Also called: Associate Professor of Social Work
Teaches future social workers and researches problems like child welfare, poverty, and mental health policy.
Teaches a morning class on human behavior, then meets doctoral students about their research. The afternoon goes to writing grant proposals and analyzing survey data on foster youth outcomes.
Tenure-track at research universities pays the most; many adjuncts earn far less.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 11 years after high school. MSW plus a PhD or DSW in social work; most have practice experience first.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Social Work, Sociology, Public Policy.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). Approximate; postsecondary teachers overall.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds survey analysis and grading; teaching field skills and research on foster youth and poverty stay human.
Classes: AP Psychology, AP Statistics, Sociology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-1113.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.