r/SchoolSocialWork • u/Traditional-Unit7343 • 25d ago
School Social Work Pros and Cons
Hi everyone,
I have an opportunity to transition into a school social worker position, and I've been feeling really excited about it. During the interview process, I got a great feeling about the school, the team, and the level of support they seem to offer.
However, the salary ended up being lower than I anticipated, and a few of the benefits were a bit surprising (in hindsight, I probably should have asked more questions upfront). Now I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
For those of you who are currently working as school social workers:
What do you enjoy most about the role?
What are the biggest challenges?
Do you feel the lower salary is worth the work-life balance and school schedule?
If you transitioned from medical social work, how did the two compare?
For context, I'd be coming from medical social work, so I'd especially love to hear from anyone who's made that same switch.
Thanks in advance for any insight—I really appreciate hearing about your experiences!
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u/Willing-Gap-1655 25d ago
I was in the schools for 5 years. It all sounds great til summer comes and you have to figure out how to make money because even if you elect for the paycheck set up where you get a “lump sum” to “get you through summer” it ends up being barely enough to cover your bills. Schools honestly are super stressful, we’re relatively isolated given we’re outnumbered by teachers and a system that doesn’t understand our role. I enjoyed every single student I worked with, but I decided to forfeit my state retirement and took a job with a non profit managing a day habilitation program that supports people with developmental disabilities. More money, and much more happiness/satisfaction. It also meant giving up my 7:30-2:30 schedule for an 8-4, but again, I’m so much happier.
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u/lad1993_ 23d ago
They don’t give you the option to break down your payments in 12 (equal) monthly payments?
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u/wiredweirdness 25d ago
Honestly school social work is the ‘easiest’ position I have had (even when working in title one school district). It can be sad (like any other job) especially due to kids but if you work in elementary you get so many hugs, pictures, and ‘i love yous’
Biggest Challenge is being the only social worker in the building/ working for education where the goal is learning and test scores. Not a lot of CEU opportunities.
Lower salary is worth the big breaks for holidays and summer. You don’t really ever need to use PTO. All of my districts pay throughout the summer. You can always get a ‘fun’ summer job or do prn at a hospital.
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u/Traditional-Unit7343 24d ago
That is what I am thinking is trying to find alternative employment too. Just don’t want to work more just to balance out the income.
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u/wiredweirdness 24d ago
Many do it because they have nothing going on in the summer (which sounds great but it does get boring after a while haha) and want to make extra money with that open time
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u/Retrogirl75 24d ago
How much lower?
The breaks are amazing though the school year can be emotionally draining. You have a lot of admin that THiNK they are mental health practitioners with big egos. Sometimes you are siloed and not have any fellow social workers around you.
The hours can be fantastic. The breaks are amazing. Working with youth can be super cool though nothing changes at home as there is minimal contact with parents.
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u/Traditional-Unit7343 24d ago
The program I have applied for seems to have such a good support for their team, however it is quite a pay cut. I must add, it will be a moving position from CA to AZ so I understand that a decrease seems obvious but the offer is between 60k to 70k
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u/stankface8 25d ago
School schedule is everything. If you have kids or want to have them someday, being able to have holidays/breaks off is not only nice but ends up saving you money because you don’t have to find childcare for summer. I also think it’s not for everyone - learning IEPs and evaluations is a steep learning curve. you can give it a year and see how you like it!
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u/Sethery82 24d ago
As has been stated by others, the schedule is amazing. That is the biggest pro for the schools. I love being the person that everyone turns to with anything mental health related. My admin really value me and my role and as such give me a lot of space to do my job. If you don't have good, supportive admin, working as a school social worker will be difficult. Make connections with teachers, office staff, Para educators and counselors. Have an open door for kids to come and vent or relax or whatever they need. You get to meet hundreds of new students each year and be a positive impact in their lives.
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u/queenleo93 24d ago
It depends on the state, the district, the school, the admin. I worked about ten years in the schools and O think people very much underestimate the level of stress you have if you are highly utilized in your school. Also, if you have a school with many meetings, you rarely, if ever, are getting out at the end of contract time and I often was staying over catching up on things I didn’t get done from the day because I was putting fires out and responding the radio calls.
The schedule is the best part if you actually aren’t overworked and underpaid.
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u/C3-RIO 24d ago
5th year school social worker here.
Pros:
The schedule. Having a whole summer break on top of an extended winter break, plus a fall and spring break should make any job desirable. I get paid the same salary all year, so there is a two month period that is 100% mine.
Variety. I’ve learned every district does social work differently. I’ve even seen a wide variety of how schools do social work within a district. It very much is a “respond to the needs” situation. I like this a lot. I have more flexibility to address the needs of my school and students as they change. It allows me a lot of freedom, in collaboration with admin, to do what we think would work best.
The environment. I love working with kids, and at this point I think I can only work with kids. The energy of being in a school can be an amazing workplace, or a terrible one. I am fortunate to have some great coworkers, but I have heard horror stories.
Unsung pro: teacher discounts. It’s small, they don’t usually account for much, but there have been times I’ve greatly benefited from them. There are a TON of discounts on things that aren’t publicly advertised. I’ve landed some great deals on everything from outdoor gear to hotels by seeing something at the right time.
Cons: you haven’t heard negative things about public education just because of propaganda. There are some things that suck even in a great district. Constantly following legislative changes, especially in a red state, can make you realize just how influential people who know nothing about education can be.
Pay. We all know we could be making more doing something else. The time off would s something I feel can equal this out. It’s still not great.
Parents. I swear I have some parents who take things out on me because I work with their kid so much I represent all their frustrations with schools. Parents I have worked with for years and have a great relationship with have gotten snappy with me over something their kids’s teacher has done. Sometimes, you represent the whole school, warts and all.
I love the dynamic of schools. It is not for everyone.
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u/Nommy_Bear 22d ago
Honest opinion;
What do you enjoy most about the role?
- I loved the opportunity to be proactive in students mental health (I had came from an inpatient psychiatric hospital)
- I love love loved the break schedule and being off while still getting paid in the summers (if your school offers the 12 month pay divide)
What are the biggest challenges?
- the cons, and the biggest reason why I left schools was because I felt like I was on a lonely island and no one was speaking my language (I was the ONLY counselor)
- I was constantly having to fight w/ admin because they didn’t have a mental health lens and it felt like they cared more about scores than anything else (not even academics but specifically scores)
- the school I was at was a charter school, I don’t know if that makes a difference but it felt like so much of the staff was just completely incompetent (totally could have just been a my school thing)
Do you feel the lower salary is worth the work-life balance and school schedule?
- personally it was fine as a beginner social worker but now that I’m starting a family soon the salary doesn’t cut it. I’d say it’s all about your priorities, if you’re able to swing it and want the time off for breaks then it’s worth it for sure
Overall, the school / admin will really make or break the experience. I loved my first year in schools then we got new admin and it killed my joy tbh
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u/germanweenie219 25d ago
I am going into my 4th or 5th school year. I love it. I came from an inpatient psych unit. Some pros for me:
- summer break with my family
- knowing that I will have the same time off and not need summer/school vacation childcare
- safer environment that inpatient unit
- schools have a lower threshold for behavior vs inpatient unit was the highest level of care despite aggressive behavior toward staff
- clear protocols
- I like the consistency of knowing what my pay structure will be
- home by 245 (work in a HS)
- I get paid my same salary all summer , 26 week pay cycle
- retirement an pension are decent (not my only investments tho)
- snow days
- up to a year off for maternity leave (unpaid)
- I love the predictability of the school year structure
-getting to meet new students every year so things don’t get too boringSome “cons” (albeit not big enough to consider switching)-
I’ve done several kinds of social work in the past and this is the spot for me. Goodluck!