Social workers perform many roles in their work, from helping operate homeless shelters and counseling families in need to running drug-rehabilitation programs and advocating for health care rights. Most positions require a bachelor’s degree but some offer further training as an advanced practice degree (APD), which can lead to more responsibility.
The Iowa average Social Worker salary is $49,727 which is higher than the national average Social Worker salary. Our data reflects the median annual salary as of January 31st, 2016. The national median annual salary is $48,450. Learn more about the Social Worker job market for Iowa and compare the average salary in Iowa to other states below.
Social Worker Salary In Iowa Overview
Social work is a field that offers many job opportunities, and you can pursue a career as a social worker in almost any state.
In Iowa, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for social workers was $49,210 annually in May 2015. The top 10% earned more than $76,300 per year.
Social workers typically have an undergraduate degree in social work (BSW), but some employers require applicants to have a master’s degree (MSW) or doctorate (DSW). While job titles vary by employer and practice area, the duties of all social workers include interviewing clients and family members; analyzing client information; developing case plans; providing counseling services; advocating for clients’ needs; and monitoring changes in clients’ situations.
Social work is not limited to working with individuals or families—some social workers also provide services to schools, businesses and government agencies.
What is Social Work?
According to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), Social Work is a profession that aims to help individuals, families, groups and communities to improve their individual and collective well-being. Social Workers provide help to people’s personal issues as well as dealing with broader social concerns such as poverty, unemployment and domestic violence.
What Do Social Workers Do?
Social Workers work in a variety of settings and their duties vary accordingly. They may work in family services agencies, children’s aid agencies, general and psychiatric hospitals, school boards, correctional institutions, health and community services centres, or federal and provincial departments.
Social Workers in health and community services centres, for example, may offer counselling for individuals or families, help seniors with day-to-day tasks, or assist with parent-child relationships. Social Workers can also provide support for individuals that are feeling stressed or overwhelmed with the responsibility of being a primary caregiver for a loved one.
Requirements to Become a Social Worker
In order to become a Social Worker in Ontario, you need to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work, which means four years of post-secondary education. Some companies also require having a Master of Social Work, which will take either one or two years of additional post-graduate education. A lot of universities in Ontario provide Social Work programs, all of which have been accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
After getting a degree, you’ll need to join a provincial regulatory body in order to become a regulated Social Worker; in this case, it’s the Ontario Colleges of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). You can only refer to yourself as a “Social Worker” or a “Registered Social Worker” and legally practice Social Work in Ontario after becoming a member of the OCSWSSW.
How To Become a Social Worker
Although most social workers need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s degree and 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting. Clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice.Education
A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common requirement for entry-level positions. However, some employers may hire workers who have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as psychology or sociology.
A BSW prepares students for direct-service positions such as caseworker or mental health assistant. These programs teach students about diverse populations, human behavior, social welfare policy, and ethics in social work. All programs require students to complete supervised fieldwork or an internship.
Some positions require a master’s degree in social work (MSW), which generally takes 2 years to complete. Master’s degree programs in social work prepare students for work in their chosen specialty by developing clinical assessment and management skills. All programs require students to complete a supervised practicum or an internship.
A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required in order to enter a master’s degree program in social work. Although a degree in almost any major is acceptable, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended. Some programs allow graduates with a bachelor’s degree in social work to earn their master’s degree in 1 year.
In 2015, there were more than 500 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 200 master’s degree programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Some universities offer doctoral programs in social work, where students can earn a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) or a Ph.D. Most doctoral programs in social work require students to have a master’s in social work and experience in the field. Many doctor’s students go on to work as postsecondary teachers.Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states have licensure or certification requirements for nonclinical social workers. Requirements vary by state.
All states require clinical social workers to be licensed. However, some states provide exemptions for clinical social workers who work in government agencies. Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires a master’s degree in social work and a minimum of 2 years of supervised clinical experience after graduation. After completing their supervised experience, clinical social workers must pass a clinical exam to be licensed.
Because licensing requirements vary by state, those interested should contact their state board. For more information about regulatory licensure boards by state, contact the Association of Social Work Boards.Important Qualities
Communication skills. Clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives. To effectively help, social workers must be able to listen to and understand their clients’ needs.
Empathy. Social workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations. To develop strong relationships, they must have compassion and empathy for their clients.
Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different groups of people is essential for social workers. They need strong people skills to foster healthy and productive relationships with their clients and colleagues.
Organizational skills. Social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment.
Problem-solving skills. Social workers need to develop practical and innovative solutions to their clients’ problems.
Time-management skills. Social workers often have many clients and administrative responsibilities. They must effectively manage their time to provide adequate service to all of their clients.
Average Salary of Iowa Social Workers
According to Indeed.com, the average salary of a Iowa Social Worker was $50,000 vs the national salary of $51,000. A Social Worker in Iowa saw a large number of companies featuring over 789 jobs. The types of jobs posted ranged from Full-time, Part-time, Contract, Temporary, Internship, and Commission while the most common level of experience required for Social Worker jobs was Entry Level.
| Iowa Social Worker | $50,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 26, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Recover Health, Hy-Vee, Inc., Children’s Square USA, Management & Training Corporation, and UnityPoint Health offering Full-time, Part-time, Contract, Temporary, Internship, and Commission with Entry Level and Mid Level required.
Additional Salaries of Social Workers
In this section explore additional details on popular jobs within social work:
- Community Social Worker
- Family Social Worker
- Healthcare Social Worker
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Medical Social Worker
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Psychiatric Social Worker
- Public Health Social Worker
- School Social Worker
- Substance Abuse Social Worker
Community Social Worker
| Community Social Worker | $50,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Community Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Community Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Lutheran Services in Iowa, Linn-Mar Community School District, Hillcrest Family Services, Care Initiatives, and Management & Training Corporation offering Full-time, Part-time, Contract, Temporary, and Internship with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
Family Social Worker
| Family Social Worker | $51,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Family Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Family Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Hillcrest Family Services, Linn-Mar Community School District, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Care Initiatives, and Families First Counseling Services offering Full-time, Part-time, Contract, and Temporary with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
Healthcare Social Worker
| Healthcare Social Worker | $58,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Healthcare Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Healthcare Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Catholic Health Initiatives, Midwest Health Management, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Care Initiatives, and Aegis Therapies offering Full-time, Part-time, and Temporary with Entry Level and Mid Level required.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker | $60,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Licensed Clinical Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Licensed Clinical Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Catholic Health Initiatives, UnityPoint Health, Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates, Lutheran Services in Iowa, and AseraCare Hospice offering Full-time, Part-time, Contract, and Temporary with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
Medical Social Worker
| Medical Social Worker | $52,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Medical Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Medical Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Management & Training Corporation, Midwest Health Management, Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates, Care Initiatives, and Hillcrest Family Services offering Full-time, Part-time, Contract, Commission, and Temporary with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
Mental Health Social Worker
| Mental Health Social Worker | $55,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Mental Health Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Mental Health Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Catholic Health Initiatives, Linn-Mar Community School District, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates, and Heart and Solutions offering Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, and Contract with Entry Level and Mid Level required.
Psychiatric Social Worker
| Psychiatric Social Worker | $67,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Psychiatric Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Psychiatric Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Tanager Place, Seasons Center for Behavioral Health, UnityPoint Health, Mercy Cedar Rapids, and Johnson County Crisis Center offering Full-time, Part-time, and Contract with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
Public Health Social Worker
| Public Health Social Worker | $54,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Public Health Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Public Health Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were UnityPoint Health, Midwest Health Management, Catholic Health Initiatives, Care Initiatives, and HCI VNS Care Services offering Full-time and Part-time with Entry Level and Mid Level required.
School Social Worker
| School Social Worker | $47,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average School Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average School Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were UnityPoint Health, Hy-Vee, Inc., Midwest Health Management, Linn-Mar Community School District, and Management & Training Corporation offering Full-time, Part-time, Contract, Temporary, and Internship with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
Substance Abuse Social Worker
| Substance Abuse Social Worker | $50,000 | . | |
| In USD as of September 20, 2016 | 55k | 110k | 165k |
|---|
Average Substance Abuse Social Worker salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Substance Abuse Social Worker salaries for job postings nationwide. The top 5 employers were Catholic Health Initiatives, Delta Physician Placement, The Transition House Inc., Community & Family Resources, and Milestone Health Solutions offering Full-time and Part-time with Mid Level and Entry Level required.
