Exciting and Diverse Careers Await Those with a Degree in Social Services.
If you are just starting out in school or are interested in changing careers, going into the social services career field is a great choice. There are many divisions within the field for experts who have very diverse and specific qualifications. The educational qualifications vary depending on the position. While some job titles only require a bachelor’s degree, many require an advanced degree. Most positions within the field require a master’s degree and some very special positions demand that you have a doctorate.
If you are thinking of attending college after high school or if you want to change careers and need to obtain a college degree, it may be daunting until you get all of the facts. College is expensive but it’s a worthy investment. Almost all colleges, universities, and even trade schools, offer their students some form of financial aid to help defray the cost of their education. Both the young and the old attend college and financial aid is there for anybody who meets the financial criteria, regardless of age or gender.
If you are raising a family or working full time, attending college online is a great option for you. There are many Public Administration jobs and Counseling jobs available online. This is a perfect option for people with time or physical constraints.
Some of the exciting and challenging jobs you can study for within the social services field include:
Counseling & Psychology
Fitness Instructor
Health Educator
Human Service
Mental Health
Personal Training
Probation Officer
Public Administration
Rehabilitation
School Counselor
Social Worker
Substance Abuse
People who choose the Counseling and Psychology fields of study are usually motivated by helping others. They are very smart, intuitive individuals who want to make sure people have everything they need to make the most of themselves and their situations. They are often involved in their communities and volunteer for different causes. If this sounds like you, becoming a counselor or psychologist may be just the right path for you!
Succeeding as a paid professional in the field of psychology or counseling is difficult because the competition to get into a master’s or doctoral program is keen. The job market is great and diverse once you do obtain your advanced degree. If you are interested in working with the welfare system or with the legal system, getting a bachelor’s degree in social services will work well for you. If you are interested in working with troubled individuals and you like science, becoming a clinical psychologist will be your forte. This requires a PhD. If you like to work with children, a school psychology degree will work well for you. This requires at least a master’s degree. Usually professionals beginning with their master’s degree earn around $45,000 per year. Depending on the job path you choose, you could make in the $100,000 range. This usually falls for professors with 20 or more years of experience or doctors in the field.
Even if you are undecided about the specialty you would like to pursue, entering into the social services curriculum at a college is a fantastic starting point to launch your new career.
Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The salary range for Social Service begins around $45,000 and usually tops out around $100,000, with a mean in the neighborhood of $72,500. This is about 67% higher than the national average for annual salaries.
In order to qualify for most Social Service positions, you typically need to have a Bachelor's Degree or higher.