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Public Universities
University of California, University of Texas at Austin, Michigan State University
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
Social work teachers at the postsecondary level teach future social workers how to think through ethics, policy, practice, and fieldwork. The job is distinct because it blends classroom teaching with student advising, curriculum work, and contact with community agencies. The tradeoff is clear: you get to shape the next generation of practitioners, but the role usually requires a doctorate and comes with modest growth and a limited number of openings.
Also known as Social Work InstructorAssistant Professor of Social WorkSocial Work LecturerSocial Work Faculty MemberProfessor of Social Work
Median Salary
$76,210
Mean $81,880
U.S. Workforce
~13K
1.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.3%
17.1K to 17.5K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~13K workers, with a median annual pay of $76,210 and roughly 1.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 17.1 K in 2024 to 17.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral degree in social work or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Senior Faculty / Program Director. High-value skills usually include Curriculum Design & Course Planning, Lecture Delivery & Classroom Facilitation, and Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle, paired with soft skills such as Instructing, Speaking, and Learning Strategies.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students pick classes, internships, and career directions that fit their goals in social work.
- Lead classes and seminars, guiding discussion on social work theory, practice, and ethics.
- Prepare reading lists, assignments, and exams, then grade student work and give feedback.
- Meet with students during office hours to answer questions and coach them one on one.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students pick classes, internships, and career directions that fit their goals in social work.
02 Lead classes and seminars, guiding discussion on social work theory, practice, and ethics.
03 Prepare reading lists, assignments, and exams, then grade student work and give feedback.
04 Meet with students during office hours to answer questions and coach them one on one.
05 Work with other faculty and outside agencies on curriculum, research, and field placement issues.
06 Supervise graduate students, interns, and research projects, and help new faculty get started.
Industries That Hire
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Private Nonprofit Universities
Boston University, Loyola University Chicago, Syracuse University
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Austin Community College, Santa Monica College
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Online and Adult Education
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, Purdue Global
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Graduate and Research Universities
Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for higher education, with a median annual salary of $76,210 and a mean of $81,880.
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There are about 1.3K annual openings, so the field offers a steady stream of openings even though it is small.
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You get to shape how future social workers think about ethics, practice, and client care.
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The work mixes teaching, mentoring, research, and community collaboration, which keeps the job varied.
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No on-the-job training is required, so once you have the right degree you can move directly into teaching.
Challenges
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The entry bar is high: the usual requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, and 60.7% of workers in this role hold a doctorate.
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Growth is weak, at just 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, with employment rising only from 17.1K to 17.5K.
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The career ceiling can be tight because senior or tenure-track jobs are limited and often depend on publishing, service, and department politics.
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The workload is split across teaching, grading, office hours, advising, and committee work, so the schedule can feel fragmented.
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Remote work is limited because teaching, student support, and supervision usually need a campus presence, and hiring can tighten when university budgets or enrollment fall.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$35K-$44K
Supports faculty, helps lead discussion sections, grades student work, and gains classroom experience while finishing graduate study.
Adjunct Instructor
2-6 years
$45K-$64K
Teaches one or more courses on a part-time or contract basis and usually carries a heavy mix of prep, grading, and student advising.
Social Work Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$70K-$95K
Leads courses, advises students, shapes curriculum, and often balances teaching with research, service, and department work.
Senior Faculty / Program Director
10+ years
$98K-$130K
Oversees programs or departments, mentors junior faculty, and spends more time on leadership, curriculum planning, and faculty governance.
Education Paths
Doctoral degree in social work or a related field
The main route, held by 60.7% of workers in this role.
Master's degree in social work or a related field
A major alternative, held by 28.73% of workers, especially in teaching-focused programs and community colleges.
Post-doctoral training
A smaller route, held by 4.53% of workers, usually used to build deeper research and teaching credentials after the doctorate.
Key Skills
Technical
Curriculum Design & Course Planning 94%
Lecture Delivery & Classroom Facilitation 91%
Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle 81%
Assessment Design, Quizzes & Grading Tools 75%
JSTOR, EBSCOhost & PsycINFO Research Databases 75%
Soft Skills
InstructingSpeakingLearning StrategiesActive LearningActive ListeningCritical Thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+2.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 17.1K to 17.5 K over the next decade, representing 2.3% growth. Around 1.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.