To the Editor
“Social Work Breaks Barriers.” That was the theme for this year’s Social Work Month. However, have we as social workers addressed the barriers to becoming and being a social worker? Self-advocacy is so important for our profession.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 700,000 social workers in the United States. The median salary of a social worker in the United States is $50,390 annually or $24.23 an hour. However, the average cost of gaining a master’s degree in social work, according to the US Department of Education, is roughly $75,000. This does not include the fees for supervision, licensing exam, continuing education, and licensure.

In addition to this, the Association of Social Work Boards exam to become a licensed social worker has been shown to have clear racial disparities. People of color are less likely to pass the exam on the first try, further incurring fees and barriers to becoming a licensed social worker. Licensure could help social workers increase their earning potential.

If we are going to claim that “social work breaks barriers,” there should be a focus on breaking barriers for social workers first. There should be more advocacy on behalf of social workers by doing an across-the-nation salary study, comparing the salaries of social workers with those of other comparable, masters-level professionals. Furthermore, there should be an overhaul and commitment to reducing the barriers to becoming a social worker so that more passionate individuals can join our profession and assist with breaking more barriers.

Let us advocate for ourselves as we advocate for others.

Sincerely,
LeeAnne Thompson-Forte, LCSW, LCAS, CSI