by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Other Social Work involves the study of Social Work, Other. Any Program Providing Instruction In Social Work And Related Services Not Listed Above. Read on to learn the important information every other social work student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other social work programs.
In the U.S., other social work is a popular field of study, with 622 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other Social Work Schools ranking analyzes these 29 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other social work students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other social work programs later in this article.
Studies in Other Social Work emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other social work graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a other social work program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a other social work major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other social work degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 52 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 52 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 503 |
People currently working in careers related to other social work tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 40.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in other social work careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in other social work can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to other social work.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other social work.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 253,503 | 5.8% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 251,555 | 12.1% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 181,916 | 13.3% |
| Social Workers, All Other | 142,086 | 4.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of other social work graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,745 |
| 4 years | $51,599 |
| 5 years | $57,911 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for other social work graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other social work grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $78,044 |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | $65,510 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $62,827 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $58,560 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $41,658 |
With 29 different other social work programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other social work school rankings to help you.
Those considering other social work, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 57,279 |
| Youth Services/Administration | 267 |
| Forensic Social Work | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
