💡 Why it matters: Some families face poverty, abuse, illness or loss, and need someone to guide them to help. Social workers connect people to support and protect those who are most at risk.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Social workers in Nigeria connect people to support in hospitals, schools, courts and NGOs.
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦800k – ₦2.5M
- Mid-career
- ₦2.5M – ₦6M
- Senior
- ₦6M – ₦15M
≈ ₦208k – ₦500k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Meet individuals and families to understand their needs
- Connect people with services like health, school and shelter
- Protect children and vulnerable people from harm
- Write case notes and reports
- Work with schools, hospitals, courts and charities
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Empathy
- Listening
- Problem solving
- Staying calm
- Report writing
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Polytechnic OND or HND in Social Welfare or Social Work
- Volunteer with NGOs and take short courses in child protection
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Social worker degree apprenticeship (Level 6)
- Work as a social work assistant or support worker, then train
🇺🇸 United States
- Work as a social and human service assistant while studying
- Volunteer with community or youth programs
🇨🇦 Canada
- College diploma in social service work, then top up to a degree
- Volunteer with community agencies to build experience
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Volunteer with community or children's groups
- 2Study social work, sociology or psychology
- 3Do supervised placements in agencies or hospitals
- 4Join a charity, hospital, school or government agency
- 5Specialise in children, health or family support
⏰ A day in the life
You visit a family struggling after a parent lost their job, and help them find support with school costs. Back at the office, you write notes and call a clinic to arrange a child's check-up.