Quick answer: The Worcester metro employs about 1,170 child, family, and school social workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state social work licensing board.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.
See the Massachusetts licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state social work licensing board.
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.
This page lists 10 schools within 42 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 9 of them carry a score. 1 does not have enough federal outcome data to score, and appears last rather than being hidden.
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.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the Worcester area earn a median $70,900 per year, above the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Worcester metro | Massachusetts | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $70,900 | $75,570 | $59,550 |
| 10th percentile | $47,420 | $48,140 | $42,280 |
| 25th percentile | $58,590 | $61,150 | $48,270 |
| 75th percentile | $89,070 | $94,650 | $76,070 |
| 90th percentile | $98,480 | $104,060 | $95,530 |
| Employment | 1,170 | 10,900 | 392,550 |
| Location quotient | 1.33 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area.
The Worcester median of $70,900 is above the national median of $59,550, and below the Massachusetts statewide median of $75,570 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.33 means child, family, and school social workers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Social work demand follows local school districts, hospital systems, county agencies and nonprofit providers.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $77,420 | 7,070 |
| Springfield | $78,250 | 1,190 |
| Barnstable Town | $75,570 | 230 |
| Pittsfield | $76,440 | 200 |
| Amherst Town | $56,660 | 120 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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.
The median annual wage for child, family, and school social workers in the Worcester, MA metro area is $70,900, above the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Worcester, MA metro area employs about 1,170 child, family, and school social workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with your state social work licensing board.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state social work licensing board.
The Worcester metro median is $70,900 against a statewide median of $75,570 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
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/.
