<p>and how hard would it be to find a job in this field in NYC?</p>
<p>It wouldn’t be hard to find a job at all, but finding one that would pay well enough for you to live in NYC would be.</p>
<p>How much do you have to earn to live OK in NYC?</p>
<p>I know a young social worker who makes enough money to live in Brooklyn with just one other person.</p>
<p>Did she have a Master’s or even Bachelor’s degree in social work? I’m worried either of these would become a pre-requisite since there must be too many wanting to become social workers than there are positions available (don’t know if this is true). Would graduating from a top 25 university count for something?</p>
<p>I live in the south so cannot comment on the need for social workers in NYC. In general, I think there is a high demand for social workers. My niece just got her MSW in May fr. a state university and had four job offers to choose from. A friend’s D(also state u. grad) has a BSW and works for the county social services dept. here and says they need more help constantly. A degree fr. a top 25 university is not required to be a social worker.</p>
<p>I also know a young woman who lives in Brooklyn and works in social work with a bachelors; she is starting her MSW this semester.</p>
<p>so they DO exist in NYC! that’s a good start. I hope they aren’t struggling, or struggling that much at least. </p>
<p>It’s too bad getting a MSW is so darn expensive.</p>
<p>There are lots of social workers in NY. At least out here in the suburbs every school has one. If you are willing to share apartment space and/or live in one of the other boroughs you can live in NYC.</p>
<p>The young woman I know is frugal, but I wouldn’t at all say “struggling.” And she loves what she does. She does have an apartmentmate, but that’s the norm in NYC.</p>
<p>The young guy I know in Brooklyn has an M.S.W.</p>
<p>I’m getting my MSW on the other coast, but I know a woman who works as a social worker in NYC. She makes pretty good money and gets great benefits and perks such as working from home part of the week. She describes the human services field in general in NYC as being somewhat flooded, especially in the recession, but there are also a lot more agencies looking for social workers there than in less major urban areas. If one is resourceful I think it’s definitely possible to get a job where one can afford to live in the city in social work.</p>
<p>I think they’re perceived as caring, giving, overworked and underpaid.</p>
<p>
Anyone who believes that should read Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining by Judge Judith Sheindlin.</p>
<p>Not saying there aren’t some like that, but for the most part that is a myth. Also, before someone corrects me, I understand that you said they are perceived that way, not that they necessarily are that way.</p>
<p>I have a lot of friends who are MSWs with decades of experience. They are all smart, interesting, caring individuals.</p>
<p>There always seem to be jobs available for social workers in our area–which is not NYC. NYC is very expensive. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, the impression I have is that it is key to be an MSW, not a BA social worker, if one is to get a decent salary.</p>
<p>MSWs are also very much vulnerable to swings in public funding.</p>
<p>Social work is a unique field in that it offers a variety of settings to work in. Hospitals, schools, mental health clinics, communities…social workers vary in their level of education, skill, and interests, most social workers are committed to social change…</p>
<p>the MSW has become the standard for most social work positions, social workers who pursue their M.S.W. have additional opportunities and can practice independently as well, ie. clinical social work/psychotherapy. I started my clinical social work career in NYC~my starting salary in '81 was 14K, but I managed…ran a clinic on Central Park South and conducted training in Harlem and have loved the field for 28 yrs…typically entry level positions don’t pay very well, but as in most fields work experience builds salaries and choices.</p>