That demand is only expected to grow during the next decade. Overall employment for social work is expected to grow 9% by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, many occupations require workers to hold a master’s degree in social work, particularly if they wish to pursue clinical positions. 

“There’s a huge shortage of mental health providers,” Rebecca Gomez, interim dean for the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University, tells Fortune. “Social workers are the largest group of mental health providers nationally, so that’s often when people have an interest.”

While clinical social work can be a popular path for grads, the field has a wide variety of career options. Because occupations can vary so much in the field, it’s difficult to pin down an average starting salary for social workers. However, most starting salaries for entry-level social workers float around $50,000, with some occupations earning more and some earning less.

“What’s really interesting from a salary standpoint is it really does matter what the practice setting is,” Gomez explains. “When we’re talking about this wide range of practice settings, I think that it can be really challenging to target what a salary will be.” MSW students who graduated from VCU’s program in May 2022 earned an average starting salary of $55,910.

Entry-level social workers can make a little bit more than $40,000 all the way to nearly $60,000, according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Social workers who earn a master’s degree, however, can earn about 30% more than that entry-level rate, data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows.

Licensed clinical social work starting salaries

Pursuing licensure in clinical social work can be a lucrative option for graduates. These social workers can make more than $75,000 to start, according to Glassdoor. However, these positions sometimes require that students complete more credit hours as part of their master’s degree program. 

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) not only have to earn a master’s degree, but they also have to complete the LCSW licensing and examination requirement and apply for LCSW state licensure. Requirements vary by state. 

It takes longer to earn licensure because LCSWs assess, diagnose, treat, and work to prevent mental illness, as well as emotional and other “behavioral disturbances,” according to the NASW. These workers often provide individual, group, and family therapy.

Corporate social work positions

Even after earning a master’s degree in social work, some graduates go on to accept jobs in the corporate world, focusing on topics such as organizational change, culture, and employee assistance programs. These workers typically make between $60,000 and $70,000, according to several job boards and market research companies.

Some companies won’t advertise for positions coined as a social worker specifically, but these positions will be focused on the topics listed above as well as learning, development, active listening, wellness, and retention, Gomez explains. 

“I would consider those more nontraditional social work jobs that people don’t think of, but we’re seeing this more as companies are also working to address the lingering mental health concerns and retention of their employees post-pandemic,” she says.

Salaries for traditional social work roles

Social workers who are employed by hospitals, the government, and other health care practices earn average salaries between $40,000 and $60,000, which is “quite a range,” Gomez says. 

Social workers employed by hospitals earn about $58,000, while social workers employed by local governments take home roughly $52,000, NASW data shows. State government social workers (excluding education and hospitals) make about $46,000, by comparison.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn about $43,000, and those who work in individual and family services earn a minimum average salary of about $40,000, according to NASW.

Salaries still can vary among different occupations, so it’s important for social work candidates to weigh their options.

“Students try to figure out how to balance their own financial needs with their desire to give back and make a difference in the field,” Gomez adds. “Exploring different career paths is a way to do that.”