Healthcare Social Workers
Community and Social Service
Counsels patients and families facing chronic, acute, or terminal illness, helping them understand treatment options, end-of-life choices, and how to manage day-to-day strain. Works with medical staff and other professionals to assess needs, then plans care, tracks progress against treatment goals, and follows through on referrals for housing, legal aid, financial help, or job placement. Advocates when a crisis hits and looks for obstacles in the home or records that are slowing recovery. Suits people who listen closely, speak clearly in hard conversations, and keep many parts of a care plan moving.
Typical education: Master’s Degree
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$67'880
Median Wage Market Position
$67'880
What you might do
- Help patients cope with chronic or terminal illness
- Work with doctors to assess medical and social needs
- Steer families toward housing, legal aid, and benefits
- Speak up for patients during medical crises
- Walk families through end-of-life choices
- Follow care plans and note whether they work
Skills that matter
- Noticing strain on patients and caregivers
- Explaining end-of-life symptoms and options
- Coordinating care after medical consults
- Referrals for housing, legal aid, and jobs
- Recording progress against care-plan goals
- Counseling patients through illness and recovery
AI & the future of this role
Bedside counseling and family decisions under stress rely on empathy, presence, and clinical judgment. Charting and referral matching could become more automated, while licensed support through illness and discharge planning tends to hold up.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details