CollegeRanker · Social Services
Social Services Careers — Salary, Growth & Degrees
Counseling, social work, therapy, and community services — social services careers combine purpose with licensure. We mapped the degrees and schools that produce the strongest outcomes.
- 8
- Social Services careers
- 9
- Related degrees
- $58,510
- Top median salary
- 4
- Rankings
What the Scorecard Says
Social Services careers span a wide range of earning potential and educational requirements. Of the 8 careers we track in this field, the average median salary is $52,040, with an average difficulty score of /100. The highest-rated career overall is Substance Abuse Counselor with a grade of C+.
6 of 8 careers in this field score 70+ on AI resilience, suggesting low automation risk.
- $52,040
- Avg median salary
- NaN /100
- Avg difficulty
- 77 /100
- Avg AI Resilience
- C+ 62
- Top-rated career
Highest-Paying Social Services Careers
Median salary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the roles where the credential pays for itself fastest.
- C+
Marriage & Family Therapist
$58,510 median 15% growth
Difficulty: AI: 82
- C
Social Worker
$55,350 median 7% growth
Difficulty: AI: 82
- C-
Recreation Therapist
$54,890 median 3% growth
Difficulty: AI: 82
- C+
Licensed Professional Counselor
$53,490 median 18% growth
Difficulty: AI: 82
- C+
Substance Abuse Counselor
$53,490 median 18% growth
Difficulty: AI: 82
- C-
Child Welfare Specialist
$50,390 median 7% growth
Difficulty: AI: 60
Fastest-Growing Social Services Careers
BLS projected growth rates for 2023–2033. The roles where demand is outpacing supply.
- C+
Licensed Professional Counselor
$53,490 median 18% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
- C+
Substance Abuse Counselor
$53,490 median 18% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
- C+
Marriage & Family Therapist
$58,510 median 15% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
- C
Community Health Worker
$48,200 median 14% growth
AI: 60 Difficulty:
- C
Rehabilitation Counselor
$42,000 median 9% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
- C
Social Worker
$55,350 median 7% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
All Social Services Careers
What the work pays, how fast it’s growing, and the degrees that lead there.
- C
Social Worker
$55,350 salary 7% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
3 linked degrees →
- C+
Licensed Professional Counselor
$53,490 salary 18% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
2 linked degrees →
- C+
Marriage & Family Therapist
$58,510 salary 15% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
3 linked degrees →
- C+
Substance Abuse Counselor
$53,490 salary 18% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
3 linked degrees →
- C-
Child Welfare Specialist
$50,390 salary 7% growth
AI: 60 Difficulty:
3 linked degrees →
- C-
Recreation Therapist
$54,890 salary 3% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
2 linked degrees →
- C
Community Health Worker
$48,200 salary 14% growth
AI: 60 Difficulty:
2 linked degrees →
- C
Rehabilitation Counselor
$42,000 salary 9% growth
AI: 82 Difficulty:
2 linked degrees →
Social Services Rankings
Schools and programs ranked by real outcomes — earnings, mobility, and value. Not reputation.
-
By Major
Best Colleges for Social Work
50 schools · #1 Princeton University -
Online
Best Online Social Work Programs
50 schools · #1 University of Florida-Online -
By Major
Best Colleges for Psychology
50 schools · #1 Stanford University -
Value
Most Affordable Colleges for Psychology
50 schools · #1 CUNY Hunter College
Related Degree Programs
The degrees that lead into social services careers — with school-level outcomes data.
-
Public Health
OnlineBachelor's · $60,500 median · 5% growth
-
Counseling
OnlineMaster's · $53,490 median · 18% growth
-
Social Work (BSW)
OnlineBachelor's · $55,350 median · 7% growth
-
Social Work (MSW)
OnlineMaster's · $55,350 median · 7% growth
-
Psychology
OnlineBachelor's · $55,960 median · 6% growth
-
Psychology
OnlineMaster's · $85,330 median · 14% growth
-
Criminal Justice
OnlineBachelor's · $55,690 median · 3% growth
-
Sociology
OnlineBachelor's · $59,000 median · 4% growth
-
Kinesiology
OnlineBachelor's · $52,000 median · 10% growth
Explore Other Career Fields
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Find the social services program that fits
Use our program finder to explore accredited degrees that lead to social services careers — ranked by what graduates earn and achieve.
