers

Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $67,880/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$46,220$100,360

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +7.7% projected growth, 20242034 — faster than average.

About 18,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Social PerceptivenessSpeakingService OrientationReading ComprehensionCoordinationCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingComplex Problem SolvingActive Learning
Top knowledge areas
PsychologyTherapy and CounselingSociology and AnthropologyEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingPhilosophy and TheologyAdministrative
Core tasks

Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.

Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.

Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.

Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.

Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.

Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.

Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.

Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Healthcare Social Workers?

The median pay for Healthcare Social Workers is $67,880 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Healthcare Social Workers?

Employment for Healthcare Social Workers is projected to change +7.7% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.

What education is typically required for Healthcare Social Workers?

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Healthcare Social Workers?

About 18,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.