According to the U.S. 劳工统计局(BLS), social workers in a school setting are among the highest paid in the profession. School social workers are employed by elementary and secondary schools at state, 本地及私人机构. All salary and employment data below derives from BLS, unless otherwise stated.
Job Description
School social workers serve as liaisons between students’ home and school lives. They facilitate communication between parents and teachers to ensure that children’s needs are being met. Social workers in schools may help address behavioral problems and learning disabilities, 同时组织预防逃学项目, sexual and health education and crisis intervention for students facing issues such as mental illness, abuse, bullying or homelessness. Some social workers may aid special needs students with integration into mainstream classes or work to help gifted students achieve their academic goals.
Work Life
大多数社会工作者在办公室工作. However, 学校社工可能被分配到多个学校, 需要在整个学区旅行. School social workers may also travel to their students’ residences to meet with the entire family or investigate reports of abuse or neglect. The job often becomes stressful due to understaffing or a heavy case load but can often be very fulfilling, 作为社会工作者，帮助指导他人实现他们的目标.
Requirements
Entry-level jobs in social work generally stipulate that candidates hold a 社会工作学士学位. Most school social workers are expected to have earned a master’s in social work. 城市固体废物项目通常需要两年时间才能完成.
除了学术要求之外, those wishing to enter social work should be compassionate individuals who enjoy working with people. 社会工作者需要良好的倾听和人际交往能力, 以及很强的解决问题的技巧把握, 组织能力和时间管理能力.
Salary and Outlook
As of May 2010, school social workers employed in elementary and secondary schools had a median annual salary of $54,260, 该行业中工资中位数最高. The BLS includes school social workers with child and family social workers in their employment growth projections. Employment for child, family and school social workers is expected to increase by 20 percent over the next 10 years.
