Online Social Work Degree in Georgia: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Georgia employs about 7,110 child, family, and school social workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state social work licensing board. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Licensing and Credentials in Georgia

Social work licensure is tiered, and both the tier names and what each permits differ by state. The national constants are CSWE accreditation of the degree - required at both bachelor’s and master’s level - and the ASWB examinations. Clinical practice requires the master’s plus supervised post-graduate experience.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state social work licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 125 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Georgia

Athens, GA 50.1 miles away BOC Score 88.3
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 88.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 1578
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $74,144 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA 62.6 miles away BOC Score 58.5
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 50.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 29
  • Annual completions: 2347
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,306 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#3

Augusta University

Augusta, GA 108.5 miles away BOC Score 54.4
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 443
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,546 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#5

Fort Valley State University

Fort Valley, GA 56.7 miles away BOC Score 45.5
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 43.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 72
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,844 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Albany State University

Albany, GA 124.6 miles away BOC Score 43.2
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 27.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 25
  • Annual completions: 275
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,096 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#7

Dalton State College

Dalton, GA 117.5 miles away BOC Score 40.1
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 27.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 294
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,160 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Middle Georgia State University

Macon, GA 38.8 miles away BOC Score 35.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 25.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 468
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,068 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#9

Point University

West Point, GA 83.2 miles away BOC Score 31.4
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 37.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 90
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,849 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Clark Atlanta University

Atlanta, GA 41.4 miles away BOC Score 26.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 70
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,337 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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What Child, Family, and School Social Workers Earn in Georgia

Child, Family, and School Social Workers in Georgia earn a median $47,510 per year, below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Social Work Pay and Employment in Georgia at a Glance

MetricGeorgiaNationalSource
Median annual wage$47,510$59,550BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$35,690$42,280BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$41,600$48,270BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$60,250$76,070BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$83,380$95,530BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment7,110392,550BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.581.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state3.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Georgia Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Georgia median of $47,510 sits below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.58 puts Georgia below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Georgia

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Dalton$50,760100
Brunswick$50,44090
Atlanta$49,7203,990
Albany$48,460220
Savannah$48,340190
Augusta$47,080350
Columbus$47,080230
Gainesville$47,080100
Hinesville$47,08050
Macon$47,080220

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Social work demand follows local school districts, hospital systems, county agencies and nonprofit providers.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers Wages by Metro Area in Georgia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), child, family, and school social workers wages in Georgia vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell3,990$49,720$56,330$37,090$92,340
Chattanooga600$52,330$54,310$37,770$73,120
Augusta-Richmond County350$47,080$52,480$35,760$83,380
Columbus230$47,080$52,170$35,040$80,450
Albany220$48,460$51,800$34,980$72,750
Macon-Bibb County220$47,080$48,950$35,040$63,290
Athens-Clarke County200$47,010$50,390$35,690$67,740
Savannah190$48,340$54,120$37,240$75,670
Valdosta150$45,230$45,020$30,720$59,170
Rome120$47,080$48,790$36,010$62,500
Dalton100$50,760$49,910$27,450$62,420
Gainesville100$47,080$55,670$41,600$88,100
Brunswick-St. Simons90$50,440$56,430$36,270$95,820
Warner Robins70$47,080$54,450$28,050$108,680
Hinesville50$47,080$54,300$37,840$92,940

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Georgia Metro Areas With Published Data

Albany * Athens * Atlanta * Augusta * Columbus * Dalton * Gainesville * Macon * Rome * Savannah * Valdosta


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do child, family, and school social workers make in Georgia?

The median annual wage for child, family, and school social workers in Georgia is $47,510, below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $41,600 at the 25th percentile to $60,250 at the 75th.

How many child, family, and school social workers work in Georgia?

Georgia holds about 7,110 social worker jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 392,550, and BLS projects about 35,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a social worker in Georgia?

Social work licensure is tiered, and both the tier names and what each permits differ by state. The national constants are CSWE accreditation of the degree - required at both bachelor's and master's level - and the ASWB examinations. Clinical practice requires the master's plus supervised post-graduate experience. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state social work licensing board before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a BSW or MSW online while working in Georgia?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state social work licensing board.

What is the highest-paying area of Georgia for child, family, and school social workers?

Among Georgia metro areas with published data, Dalton reports the highest median at $50,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Georgia a good state for child, family, and school social workers?

On pay, the state median of $47,510 sits below the national $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.58 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Child, Family, and School Social Workers (SOC 21-1021), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.