Career as Social worker?

[questioningforans]

Hi,

I am a fresh grad this year in social work. Hoping to seek the help of other social workers/ people who know the sector to answer the question. However, I am really concerned about several areas:

1. How is career progression for social workers in social sector like? I haven't worked in generalist settings (Eg. FSC) before as both my placements are in specialised settings. Career progression matters to me as I hope I won't stay as a 'social worker' only for 10, 20 years, without any signs of promotion.

2. How much is your pay? how much does it increase yearly?

3. How much do you get to save from your salary monthly?

Thanks v much in advance!!

Originally Posted by questioningforans

Hi,

I am a fresh grad this year in social work. Hoping to seek the help of other social workers/ people who know the sector to answer the question. However, I am really concerned about several areas:

1. How is career progression for social workers in social sector like? I haven't worked in generalist settings (Eg. FSC) before as both my placements are in specialised settings. Career progression matters to me as I hope I won't stay as a 'social worker' only for 10, 20 years, without any signs of promotion.

2. How much is your pay? how much does it increase yearly?

3. How much do you get to save from your salary monthly?

Thanks v much in advance!!

You studied the wrong professional course with this kind of thinking. Business will be a better course for you.

Anyway govt raising starting social work salary to 3.4k. yes minor increment 3% year on year.

Reasonable living, not rich. But definitely better than the people we help.
If you think about it our job is to distribute resources to the right ppl, and assist them in their recovery. So compensation should be secondary

Originally Posted by questioningforans

Hi,

I am a fresh grad this year in social work. Hoping to seek the help of other social workers/ people who know the sector to answer the question. However, I am really concerned about several areas:

1. How is career progression for social workers in social sector like? I haven't worked in generalist settings (Eg. FSC) before as both my placements are in specialised settings. Career progression matters to me as I hope I won't stay as a 'social worker' only for 10, 20 years, without any signs of promotion.

2. How much is your pay? how much does it increase yearly?

3. How much do you get to save from your salary monthly?

Thanks v much in advance!!

If you are really concerned with the above, why do social work?

If you want lucrative salaries, go work in other jobs in the corporates.

You have taken the wrong course in the first place.

[questioningforans]

Well I do like social work, which was why I sticked on to it even after 4 years. But did any of you ever worried about retirement? Whether there will be enough for finances for healthcare etc.

Originally Posted by questioningforans

Well I do like social work, which was why I sticked on to it even after 4 years. But did any of you ever worried about retirement? Whether there will be enough for finances for healthcare etc.

Let's be practical about this whole thing.

#1) If you are looking at promotions and climbing career ladder, then social work is not where the action is. What sort of promotion do you want? A fancy title of "senior social worker" after 10 years? In theory there are some managerial support roles, but once you move up it's more resource planning then social work. The only way to have a higher career ceiling in this space is to move into policy roles at HQ, but those are reserved for hi-pos and honestly not really have much to do with social work other than the papers they write pertain to social work.

#2) Ministry starting is already very high at 3.5k +/-. At a rate of standard 3-4% increase every year, it should be already ~5k by your mid 30s. Increases will normally slow down after 10 years, but you should still be able to plateau/retire at 6k at present value of money. This is more than enough to live a middle class lifestyle for retirement planning and healthcare insurance.

#3) Bottom line is you've gotta love the job. This work isn't going to give you the lifestyle of living in condos or affording a car or annual European/American/Japan holidays. But it is adequate for you to take care of your basic needs with the occasional luxury.

[questioningforans]

thanks for the above replies Appreciate them