23. Social Workers Should Make $100k

What this episode covers

In this episode, we are doing something a little different! Faith and I are reacting to the conversation that transpired on LinkedIn after I posted: “Don’t post your job for a master’s level clinician if it doesn’t pay at least $100K.” The post got a lot of traction.... essentially went viral. Thousands of reactions, hundreds of comments, and a mix of support and pushback from folks across the field. We talk through the range of responses, including the common claim that expecting six figures is “unrealistic,” and why that word keeps coming up in conversations about social work and money. We also talk real solutions: collective bargaining, salary transparency, and policy-level shifts that need to happen if this profession is going to survive and thrive. Takeaways From This Episode: The behind the scenes story of a LinkedIn post that struck a nerve What it really means when people say $100K is “unrealistic” for social workers The importance of salary transparency and why it’s not “greedy” to talk numbers What the data tells us about shortages, turnover, and retention in social work Why “that’s how it’s always been” is not a good enough reason to settle Ideas for what a new, sustainable model of social work could look like Mentioned resources: Text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter! Check out https://socialworktowealth.com/23-social-workers-should-make-100k (the affiliated blog post) for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. https://socialworktowealth.myflodesk.com/podcast (Social Work to Wealth Newsletter) — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialworktowealth (TikTok), https://instagram.com/socialworktowealth (Instagram), and https://www.youtube.com/@socialworktowealth (YouTube). Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.