Social Work for a Career?....ADVICE Please?

[IO4EVR]

I would really enjoy a career in Social Work. However, I know the pay isn't all that well. Now, I'm asking for advice as whether to stick with it or not, I have two years left of school and my fiance and I would love to get married and have children. I do want to have a healthy family I can take care of though...what do you guys think?

P.S.
We are also starting our own company as well and I am in the Army..Do you guys think we can make it on what i'm earning?

[Cold]

If you are starting your own company why not take a degree such as
Marketing or business.
You know that social work is one of the lowest paying college degrees.
With a business or marketing degree you can take a company and make it into something big...

[Fred Degerstrom]

Hi

you might take a look at this, http://www.sharingmybusiness.com
a company called carboncopypro

[kate]

I hear so often that social workers are not paid well (usually by people who are not clinically licensed social workers.) I don't find that to be true, don't let people scare you.

For example, check the salaries for LCSW (licensed clinical social workers) in your area. Right out of school with no experience, the federal government starts social workers in the 50's to almost 70 thousand per year, depending on locality pay and where you live. Once a person is licensed, the salary immediately jumps to over 80 thousand in some locales. Supervisors can make 100 thousand. Check the results on the usajobs website for details

There is no doubt that there are lower paying jobs in social work - however, the employee knows this going in, and it is a "labor of love" that they choose. For instance, non-profits that can't afford to pay much. I did my time in two of these situations - one as a therapist in a rural mental health clinic counseling economically deprived children and their families. The other was in an urban drug clinic.

However, we can do so many jobs with our social work license - we can be private practice therapists (they can make an excellent living) therapists in a hospital, group practice - we can work in corporations in employee assistance programs, we can work as administrators for governmental and private agencies.

You say it yourself "I would really enjoy a career in Social Work." The pay can be whatever you go after. And you only have two years of school left. I'd say go for it, do what you love.

You don't specify whether you are going for a BSW or an MSW, and that is the only caveat I will add - any licensed social worker position will require a masters in social work, not an undergrad. Since you are in the military, the Army should pay for your degree. (And the VA will be a great potential employer after you graduate - they hire social workers, and give preference to vets.)

Best of luck in whatever you choose to do.