If your goal is to have a career in which you can make a real difference in the lives of people in every community, and if you want a career with high levels of job satisfaction due to its diversity, then you may want to consider social work. There are a lot of opportunities for growth within this career or field, not in the least by advancing your education. Social workers have a true passion for the welfare of other people and they dedicate themselves to improve quality of life.
With a DSW (Doctor of Social Work) degree, you will be focusing on the practical side, rather than on the philosophy and theory, of social work. This means that the degree is for those who do not want to enter the academic field, but want to remain in the thick of the action. It is a degree suitable for those who wish to become department heads, administrators, or executives. In these roles, knowledge of advanced concepts on the practical side of social work is required. Some of the possible occupations for a DSW degree holder are mentioned below:
#1 Clinical Social Worker
Clinical social workers require a master’s degree as a minimum, but a doctorate degree is highly beneficial. This is because it will allow you to expand your clinical knowledge, making you aware of new research and treatment developments in the field of mental health. Generally, DSW-degree social workers work in schools, hospitals, and mental health settings. They may also supervise other social workers.
Some the duties of a clinician include:
- Conducting interviews of clients and their carers and families
- Planning activities and programs to ensure emotional and social needs are met
- Proving counseling or psychotherapy to families, couples, groups, and individuals
Salary.com has reported that the median annual salary for a social work professor is $91,251.
#2 Professor
DSW-degree holders are able to teach the principles of the job to aspiring social workers. This means they will get to work in research or academia, while focusing on the practical elements of social work. Their duties include:
- Teaching students at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral)
- Providing advice on dissertations and theses
- Helping to find field placements
- Developing curriculum plans for students
- Provide counseling to students
- Maintaining and assessing coursework
- Working with other professors in fields of research and education
- Publishing research findings in textbooks and professional journals
Salary.com has reported that the median annual salary for a social work professor is $91,251.
#3 Advanced Practice Clinical Social Worker
Advanced practice clinical social workers perform the same duties as licensed clinical social workers, but they often also supervise staff. They usually are focused on specific areas of practice. They are also licensed to make referrals to specialists and to work independently. Some of the most common duties include:
- Consulting with social worker professionals
- Developing setting policy on national or local levels
- Educating social work students
Salary.com has reported that the median annual salary for a social work professor is $91,251.
#4 Social & Community Service Manager
Social and community service managers focus strongly on taking ownership of specific programs that operate within the community. In this role, they:
- Coordinate, direct, and plan the activities of community outreach or social service programs
- Oversee the budget of their organization
- Create policies around involvement of participants
- Monitor the benefits of the programs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social & Community Service Managers earn an average annual salary of $64,680, but this is at bachelor’s degree level. Those with a DSW can expect to earn significantly more.
#5 Nonprofit Director
This role is the equivalent of being the CEO of a large organization, with the difference that the goal is not to create financial profits, but to benefit the community. It is a top level position and DSW degree holders hold full responsibility for every operation in the organization. They also work hand in hand with the board of director. Common duties include:
- Holding full responsibility for fundraising activities, including researching applications for grants and funding to further the nonprofit organization
- Overseeing the work of the overall executive board of the nonprofit organization
- Supervising staff
Payscale.com has reported that the median annual salary of executive directors of nonprofit organizations is $64,224.
#6 Social Work Administrator
Social work administrators run the complexities of human services agencies and organizations. They help to steer the overall direction of this organization. They understand social problems, human behaviors, and social services. They remain focused on the consumer and disenfranchised populations, while at the same time using strong leadership and business skills.
Typical duties include:
- Designing programs in line with population needs
- Developing and managing budgets
- Evaluating how effective programs are or have been
- Finding gaps in provisions
- Providing strategic direction
- Working on policies
According to Salary.com, the median annual salary for a social work administrator is $84,383, although this is at the master’s degree level.
#7 School Social Worker
School social work is a very popular field of work for social workers at all degree levels. The higher the degree, the more responsibility the social worker will hold. Someone with a DSW, therefore, will often not just provide social work services to the children and families within the school, but will also be involved in policy development and staff supervision.
Common duties performed practically on top of the managerial duties include:
- Counseling students and their families
- Educating and supporting students on the development of healthy relationships, life skills, and coping with difficulties
- Providing referrals for students to external organizations, including medical and mental health services
- Conducting assessments on a psycho-social level to determine whether there are behavioral or learning disabilities, recommending an appropriate course of action through lifestyle changes and referrals to external organizations
Payscale.com has reported that the median annual salary for a school social worker is $48,251, but this is for those with a bachelor’s degree.
#8 Child Welfare Permanency Worker
Child welfare permanency workers are commonly referred to as adoption workers. They are responsible for children who are being fostered and will be adopted. They stay on top of adoptive cases, ensuring appropriate referrals are made and helping with the transition of a child moving into a new home. Often, a social worker with a DSW degree will supervise other adoption social workers and manage adoption agencies.
Typical job responsibilities include:
- Providing assistance and other social services to ensure children and their families have better psychological and social functioning
- Working on improving children’s academic functioning
- Maximizing family well-being
- Working with birth and adoptive parents to ensure smooth transitions
- Working with abandoned or abused children to find foster and adoptive homes
- Addressing behavioral issues, such as truancy, misbehavior, and teenage pregnancy
- Advising teachers on problematic behaviors and social welfare, particularly with regards to adopted, fostered, abused, and/or abandoned children
The senior level salary for an adoption social worker, according to SalaryExpert.com, is $52,289.
Summary
With a DSW degree, there are a range of available career paths, and you can receive significant financial compensation for such. However, perhaps more importantly, you will also be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families and children within a community. DSW degree holders can work in a variety of different organizations, from schools to government agencies and from private practices to nonprofit organizations.
Additional Resources
- Choosing DSW Degree Programs + Online No GRE!
- MSW vs DSW Degree + 3 Online Options
- Get a Masters in Social Work + 3 No GRE Options
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- 15+ Highest Paying Masters & Graduate Degrees
References
- The Difference Between a PhD in Social Work and Doctor of Social Work. (2017, Jan. 11). Retrieved from https://www.capella.edu/blogs/cublog/difference-between-dsw-and-phd-in-social-work/
- Doctor of Social Work. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://socialworklicensemap.com/doctorate-in-social-work/
