BSW Jobs: Learn What You Can Do With a Bachelor of Social Work Degree

If you want to positively impact people’s lives, a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree can prepare you for rewarding careers in the helping professions. Explore entry-level positions open to BSW graduates and opportunities for career advancement.

A BSW provides the core social work foundations needed for a variety of client-service roles in direct practice and community-based settings. This versatile degree can lead to entry-level, non-clinical positions in several fields, such as healthcare, social and community services, human resources, and criminal justice. Learn about 10 popular BSW jobs.

Unsurprisingly, becoming an entry-level social worker is among the most common BSW jobs. LBSWs hold a state license to practice under supervision in generalist, non-clinical roles. They work in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, mental health clinics, child welfare agencies, government agencies, community organizations, and nonprofits.

This career path, which often involves working with vulnerable and historically underrepresented populations, appeals to individuals with a strong sense of empathy and commitment to social justice.

Average Annual Salary: $50,155 (Sept. 2025)

Child welfare specialists provide social services to vulnerable children. Responsibilities generally include investigating child abuse and neglect, assessing unsafe family situations, coordinating foster care and adoptions, and connecting families with resources. Child welfare specialists often work for government and nonprofit organizations, such as child protective services and family advocacy centers.

This fulfilling but challenging BSW job requires an understanding of child and family dynamics, knowledge of child welfare laws, and the ability to manage stress and trauma.

Average Annual Salary: $54,680 (Feb. 2025)

Case managers often find employment in healthcare facilities, rehabilitation and mental health clinics, and social service agencies providing support services and advocating for clients. They coordinate care between clients and providers, connect clients with resources, and manage administrative tasks.

In addition to a solid foundation in social work principles and practices, this BSW job requires strong communication and organizational skills and the cultural competency to work effectively with diverse client populations.

Average Annual Salary: $50,360 (Oct. 2025)

Discharge planners work primarily in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. They coordinate a patient’s transition from these healthcare settings to another facility or home. They assess healthcare needs, develop continuous care plans, and arrange post-discharge services such as medical equipment, transportation, or in-home healthcare.

For BSW students interested in dispatch planning, an internship in a healthcare setting can provide valuable social work experience, organizational tools, and communication skills needed to work with diverse groups.

Average Annual Salary: $56,250 (March 2025)

Patient advocates help patients and families navigate the healthcare system, providing psychological and social support, coordinating with healthcare professionals and insurance providers, and finding resources for legal assistance. Common workplaces for this BSW job include hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and private practices.

Coursework in case management, advocacy, and healthcare systems, along with an internship in a medical setting, can provide a significant advantage for BSW students planning to enter this career.

Average Annual Salary: $53,410 (Aug. 2025)

Victim advocates work with victims of crime, abuse, and trauma to provide emotional support, information on legal rights, social services, and other resources. They assist clients in navigating the criminal justice system and accessing medical treatment and counseling.

BSW graduates interested in victims’ rights, crisis intervention, and criminal justice can find employment in various government, community, and nonprofit settings, including local, state, and federal law enforcement, state attorney offices, the court system, social service agencies, and hospitals.

Average Annual Salary: $45,400 (July 2025)

Crisis counselors provide immediate support to individuals experiencing acute emotional distress resulting from trauma, severe mental health crises, and other emergency situations. They work in diverse settings, including mental health facilities, hospitals, crisis hotlines, and schools. This BSW job prioritizes short-term intervention and does not typically require a counseling license.

Earning a BSW degree emphasizing crisis intervention and de-escalation models, mental health assessment, and trauma-informed care provides a sound foundation for this career. Students can also benefit from internships at crisis centers and mental health clinics. Be sure to research your state’s requirements for crisis counselors. While you may find entry-level positions with a bachelor’s degree, roles that offer therapy or clinical services typically require a license.

Average Annual Salary: $49,840 (July 2025)

Nonprofit program coordinators organize and implement programs, manage paid staff and volunteers, and oversee fundraising, grant acquisitions, budgeting, and community outreach. This BSW offers employment in all types of nonprofit entities, from local charity groups and community development agencies to religious organizations and international foundations.

Nonprofit program coordinators can apply skills acquired in a social work degree to better understand diverse client populations, manage stakeholder relations, and assess the impact of their programming.

Average Annual Salary: $51,480 (Sept. 2025)

Health educators work in hospitals, public health departments, community agencies, and nonprofits, developing and teaching programs about healthy lifestyles and wellness. They analyze community health needs and create educational materials and workshops on topics such as medical conditions, nutrition, weight control, and stress management.

Undergraduate training in social work provides the skills needed to assess community concerns and program effectiveness. This BSW job requires cultural awareness to work with diverse groups.

Average Annual Salary: $58,990 (Aug. 2025)

Substance use counselors assist individuals, families and groups dealing with substance use and addiction issues. This growing field offers employment opportunities in a variety of settings such as rehabilitation centers, clinics, community organizations, schools, and correctional facilities. Note that some states require substance use counselors to earn and maintain certification to practice.

A BSW or related undergraduate degree provides the counseling and case management skills needed for entry-level positions in this field. Interested BSW students should consider interning at a treatment center or other agency focused on recovery. Certification requirements for substance use counselors vary by state and may include supervised experience requirements and an exam.

Average Annual Salary: $49,610 (Aug. 2025)

Earning a BSW can open up many rewarding career opportunities as the demand for social workers and other human service professionals continues to grow. This degree’s interdisciplinary nature, with coursework rooted in psychology and other social sciences, law, and public health, prepares graduates for entry-level work and graduate study.

Some key benefits of earning a BSW degree include: