Social workers are one of many unsung heroes in the healthcare industry. They are also one of the most in-demand jobs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for social worker jobs is expected to increase by 9% from 2021 to 2031, which is higher than the national average. That means there will be plenty of travel social work jobs for workers to choose from in locations all over the U.S.
Social workers help vulnerable people and communities work through challenges while handling case management and serving as their advocates for social and economic justice.
They often work with:
Kids and adolescents
Individuals with disabilities
People experiencing poverty or homelessness
Medical patients
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community
People with mental health concerns
Refugees and immigrants
Victims of violence or trauma
People in the criminal justice system
Travel social workers work with the same groups and have the opportunity to take assignments in other states that can last anywhere from eight weeks to twenty-six. They can work in places like hospitals, healthcare agencies, and clinics in locations across the United States, helping people find stability in their lives.
There are many pros and cons of being a travel social worker because, like most healthcare jobs, you're serving others who may or may not be interested in being helped.
When they have a heavier workload, social workers have to work long hours and the same applies to travel social workers. You may also experience compassion fatigue, also known as burnout or other mental health challenges from working on certain cases.
You may also have to work with challenging people who are going through a tough time in their lives. The key to overcoming this is not to take anything personally and to remind yourself why you chose this position in the first place — to help people.
One of the biggest pros of this position is that most of the time, you’ll work a more typical, full-time week from the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, so you can still strike a work-life balance working in a hospital and still have time to make friends and explore the city you're living in.
Here are some more pros of being a travel social worker:
You choose where you live and work
You can make great pay as a travel social worker
You can specialize in specific populations of people
You’ll make a difference in people’s lives
With all travel healthcare and social work travel jobs, you are in control of where you go and how long you’ll stay! If you’ve always wanted to live in New York for thirteen weeks or explore Alaska for twenty weeks, you can do that as a travel social worker! The choice is yours.
You can make good pay as a travel social worker
The average gross pay for travel social worker jobs is $2,092/week as of June 2023, according to data from Fusion Marketplace. This translates to over $115,000/year, making this a lucrative travel career. Traveling is a great opportunity for current social workers to increase their pay while still doing what they love.
You can specialize in specific populations of people
Understanding and even feeling passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion is so important for social workers because of the population you’re working with. This is a benefit for people who want a job position where they can help those who are underserved.
For example, if you speak a second language, you can look for job assignments in places where that language is prominent. Or if you understand a certain culture because that's part of your heritage, you can choose to go there. And if you have no preference and want to explore cities you've always wanted to visit — that's okay too!
You'll make a world of difference in people's lives
One of the biggest benefits of a traveling social worker position is being able to help others in need and make a difference in people’s lives, all over the U.S., not just at home. You may be a person’s only advocate and it can feel really rewarding to help them get to a better place, both physically and mentally.
There are many social work specialties but one of the most popular is a medical social worker. Medical social workers act as advocates for clients, helping them navigate the healthcare system, educating them about their options, and providing referrals for financial assistance, discharge, and aftercare.
They may also mediate disputes between families, physicians, and other stakeholders to ensure clients receive the best possible care. As members of the healthcare team, medical social workers play a critical role in promoting positive health outcomes and improving the quality of life for patients.
You may also be interested in becoming a clinical social worker. These are similar roles, but medical social workers are more likely to have backgrounds in health and medicine, both in education and on their resume.
There are two important things you need to become a travel social worker: education and licensing. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national accrediting body for all bachelor's and master's degree-level social work programs. Some entry-level positions require a Bachelor of Social Work degree (BSW) but most people go on to expand their knowledge and get their master's degree in social work (MSW).
Everyone in this role, traveling or not, needs a social work license, and certain states require an MSW to qualify for licensure. You also have the option to get an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which is a legal contract between two or more states enabling social workers to practice in each other’s jurisdiction, once practitioners demonstrate they meet the compact requirements.
For travel social workers, this means you can travel and work in multiple certain states without having to get a state license for every new assignment. This can create a more efficient processing system so you can help more people rather than spending time earning new state licenses.
Continuing your professional development and education as a healthcare worker is important because it ensures you stay up to date on the latest treatments and procedures. For healthcare workers in this field, it’s equally important because you are dealing with factors like people’s livelihoods and mental health, so you should always be aware of emerging social problems and how they affect the populations you serve.
Earning education credits enables you to continually update your knowledge and skills to provide the most effective services. It also ensures that you are practicing and honoring a code of ethics, especially when working with underserved, and often overlooked populations.
Here are some of the best continuing education resources and credits for travel social workers:
ContinuED: Pay $99/year and gain access to 250+ evidence-based CE courses in different formats, with the ability to sort by CE requirements in the state you want to travel to.
CE4less: Pay $74.99 with a 90-day money-back guarantee and unlock over 176 professional courses, including accredited courses.
NASW: When you become a member ($158-$236/year), you can receive free and discounted CEs to fill licensing or credentialing requirements.
There are also free continuing education units for social workers. Be sure to know what CEs and CEUs are available before you sign up for anything so you can get the most bang for your buck.
Success in this position requires flexibility, hard work, a commitment to doing quality work, and a thick skin. The job can change quickly, so a positive attitude and the ability to adapt to new challenges are crucial.
Uphold high standards, help and provide support, however needed, and always do your best to leave your assignment with new knowledge and experience. Your employers will appreciate it, but so will the people you're working with.
As with any travel job, you want to weigh some factors before applying for and accepting a job. There may be some things (like pay) that are more important than others (weather). Determine what's most important for you.
Here are some things to think about:
Are there job experience requirements?
What’s the weekly gross pay?
What shift will you be working?
How many hours a week will you work?
What will your job duties be?
Where will you be moving to?
What’s the cost of living in the state?
What’s the weather typically like during your assignment dates?
Is there available housing near your workplace?
How long is the assignment length?
Are you familiar with their charting system?
Have you worked or heard of the agency before?
When is the start date?
Social work professionals are needed by employers all over the country, but there tend to be more jobs in California, Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, and Pennsylvania as of June 2023. However, wherever you're looking, make sure to always look at weekly pay, benefits, and other state licensing requirements before applying.
Ready to join other traveling social workers? Great! One of the easiest ways to start looking for jobs is by creating a profile on Fusion Marketplace. There, you can find jobs based on things like location, pay, and length of assignment. There's a world of opportunities and plenty of new places to practice your skills. Happy searching!