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Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeLower pressure

What they do

Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $77,570 Median per year Most earn $48,200–$126,790

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
  • Mentor new faculty members.
  • Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
  • Participate in campus and community events.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 1,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools92.7%
  • Junior colleges7.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree plus about 4 to 6 years of hands-on work, usually as a social worker, before they start teaching social work at the college level. The whole path often takes 12 or more years after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field

    4 years

    You learn the basics of social work, human behavior, and research methods, and you can often get field experience through your program. This builds the foundation for graduate study.

  2. Master of Social Work (MSW) and work as a social worker

    about 4-6 years total, including the MSW

    An MSW prepares you for clinical or community practice, and most people work as social workers for several years after it. This hands-on experience matches the 4 to 6 years of prior work most people in this career have, and it gives you real cases to bring into the classroom.

  3. Doctoral degree in social work (PhD or DSW)

    about 4-5 years

    A doctorate is the typical requirement for teaching at the college level. You'll focus on a research area, teach some classes, and write a dissertation that shows you can do original research.

  4. Social Work Teacher, Postsecondary

    ongoing

    You teach social work courses at a college or university, and many also do research and publish. Teaching jobs often start as tenure-track or adjunct positions.

Where it can lead

  1. Program Director or Department Chair, Social Work

    5-10 years of experience first

    You take on leadership of a degree program or department, which means managing faculty, budgets, and accreditation work. Strong teaching, service, and a record of published research usually help you get chosen.

  2. Dean of a School of Social Work

    10 or more years of experience first

    As dean, you lead an entire school, setting its direction, raising funds, and representing it to the university and the public. Deans usually have many years of teaching, research, and administration behind them.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take psychology, sociology, and government classesThese courses build an understanding of people, communities, and how systems work, which is the heart of social work.
  • Join a debate, Model UN, or student government clubThese groups help you practice explaining ideas clearly, listening to others, and working with people who see things differently.
  • Volunteer with a food bank, shelter, or youth programHands-on helping shows you what social work looks like day to day and helps you decide if it's a good fit for you.
  • Get a starter job, such as a camp counselor or tutorWorking with people of different ages builds patience, communication skills, and a track record that future schools will value.
  • Take a writing or statistics classStrong writing and basic data skills are needed for both graduate school and research work later on.

In college

  • Major in social work or take a social science majorA social work major (BSW) prepares you directly for graduate school, and sociology or psychology also work well as a foundation for a doctorate.
  • Do a social work internship or field placementField work gives you real-world experience, helps you confirm your interest, and often leads to references for graduate school.
  • Work on a research project with a professorHelping with data collection or literature reviews teaches you how research works and gives you material for doctoral applications.
  • Work a campus job in advising, residence life, or peer supportThese roles build the skills of listening, supporting others, and helping people solve problems, all of which are used in social work and teaching.
  • Join a social work or service student organizationGetting involved in campus groups helps you meet people in the field, learn about advocacy, and take on leadership roles.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real experience in social work while you study. Working in the field makes you a stronger teacher and helps you stand out when applying to doctoral programs and teaching jobs.
  • Build good relationships with professors and mentors. They can write recommendation letters, suggest research opportunities, and tell you about doctoral programs that fit your interests.
  • Start learning about research early. Look for chances to help with a professor's project or to present at a student conference, since research experience is a big part of doctoral applications.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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