What Kind of Social Worker Should I Be

One press picks a field of social work to look into, with who it serves and where.

What Kind of Social Worker Should I Be

Show all 24
  1. Social work researcherUsually an academic with a postgraduate degree, who builds the evidence that practice rests on.

Next step Compare kinds of therapistNot sure about social work? Draw a job

How it works

In a social work program, or weighing one? Press the button for a field of practice, from school social worker to community organizer, each with who it serves and where the work happens.

Read the full guide

Nine fields carry a specialty credential

The National Association of Social Workers gives advanced practice specialty credentials in nine areas: addictions, case management, clinical, education, gerontology, health care, hospice and palliative care, military, and youth and family. They are voluntary, come after a degree and a license, and are renewed every two years.

Where the jobs are

Of about 816,100 social worker jobs in 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 405,100 in child, family and school work, 194,800 in healthcare and 138,900 in mental health and substance abuse. State and local government is the largest employer, with 27 percent of jobs.

  • Titles for licensed clinical social workers vary by state, so look up your own state’s title and rules before you choose a program.

Questions and answers

What kind of social worker should I be?

Decide who you want to serve: children and families, students, patients, older adults, veterans or whole communities. Then decide whether you want to sit with one client at a time or work on programs and policy, and ask for a field placement there.

What are the different types of social workers?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics gives four examples: child and family, school, healthcare, and mental health and substance abuse social workers. The National Association of Social Workers lists sixteen types, adding fields such as justice and corrections, policy, research and international work.

What is macro social work?

Work at a broad level, helping community organizations and policymakers develop or improve social programs, services and conditions, in the words of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What degree do you need to be a social worker?

A bachelor’s degree in social work is the most common requirement for entry-level nonclinical jobs. Clinical social workers need a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience and a license from the state where they practice, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.

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All 24 fields

Children, families and schools 5

  • Adoption and foster care social worker Arranges adoptions, finds foster families and works to bring families back together.
  • Child and family social worker Helps families find housing, childcare and benefits, and protects children who are at risk.
  • Child welfare social worker Works to keep children and young people safe and supported when their family cannot do so.
  • Developmental disabilities social worker Helps parents of children with developmental disabilities learn their rights and find services.
  • School social worker Links school, home and community services for students, and meets with teachers and families.

Hospitals, health and older adults 4

  • Geriatric social worker Works with older adults on daily living and connects them to services that keep them independent.
  • Healthcare social worker Helps patients understand a diagnosis and plan the move from hospital back to home.
  • Hospice and palliative care social worker Works with patients and their families in hospice and palliative care.
  • Medical social worker Works in a hospital, clinic or care facility with patients and families who need support.

Mental health and addiction 3

  • Clinical social worker Licensed to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders, through therapy.
  • Mental health social worker Helps clients with mental illness and points them to services such as support groups.
  • Substance use social worker Helps people and families recover from substance use, with case management, therapy and advocacy.

Courts, the military and workplaces 4

  • Forensic social worker Applies social work to questions of law, in criminal and civil cases.
  • Justice and corrections social worker Works in courts, police departments and correctional facilities.
  • Military and veterans social worker Works with service members, veterans and their families.
  • Occupational social worker Works for an employer or a union, in employee assistance programs and job counseling.

Communities, agencies and policy 8

  • Community organizer Brings many people together to act for the rights of individuals and communities.
  • International social worker Works in communities, refugee camps, hospitals and schools abroad, or with aid organizations.
  • Policy and planning social worker Analyzes policies and programs, studies needs and proposes legislation or new programs.
  • Public welfare social worker Plans, administers and finances public programs and sets standards for how services are delivered.
  • Social work administrator Leads a public or private agency that provides services to clients.
  • Social work case manager Finds and arranges the services a client needs, then follows up to see that they have helped.
  • Social work researcher Usually an academic with a postgraduate degree, who builds the evidence that practice rests on.
  • Social worker in elected office Holds office, from a school board to a legislature, or leads in a government agency.