How to become a Healthcare Social Worker

Official title: Healthcare Social Workers

Also called: Clinical Social Worker, Hospice Social Worker, LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), Medical Social Worker, Nephrology Social Worker, Oncology Social Worker, Psychosocial Coordinator, Renal Social Worker, Social Work Case Manager, Social Worker

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

Main tasks

• Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
• Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
• Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
• Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
• Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
• Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
• Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
• Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.

How to become one

Social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work. They also may need a license; specific requirements vary by state. Clinical social workers need a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and a license from the state in which they practice.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 11 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $67,880 a year The middle half earn $56,710 to $82,240.
• About 194,800 people work in this job now, and about 211,300 are projected by 2035. (+8.5%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
• Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
• Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Mental Health Counselors

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Healthcare Social Worker?

Social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work. They also may need a license; specific requirements vary by state. Clinical social workers need a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and a license from the state in which they practice.

How much does a Healthcare Social Worker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $67,880 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $56,710 to $82,240.

Is a Healthcare Social Worker a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 194,800 to about 211,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Healthcare Social Worker?

Usually. 66% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Healthcare Social Worker?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.