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Community and Social Service

Healthcare Social Workers

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Healthcare Social Workers
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Median pay

$68,090
Median annual pay for Healthcare Social Workers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

7.7%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

18,400
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

193,200
Estimated U.S. employment for Healthcare Social Workers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+14,800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Master's degree
Typical additional preparation: Internship/residency.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Speaking
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Psychology
  2. 2Therapy and Counseling
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Sociology and Anthropology
  5. 5Customer and Personal Service
  6. 6Education and Training

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Deductive Reasoning
  3. 3Oral Comprehension
  4. 4Problem Sensitivity
  5. 5Speech Clarity
  6. 6Speech Recognition

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Investigative
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Cooperation
  2. 2Empathy
  3. 3Sincerity
  4. 4Dependability
  5. 5Social Orientation
  6. 6Stress Tolerance

Work activities

  1. 1Assisting and Caring for Others
  2. 2Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  5. 5Documenting/Recording Information
  6. 6Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Work context

  1. 1Telephone Conversations
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3E-Mail
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  6. 6Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Zoom · in demandMicrosoft Teams · in demandGoogle Meet · in demandMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMEDITECH software · hot technologyWeb browser softwareSocial Work Software ClientTouchSocial Solutions ETORelational database software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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