Caseworkers are social workers who help clients to deal with problems ranging from addiction to grief and more. They work in a variety of situations, including schools or health-care facilities. Caseworkers must be licensed, and they should have a bachelor of social work degree, or BSW. They may need a master of social work, or MSW, for the best jobs and employment opportunities. Social workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, work in several different environments and are paid accordingly.
Child, Family and School Environments
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 276,510 social workers employed as child, family or school caseworkers as of May 2011. These caseworkers specialize in providing services and assistance to youth and families to better their familial, social and academic situations. They earned a mean annual wage of $44,410, according to the BLS. The largest number were employed by state governments, which paid them $44,280 a year, on average.
There were 133,890 social or caseworkers employed in health-care environments, according to the bureau survey. These workers were trained to deal with people suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. They earned a mean annual wage of $50,500, according to the bureau. Many health-care caseworkers were employed by general hospitals, where they earned $56,060 a year, on average.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Environment
Caseworkers also deal with psychological and addiction treatment. These social workers' cases often involve mental illness or drug abuse. According to the bureau, there were 115,390 of these social workers employed nationwide as of May 2011, earning a mean annual wage of $42,650. The largest employer of these specialists was outpatient care centers, which paid them $40,220 a year, on average.
Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that caseworkers' employment numbers would grow 25 percent between 2010 and 2020, the growth rate varied by specialty. Those working with children and families were expected to see 20 percent growth, still faster than the average for all jobs. Those working in the health-care environment were expected to see 34 percent growth, much faster than the overall average. Finally, those in mental health and substance abuse work could anticipate 31 percent job growth, also much faster than the overall average of 14 percent.
- Education Portal: Case Worker Training Programs and Requirements
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Healthcare Social Workers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
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