You can complete an associates degree in social work in as little as two years. This degree prepares you for administrative work dealing with social welfare. You can get a job as an associate social worker assisting full-fledged social workers with tasks; as a home health aide helping elderly, sick and disabled persons; a psychiatric aid caring for persons with mental disabilities; or as a child care worker. These are just examples and the range of job possibilities is broad including administrative duties.
You can become a social worker after earning a bachelor's degree if you pass the state examination to become a social worker and graduate from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Many social workers work for the government as benefit administrators and in the state attorney generals' offices as child and adult protective services workers. Outside of government positions, social workers work as life coaches or in positions where they teach life skills to children.
Students can get a Master's degree in social work in two years and are qualified to work in positions other than as a social worker. With a master's degree, you can work as a hospice worker helping terminally ill patients and family members; a therapist providing mental health and addiction counseling; and therapy, as an adjunct professor. Full-fledged professors hold a Ph.D., and work in leadership positions with child and protective services and as social workers in settings like hospitals and schools.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the social work field is on a trajectory to grow faster than most other fields. The bureau also tracks the places where social workers are employed and according to it's Website, 31 percent of social workers are in government while 54 percent work in the healthcare or social assistance segment. As of 2011, social workers placed in school make on average $53,860 while those in local government average $46,650 and social workers public health make an average of $46,600.