Houston, Texas is home to more than 2.3 million people, a larger population than any other city in the entire Southern United States.
According to the 2018 United States Census, Houston is a young city: the largest age demographic in the area is adults between 25 and 34 years old. It’s also a racially diverse city, with large Hispanic or Latino, African-American, and Asian communities.
Social Work in Houston
In the busy and booming city of Houston, a social worker can expect to find a wide array of meaningful job opportunities. Over time, those opportunities are expected to only increase.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent between 2022 and 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.”
Social work in Houston can take many forms, such as:
- Supporting patients and families at local hospitals, such as being a social worker at Houston Methodist, Texas Children’s Hospital, or Texas Medical Center
- Offering behavioral therapy, parenting workshops, and counseling at private clinics
- Planning and organizing social service programs for seniors at local nursing homes
- Coordinating diversity education and student wellness programs as a school guidance counselor
- Writing grants at local nonprofits
- Collaborating with local policymakers to advocate on behalf of disadvantaged communities
- Working with the local immigrant community: in 2017, it was estimated that 600,000 people living in Houston – almost 9% of the city’s overall population – are undocumented immigrants.
In the following sections, learn more about what you need to become a social worker, as well as some of the specific responsibilities involved with different types of social work employment in Houston.
How to Become a Social Worker in Houston, Texas
In order to become a social worker in Texas, it is important to have the relevant educational and professional experience. While not all jobs will require applicants to have an MSW (Master’s in Social Work), such a degree has a number of advantages, including:
- More competitive in job applications
- Potential for higher salary
- Required for licensure, either as an LMSW or an LCSW. (For more on these titles, see the section entitled “Becoming an LCSW or LMSW in Houston, Texas.”)
- Required for certain jobs, such as being a clinical social worker
In addition to attaining an MSW, aspiring social workers in Texas may have to complete the Texas Social Work Jurisprudence exam and/or the Social Work License Exam, which is offered by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. For more information about which degrees, licenses, and exams are necessary for your specific desired job, it is recommended to contact potential employers directly.
Employment as a Child and Family Social Worker, Houston
As a child and family social worker in Houston, Texas, you have the opportunity to play a vital role in supporting and advocating for vulnerable children and families, working with community stakeholders like schools, healthcare providers, and legal entities.
In this role, your responsibilities may include conducting assessments, developing intervention plans, connecting families with resources, and facilitating access to essential services such as healthcare and education. Though this work sometimes includes the emotional and sensitive work of placing children in foster care, child and family social work is primarily focused on empowering families to overcome challenges and build stronger, more resilient relationships.
Social Work in Action: Becoming a PRN at Houston Methodist
In social work, “PRN” stands for “pro re nata,” a Latin term that translates to “as needed” or “as the situation arises.” In the context of social work, PRN typically refers to a work arrangement where the social worker is employed on an as-needed basis rather than having a regular, fixed schedule. PRN social workers may be called in to cover shifts, provide emergency support, or fill in for staff shortages.
One possible context in which you could be a PRN in Houston would be at a hospital like Houston Methodist. There, your role would be providing crucial support and assistance to patients and their families during their hospitalization by conducting psychosocial assessments. Based on what you learn, you can help patients and families address factors such as emotional well-being, family dynamics, and support systems. Your responsibilities could include connecting patients with community resources, arranging for home health services or hospice care, and providing counseling or emotional support to patients and their families as they navigate complex medical decisions. Additionally, you may collaborate with healthcare teams to develop discharge plans that ensure patients have access to necessary services and support upon leaving the hospital.
Forensic Social Work in Houston, TX
You may have heard of forensics on TV shows like CSI and Law & Order, but what does it have to do with social work?
Forensic social work brings social workers’ skills to the legal system, focusing on the assessment, intervention, and advocacy for individuals involved in legal proceedings or systems. Forensic social workers often work in diverse settings such as courts, prisons, juvenile detention centers, and law enforcement agencies.
A forensic social worker’s responsibilities could include conducting assessments to evaluate individuals’ social and psychological functioning, providing expert testimony in court, facilitating access to support services for victims, advocating for the rights of marginalized populations within the legal system, and assisting in rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
Employment as a Geriatric Social Worker: Home Health Services
Another possible type of social work is with the geriatric community. While work with seniors can take place at hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, retirement communities, and in private practices, social workers can also specialize in supporting the continued care of seniors who continue to live at home.
Social workers in the field of home health services operate in a much more intimate environment than an institutional setting, bringing the resources of clinics and hospitals to provide personalized care plans to senior citizens. Home health social workers are also primarily equipped to conduct comprehensive assessments of clients’ social, emotional, and physical needs, addressing issues such as isolation, caregiver stress, and access to healthcare.
Getting an MSW in Texas
While having an MSW (Master’s in Social Work) isn’t always necessary to get a job in social work, many jobs will require applicants to have an advanced degree in social work.
Texas is home to a number of colleges and universities with wonderful and renowned graduate programs for social work, such as the University of Texas (multiple locations, including Austin and Arlington), Baylor, and the University of North Texas. Some of these universities also offer online programs, meaning that an aspiring social worker could get an MSW from Baylor from their home in Houston.
For more information on social work programs in Houston, Texas, read the below section, “MSW Programs in Houston.”
MSW Programs in Houston
In Houston, Texas, prospective social workers have a wide array of options when it comes to pursuing their Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree.
The city hosts various well-known institutions offering social work programs in Houston, Texas, including respected colleges for social work such as the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. This prestigious institution, along with other Houston colleges for social work, provides comprehensive education and training for those who are seeking future employment in this field.
In addition to a curriculum that emphasizes evidence-based practices, cultural competence, and social justice, students at the Houston graduate school of social work can expect to gain invaluable hands-on experience through field placements and internships. Upon completion of their studies, graduates are well-prepared to embark on meaningful careers in a variety of settings.
Prospective MSWs can also earn MSW programs online from colleges and universities around the country, though it’s important to ensure that the school you choose has an accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Army Social Work Program at Fort Sam, Houston
The Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston offers a 14-month MSW degree program, which is offered in collaboration with the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. This degree program equips aspiring social workers to take on vital, specialized roles supporting soldiers in retirement, such as serving as a Social Worker for the US Air Force. In this role, social workers provide diagnoses and counseling for veterans. Such a role requires applicants to not only have an MSW, but an LMSW. For more on what that entails, see the below section, “Becoming an LCSW or LMSW in Houston, Texas.”
Becoming an LCSW or LMSW in Houston, Texas
Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Houston, Texas, is a rigorous, yet rewarding, journey for social workers-to-be.
To attain licensure, individuals typically need to complete a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited program and accumulate a specified number of supervised clinical hours, which may vary depending on the specific licensing requirements. Once these prerequisites are met, candidates must pass the licensure examination administered by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.
Attaining LCSW or LMSW status opens up a wide array of career opportunities, allowing social workers to provide clinical therapy, diagnosis, and treatment services to individuals, families, and communities in settings like hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and private practices.
Finding an MSW Internship in Houston
In many MSW programs, students must complete at least one (but likely two) extensive internship and/or fieldwork experiences. This, paired with a rigorous academic curriculum, will prepare MSW students very well to graduate into professional social work with confidence.
Like social work itself, internships can take place in a diverse range of environments, including hospitals, community health centers, schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Your college or university’s faculty, student employment center, and alumni from your MSW program can provide valuable insights and connections to potential internship placements. Additionally, leveraging online platforms, job boards, and internship databases specific to social work can help students identify and apply for internship opportunities that align with their interests and career goals. It’s also possible to find an internship through networking with professionals in the field, which can take place through avenues like conferences, workshops, volunteer opportunities with nonprofits, and professional associations.
Social Worker Salaries in Houston
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a wide range in salaries for social workers across the state of Texas. In fact, there’s a wide range of salaries for social workers just in the Houston metropolitan area: as the table below demonstrates, social workers in this region can earn anywhere from $34,640 to $106,720 annually – well above the national average salary for social workers, which is $55,530 (as of May 2022).
The table below offers a glimpse into the range of salaries—from the bottom 10% of earners to the top 10% of earners—available to social workers in Houston across four categories. The final category, “Social Workers (All Other),” is broad enough that it may include such diverse positions as community organizers, homeless shelter workers, corrections social workers, grant writers, and crisis hotline counselors.
Social Work Specialty | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $36,260 | $44,450 | $49,170 | $58,000 | $62,680 |
Healthcare Social Workers | $42,770 | $49,090 | $61,620 | $76,450 | $80,760 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $34,640 | $36,600 | $46,120 | $55,980 | $69,300 |
Social Workers (All Other) | $39,250 | $46,450 | $72,450 | $97,590 | $106,720 |
Table data taken from 2022 BLS reports for the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for child, family, and school social workers, healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers, and social workers (all other) are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2024.