All careers › Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
Social work professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $48,200lowest 10% earn less
- $61,17025th percentile
- $77,570median
- $100,40075th percentile
- $126,790top 10% earn more
A social work professor, which BLS counts as a social work teacher at the postsecondary level, had median pay of $77,570 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, a little below the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.6%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,100[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[7]
How much do social work professors make?
The median wage for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary was $77,570 a year[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $83,940[8]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly[9].
The median is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[5].
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,200, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $126,790[4]. BLS says a percentile wage is a boundary and that it does not publish a starting salary[10].
| Measure | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4] | $48,200 |
| 25th percentile[4] | $61,170 |
| Median[1] | $77,570 |
| 75th percentile[4] | $100,400 |
| 90th percentile[4] | $126,790 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or benefits[11]. About 12,610 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
Hawaii had the highest state median at $133,340, followed by Kansas at $108,610 and Delaware at $100,550[13]. Those states each had about 50 jobs, so the figures rest on small counts[13]. Montana had the lowest listed median at $43,010[13].
New York had the most jobs at 1,840, then Pennsylvania (1,050) and Ohio (670)[14]. New York's median was $98,700[13].
Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median at $98,700, followed by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria at $91,900[15]. New York also had the most metro jobs at 1,680, ahead of Boston-Cambridge-Newton with 470[16].
Show median pay in 43 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii[13] | $133,340 | 50 |
| Kansas | $108,610 | 50 |
| Delaware | $100,550 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $100,400 | 80 |
| New York | $98,700 | 1,840 |
| Maryland | $97,110 | 230 |
| Texas | $83,440 | 90 |
| Minnesota | $82,470 | 360 |
| Utah | $81,850 | 100 |
| California | $81,500 | 230 |
| Maine | $80,250 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $79,960 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $79,710 | 650 |
| Washington | $77,920 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $77,570 | 450 |
| Virginia | $77,180 | 390 |
| Illinois | $77,010 | 510 |
| Michigan | $76,680 | 610 |
| Wisconsin | $76,420 | 400 |
| West Virginia | $76,320 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,920 | 1,050 |
| New Hampshire | $75,500 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $75,190 | 240 |
| Oregon | $74,320 | 220 |
| Indiana | $74,240 | 440 |
| Nevada | $74,180 | 70 |
| Arizona | $71,690 | 140 |
| New Mexico | $69,950 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $68,660 | 580 |
| Alabama | $66,520 | 240 |
| Missouri | $66,470 | 150 |
| Georgia | $65,350 | 90 |
| Kentucky | $65,260 | 280 |
| Iowa | $64,190 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $63,680 | 200 |
| Idaho | $62,230 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $61,430 | 50 |
| Ohio | $60,930 | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $60,910 | 80 |
| Florida | $60,580 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $60,470 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $60,100 | 100 |
| Montana | $43,010 | n/a |
How to become a social work professor
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[7].
- First: earn a bachelor's or master's degree to enroll in a doctoral program. BLS says that is usually needed for the wider group of postsecondary teachers[17][18].
- Next: complete a doctorate. Doctoral programs usually take several years, and most Ph.D. programs require a dissertation[17].
- Then: look for teaching posts. Four-year colleges and universities typically want a Ph.D. or other doctorate[19]. Community colleges may hire people with a master's degree, though some prefer a Ph.D.[20].
Schools may prefer teaching or other work experience[21]. Some people gain teaching experience as graduate teaching assistants[22]. Teachers who prepare students for a licensed occupation may need or benefit from the same credential[23].
In an O*NET survey of 16 workers, 61% said a doctoral degree is required, 29% said a master's degree and 6% said a first professional degree[24].
Tenure can take up to 7 years of moving through assistant, associate and full professor ranks[25].
What social work professors do
O*NET says these teachers teach social work courses. Some mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[26]. Tasks include:
- Leading and moderating classroom discussions[27].
- Preparing syllabi, assignments and handouts[27].
- Writing, giving and grading exams[27].
- Giving lectures to undergraduate or graduate students[27].
- Supervising student field work, internships and research[27].
- Updating curricula, course content and teaching methods[27].
- Keeping up with the field by reading and attending conferences[27].
- Working with colleagues and community agencies[27].
Where they work
For postsecondary teachers as a wider group, colleges, universities and professional schools run by the state were the largest employer at 41%[28].
Most work full time, though part-time work is common[29]. Classes are generally during the day, with some in the evenings or on weekends[30]. Schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours but otherwise set their own schedules[31]. BLS notes that balancing teaching with research and publishing may be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[32].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,000 to 16,400 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].
About 1,100 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to another occupation[33].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest a field with a long road in. The typical entry education is a doctoral or professional degree[7], and doctoral programs usually take several years[17]. Pay was above the all-occupations median[1][5]. Growth is a little slower than for all occupations, and there are about 1,100 openings a year[2][3][6]. It may suit someone who likes teaching, research and a flexible schedule[26][31].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a social work professor make?
- The median was $77,570 a year in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $48,200 and the 90th was $126,790[4].
- What degree do you need to be a social work professor?
- A doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry education[7]. Some community colleges may hire people with a master's degree[20].
- How much does a social work professor make an hour?
- BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[9].
- Is social work teaching in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035[2], with about 1,100 openings a year[6].
- What is the highest paying state for social work professors?
- Hawaii, with a median of $133,340 based on about 50 jobs[13].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $77,570 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,000 to 16,400 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $48,200, 25th percentile $61,170, 75th percentile $100,400, 90th percentile $126,790. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,100 openings for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary was $83,940 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 12,610 people were employed as Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 1,840; Pennsylvania 1,050; Ohio 670; Massachusetts 650; Michigan 610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $98,700; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $91,900; Ann Arbor, MI $87,920; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $83,200; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $83,160; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $80,300; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $78,250; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $77,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,680 (median $98,700); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 470 (median $83,160); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 390 (median $80,300); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 380 (median $72,890); Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 220 (median $66,570); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 220 (median $91,900). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-1113.00 survey of workers (16 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 61%, Master's Degree 29%, First Professional Degree 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.