How to Become a Social Work Administrator: Make a Difference at the Macro Level

Some people called to social work are dismayed by the prospect of fighting day in and day out to help just a handful of people. That’s okay, because clinical social work isn’t for everyone. Working directly with struggling individuals and families is hard and, frankly, doesn’t pay particularly well.

There is, however, another side of social work that exists at the macro—or big-picture—level, and that’s where you’ll find social work administrators. They are some of the higher-paid professionals in the social work sphere, and even though they seldom deal directly with people in need, they have the unique ability to help lots of them.

Social work administrators literally make clinical social work possible. Without these behind-the-scenes social workers—yes, they’re still social workers—there wouldn’t be anyone identifying needs among populations, designing and redesigning social work programs, writing grants and making budgets go further, or advocating for those in need. This is the kind of career that ticks a lot of boxes for big-hearted people who also have big professional goals.

In this guide to how to become a social work administrator, we’ll cover:

• What is macro-level social work?
• What does a social work administrator do?
• Skills needed to become a social work administrator
• Education needed to become a social work administrator
• Certifications for social work administrators
• The average social work administrator salary
• Should I become a social work administrator?

What is macro-level social work?

There are different levels of social work. Micro- and mezzo-level social work are concerned with individuals and small groups. Macro-level social work is focused on entire populations and the systems that govern the lives of those populations.

Macro-level social workers—a group that includes social work administrators—work with systems to drive positive change to make the lives of many people better. Think of it as the difference between connecting someone with financial assistance or job assistance (micro social work) and designing and advocating for policies that will improve the economic status of a specific group or even an entire city (macro social work).

Macro-level social workers can usually be found in leadership positions in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or corporations. They spend their time:

• Managing clinicians and social work assistants
• Identifying populations in need
• Interfacing with legislators, city officials, community groups, or large institutions
• Designing programs for underserved populations
• Lobbying for the expansion or implementation of policies that will help people lead better lives

What does a social work administrator do?

When you become a social work administrator, you’ll be responsible for steering the direction of your organization and representing the needs of the populations you serve in broader policy discussions. That sounds relatively simple, but the reality is far more complicated. That’s because social work administrators work in a wide variety of settings. Where you work will play a hand in determining what you do every day. A social work administrator at a human rights group has very different responsibilities than one working at a think tank.

In this role, you might work at a:

• University
• Local, state, or federal welfare agency
• Health center
• Child and family services organization
• Mental health facility
• Hospital
• Employee assistance program
• Probation department
• Home healthcare agency
• Public health organization
• Law firm

In all of those venues and others where you find social work administrators, these professionals tend to take a forward-looking approach to helping people. As Felice D. Perlmutter, MSW, PhD, puts it in an interview with Social Work Today, the “clinically oriented practitioner is generally more focused on the current circumstance, the here-and-now, and is neutral with clients. By contrast, the administrator is more future-oriented, more proactive, a decision-maker, concerned about the total system as opposed to the particular client.”

To that end, social work administrators:

• Work on budgets
• Assess existing social programs
• Identify areas where support is lacking
• Design policies that will make it easier to help people in the future

Of course, social work administrators don’t work in a vacuum. They work on and lead interdisciplinary teams, collaborating closely with clinical social workers, program managers, doctors, lawyers, caseworkers, community members, and in some cases, legislators and policymakers.

Skills needed to become a social work administrator

Having a big heart isn’t all you need to become a social work administrator. The skills that will make you an effective social work manager or administrator overlap to some degree with the skills clinicians need (like empathy and active listening). Still, some unique skills are must-haves for social workers in administrative roles. For instance, social work administrators have to be able to:

• Determine how a system should work in ideal conditions and how outcomes change when conditions are less-than-optimal
• Identify and quantify indicators of program performance to find ways to improve performance
• Negotiate and persuade effectively
• Think analytically
• Work comfortably within the business world (since they may be responsible for overseeing finances and resources)
• Solve problems and make smart decisions

One more skill you’ll need when you become a social work administrator is the ability to compartmentalize. In a clinical role, you try to move heaven and earth to get clients what they need. As an administrator, there will be times when you will have to make tough calls that prioritize the financial stability of a program over helping the most people. Those calls can be heartbreaking. You can’t let that heartbreak consume you.

Education needed to become a social work administrator

Earn a bachelor’s degree

To become a social work administrator, you’ll need at least a Master of Social Work (MSW). To qualify for acceptance into an MSW program, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Here’s the good news: most MSW programs do not require applicants to have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Many students enter MSW programs with undergraduate degrees in psychology or sociology, and even with degrees in business or management.

That said, if you want to go all-in on social work, the following schools host affordable BSW programs:

• Boise State University
• CUNY Hunter College
• Rutgers University – Camden
• Rutgers University – New Brunswick
• San Diego State University
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Central Florida

You can also earn your BSW online. Some of these programs require multiple on-campus sessions, so do your research before enrolling. Some, like the The University of Tennessee – Knoxville, are only open to in-state students.

The following schools offer an online BSW:

• Eastern Kentucky University
• Millersville University of Pennsylvania
• University of Cincinnati – Main Campus
• University of Louisville
• University of Nebraska at Kearney
• University of Utah
• Western New Mexico University

The curriculum in most BSW programs won’t do much to prepare you for a career as a social work administrator, though it will give you a firm footing in social work as a discipline. Coursework in these programs covers such topics as:

• Human Behavior: Studies the psychological and social factors influencing human behavior, including development, personality, and interactions within various environments.
• Sociology: Examines the structure, development, and functioning of human society, focusing on social institutions, relationships, and cultural norms.
• Social Welfare: Explores the history, policies, and programs designed to support and improve the well-being of individuals and communities, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
• Social Justice: Focuses on the principles of equity, fairness, and human rights, examining issues such as discrimination, poverty, and access to resources.
• Clinical Best Practices: Teaches evidence-based methods and interventions for providing effective and ethical clinical social work services to individuals and families.
• Group Social Work Methods: Studies techniques and theories for facilitating and managing group therapy sessions, promoting group dynamics, and addressing collective social issues.

BSW students have opportunities (and may be required) to do fieldwork, often in settings related to their career aspirations. If you decide not to earn a BSW, you can make yourself a more attractive applicant when applying to Master of Social Work programs by volunteering at a nonprofit or social services organization.

Earn a master’s degree

All accredited MSW programs can prepare you for a career in social work, but a lot of programs focus primarily on clinical social work. It’s a good idea to look for Master of Social Work programs with a specialized macro focus. Many universities offer MSW tracks specific to social work management and administration, such as:

• Community and Social Systems: Focuses on understanding and addressing the needs of communities and the social systems within them, including developing programs and interventions to support community well-being.
• Social Work Planning: Emphasizes the design and implementation of social programs and services, including needs assessment, resource allocation, and strategic planning.
• Policy, Planning, and Administration: Combines policy analysis, program planning, and administrative skills to prepare students for leadership roles in social service organizations and government agencies.
• Policy, Administration, and Community Practice: Integrates policy development, administrative strategies, and community engagement to address social issues and promote systemic change.
• Planning and Management: Focuses on the skills needed to plan, develop, and manage social services and programs, including project management, evaluation, and organizational leadership.
• Administration and Policy Practice: Prepares students for roles in the administration of social service organizations and policy development, emphasizing leadership, strategic planning, and policy advocacy.
• Community-Centered Integrative Practice: Combines community engagement and holistic approaches to social work, emphasizing collaboration, cultural competence, and integrated service delivery.
• Administration and Community Development: Focuses on the skills needed to lead and develop community-based organizations and initiatives, including program development, resource management, and community organizing.
• Macro Social Work Practice: Emphasizes large-scale social work practice, including policy advocacy, community organizing, and systems change to address social issues at a broader societal level.

There are strong macro-level social work master’s degree programs at:

• Arizona State University – Downtown Phoenix
• Boston College
• San Diego State University
• University of California – Berkeley
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• University of Washington – Seattle
• Western Michigan University

In an MSW program with a macro concentration, you will study advanced social work concepts along with topics like:

• Systems Thinking: Understanding and analyzing the complex interrelationships within social systems to identify patterns and leverage points for effective intervention and change.
• Community-Needs Assessment: Methods for evaluating the needs of a community, gathering data to inform the development of targeted social programs and services.
• Community Development: Strategies for empowering communities, fostering social change, and improving quality of life through sustainable development initiatives.
• Power Analysis: Examining the distribution and dynamics of power within communities and organizations to understand influences and address inequalities.
• Lobbying: Techniques and strategies for advocating for policy changes and influencing legislative processes to benefit communities and social causes.
• Proposal Writing: Skills for drafting effective grant proposals and funding requests to support social work projects and initiatives.
• Strategic Planning: Approaches for setting long-term goals, developing actionable plans, and aligning resources to achieve organizational objectives.
• Financial Management: Principles of budgeting, financial reporting, and resource allocation within social service organizations to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
• Human Resource Management: Managing staff and volunteers in social service organizations, including recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and conflict resolution.
• Government Operations: Understanding the structure and functioning of government agencies and their role in the delivery of social services and implementation of policies.
• Nonprofit Management: Administration and leadership of nonprofit organizations, focusing on governance, fundraising, program management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Economics: Study of economic principles and their impact on social policies, poverty, resource distribution, and the provision of social services.
• Urban Planning: Designing and managing urban spaces to improve living conditions, promote social equity, and support community development.
• Leadership: Developing skills to lead and inspire teams, manage organizations, and drive social change through effective and ethical leadership practices.

On-campus master’s degree programs in social work typically take two years to complete, but you can find some accelerated MSW programs along with fast-track advanced standing MSW programs. The latter are open only to students who have graduated from accredited BSW programs, whose undergraduate degrees allow them to skip portions of the MSW curriculum they have previously covered.

You may be able to get a job in social work administration with an MSW, but you may also encounter openings that require candidates to have a doctoral degree (either a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) degree or a PhD in social work). If you want to pursue a doctorate and think you might want to go back to clinical social work in the future, a DSW is the better choice. If you plan to stay in social work administration for the entirety of your career, you can choose either program. In both, you’ll study topics like advanced policy analysis, administration, research, and program development.

Licenses and certifications for social work administrators

Every state requires clinical social workers to have an MSW, but the rules vary from state to state for non-clinical social workers. In some states, a social work administrator has to have the same licenses and certifications as a clinical social worker. Other states have separate licensing requirements and licenses for all non-clinical social workers. Non-clinical social workers with master’s degrees generally need to pass the generalist exam given by the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) to get the Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Generalist (LMSW-AG) credential. They may also need to complete an additional period of supervised work before becoming eligible for full licensing.

To find out what licenses and certifications macro-level social workers are required to have in your state, contact the state regulatory board. You should also look into voluntary certifications related to social work management. The Network for Social Management is a professional organization that offers certification programs designed to assess the competencies of social workers at the macro level.

The average social work administrator salary

The stereotype of the overworked and underpaid social worker is all too real in many clinical disciplines, but there’s money to be made in social work administration. When you become a social work administrator, you’ll be compensated much more generously than others in this field. According to Salary.com, the average social work administrator salary falls somewhere between $80,713 and $102,357.

How much you will actually make in this role depends on what state you work in, how much experience you have, and what type of setting you work in. Chances are you will be paid more if you work in a residential mental health facility or private addiction treatment center in Los Angeles than you would in government-run family services organization in Edgewater, Florida.

Should I become a social work administrator?

That depends on what you love about social work. Becoming a social work administrator isn’t a one-way ticket to social work success. You’ll have a lot more responsibility in an administrative role, and because there will be so much riding on your choices, the work can be more stressful than lower-paid clinical practice. Your decisions will affect not only the clinicians and social service providers in your organization, but also the people they serve.

Also, the unfortunate reality is that you may struggle to find work. More organizations and agencies that would once have had a social worker at the helm are choosing MBAs and lawyers to steer the ship.

So, if you’re in this field because you love watching people thrive, you might want to stick with micro-level social work, where you can see the impact you’re having relatively quickly. However, if you want to shape what social work looks like over the long-term and you’re willing to wait months or even years to see the results of your efforts, social work administrator might be the perfect job for you.

(Updated on July 15, 2024)

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