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2-step progression from Social Worker (BSW/MSW) to Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Potential salary increase of -14% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$69,480
Social Worker (BSW/MSW)
Top Salary
$60,060
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$69,480
BSW or MSW degree + ASWB exam
Avg. Licensing Cost
$416 – $426
Avg. Timeline
8.1 years – 8.7 years
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Median Salary
$60,060
MSW + 2-3 years supervised clinical experience + ASWB Clinical exam
Avg. Licensing Cost
$442
Avg. Timeline
4.2 years – 4.5 years
The social work career ladder is a professional progression from Social Worker (BSW/MSW) to Licensed Clinical Social Worker. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Social Worker (BSW/MSW) ($69,480 median) to Licensed Clinical Social Worker ($60,060 median) represents a -14% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Social Worker (BSW/MSW): BSW or MSW degree + ASWB exam. Licensed Clinical Social Worker: MSW + 2-3 years supervised clinical experience + ASWB Clinical exam. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.