Compensation
Median Pay
$77,570
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Social work teachers, postsecondary
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$77,570
Projected Growth
2.3%
Annual Openings
1,300
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
17,100
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
2.3%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
1,300
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Adaptability
98 / 100
98%
Speaking & listening
98 / 100
98%
Writing & reading
93 / 100
93%
Computers & information technology
91 / 100
91%
Critical & analytical thinking
89 / 100
89%
Creativity & innovation
83 / 100
83%
Interpersonal
82 / 100
82%
Leadership
78 / 100
78%
Project management
73 / 100
73%
Problem solving & decision making
65 / 100
65%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
PRO
Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Social work teachers, postsecondary a Good Career?
Social work teachers, postsecondary, build careers focused on teaching and mentoring future social work professionals in colleges and universities. With national employment of 17,000 and a projected growth rate of 2.3%, this role combines subject-matter expertise with strong communication and people skills. The national median salary of $76,210 reflects the advanced education typically required, along with the broad skill set involved. Success in this career draws on adaptability, critical and analytical thinking, and creativity, as well as strong interpersonal and leadership abilities. Professionals in this field also benefit from strong speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills, plus comfort with computers and information technology. For those interested in academic environments, this occupation offers a path that blends intellectual work, student interaction, and ongoing professional development. Career explorers may also want to consider related options such as social sciences, library science, communications, psychology, or area and ethnic studies teaching at the postsecondary level.
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Social work teachers, postsecondary, earn a national median annual salary of $76,210, reflecting the advanced qualifications typically associated with this academic role. Salaries vary by location. Among top states, New York reports a median of $98,700, while California stands at $81,500 and Massachusetts at $79,710. Washington and Virginia are in a similar range, at $77,920 and $77,180 respectively. In metro areas, the New York-Newark-Jersey City region stands out with a median salary of $98,700, followed by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria at $91,900 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $83,160. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offer medians around the high $70,000s. These figures show that earnings can differ meaningfully by region, with some large metropolitan areas offering higher median pay. Individuals considering this path can weigh national and local salary medians alongside their preferences for geography, institution type, and career stage.
Job Outlook for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
Social work teachers, postsecondary, have national employment of 17,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 2.3%. There are 1,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing hiring needs that may come from both new positions and turnover. The combination of an established employment base and continued growth suggests steady, though not explosive, expansion of opportunities. For individuals planning a long-term academic career, this outlook can support strategic decisions about graduate education and geographic flexibility. Because the same 2.3% growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, the projected pace of change is relatively consistent in the locations featured. Job seekers can use the relationship between total employment, projected growth, and annual openings to anticipate competition for roles and the importance of building a strong portfolio of teaching, research, and professional skills aligned with this occupation’s expectations.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary?
Location plays a significant role in career planning for social work teachers, postsecondary. Among states, New York combines the highest listed median salary at $98,700 with sizable employment of 1,840 and an opportunity score of 65.78. California and Massachusetts also show relatively strong prospects, with median salaries of $81,500 and $79,710 and opportunity scores above 65. Washington and Virginia offer median pay in the upper $70,000s and opportunity scores in the mid-50s, suggesting solid but somewhat lower-ranked conditions compared with the top three states. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area stands out with an opportunity score of 77.27, the highest among listed metros, alongside a $98,700 median salary and employment of 1,680. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also show strong opportunity scores above 60 with median salaries above $80,000. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue round out the top metros with opportunity scores just above 60 and median salaries in the high $70,000s.
Education for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
The typical education level for social work teachers, postsecondary, is a doctoral or professional degree. This requirement reflects the depth of expertise and academic preparation usually expected for teaching in higher education. Pursuing this path generally involves advanced study focused on social work and related disciplines, along with substantial exposure to research and scholarship. Beyond formal education, the occupation’s skill profile highlights what helps professionals succeed in these roles. Core capabilities include speaking and listening, writing and reading, and strong critical and analytical thinking. Adaptability, creativity and innovation, and problem solving and decision making also matter in academic environments. Interpersonal and leadership skills support work with students, colleagues, and institutional committees, while project management and comfort with computers and information technology help in organizing courses, research, and academic initiatives. Together, the advanced degree and this broad skill set form a foundation for a sustainable career in postsecondary social work teaching.
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