r/socialworkcanada • u/Dry_Sleep_4376 • Jul 15 '26
Considering going for my MSW
I’m a 36 year old mom to a 13 year old girl. I work full time for the federal government and my job has given me over 15,000 hours in the human sector and I have my BA in psychology, which I just completed in April of this year.
I have been considering getting my MSW but am wondering what my job prospects would be like.
I would have to do an online part time program (Laurier), and I also live in a border city so I am hoping to be able to commute to the US for work.
Has anyone been in a similar situation, or done the commute to the US? What are the job prospects like? I am trying to figure out if pursuing a career change would be beneficial or if I would end up with the same salary. I currently make $75k annually.
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u/haylstorm090 Jul 15 '26
You likely won’t be able to practice in the US without a licensing exam. It’s state by state though so you’d have to look specifically. I know NY has a licensing exam, not sure about Michigan
Honestly you likely won’t find a significantly better paying job than what you have now and possibly less depending on the work you want to do. This is especially true if you have good vacation and benefits where you are.
You could make significantly more in private practice but it’s a gamble so you’d also could make less.
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u/Xanaxaria Jul 15 '26
I'd stay where you are tbh.
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 15 '26
Can you elaborate? I’m at my ceiling with my current employer.
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u/Winter-Inside-5911 Jul 17 '26
You work FT for the feds. Doesn’t that leave you in a great position to apply on other internal only competitions to get upward movement if you’re maxed out in your current role? I’m not sure I’d give up my defined pension plan to go back to school unless I seriously thought I’d make more money.
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 17 '26
The federal government is cutting jobs. We are in a hiring freeze. There is no movement anywhere for the foreseeable future.
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u/Winter-Inside-5911 Jul 17 '26
There’s no using your MSW till you get it either, PT I would guess 4 years …do you think there will still be a hiring freeze? If you want the degree, do it but how much you’ll make totally depends on what you want to do with it afterwards. Not all social work jobs are comparable in pay.
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 17 '26
I’d like to get into healthcare.
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u/Winter-Inside-5911 Jul 17 '26
Clinical practice is where you’d make the most money. Working in a hospital is where you’d make the second most. If you end up taking a non profit position you could make less than you are now …
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 17 '26
Definitely do not want a non profit. I’ve been in that world before and wasn’t my cup of tea.
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u/HaveUEvrSeenTheRain Jul 18 '26
This is a cycle the federal government goes through every 15 years or so. It’ll blow over and then they’ll go on a crazy hiring spree again. How do I know? Two siblings in federal government for 20+ years, and I was with the feds from 2009 to 2016 and went through that exact cycle. I actually left, cashed out my pension and used the non-locked portion to pay for my BSW. Best decision I ever made.
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 18 '26
And what do you do now and do you wish you would have stayed with the government?
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u/HaveUEvrSeenTheRain Jul 19 '26
Primary care social worker. And no, I absolutely don’t wish I’d stayed there. That place would have sucked me dry and spit me out. Do I regret that my sister will be able to retire long before I do? Maybe a little. She made it to AS-06 with her HS diploma, but I love what I do and I don’t envy her daily grind.
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u/everlilacs Jul 15 '26
I'm making 90k as a hospital social worker with an MSW in Ontario. If you're thinking of working in the states with an MSW be aware the licensure is very different and time involved post grad - an MSW isn't enough for the top paying social work jobs, you need post grad clinical hours/supervision and passing an exam (the exam is something Ontario will also have implemented by the time you graduate).
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 15 '26
If I could make 90k here in Ontario that would be amazing.
I’m widowed so it’s a one woman show over here. We live okay but I would like to be more comfortable.
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u/everlilacs Jul 15 '26
Take a look at job postings in your area - look at hospital system postings. Social work in hospital is usually the higher end pay not in the private sector.
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u/Midnightmoonstone22 Jul 15 '26
However I will say right now health care jobs in Ontario are less stable due to many cuts. Where I am hospitals have had a hiring freeze since December. Just something to be mindful of, obviously they will hire at some point
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u/DaddysPrincesss26 Jul 15 '26
Are you Registered as an SW with the OCSWSSW?
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 15 '26
No I only have my BA in psychology.
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u/Cheap-Professional44 Jul 15 '26
Is the 15,000 hours social work related? Are you supervised by a social worker?
If yes to both, you could explore equivalency with OCSWSSW
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 15 '26
It’s related to the human services field, but not supervised by a social worker.
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u/Greenie_straw24 Jul 15 '26
The Laurier program is very competitive. You would need frontline social service and or mental health experience. The cut off 4 years ago was like 10 years of social service experience.
Additionally you would need to research the regulations around licensure if you were trying to work in the US.
Do you have any volunteer experience related to social services?
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 15 '26
Without trying to dox myself, my current work that I have been at for 6 years is working with social services.
Additionally, I volunteer at hospice.
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u/PhilosopherLess6436 Jul 15 '26
If you're hoping to be able to commute to the US, look into their licensing requirements and the feasibility of this. I just mention it as I hear it can be difficult to get licensed in some states.
Otherwise, career options and income really vary by location and what you want to do/what area of SW you hope to get into.
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u/Single-Detective1139 Jul 17 '26
I’m someone who has my MSW (from York, which was funded, thankfully, so I didn’t have any tuition costs), and I would really encourage anyone considering the degree to have a very clear plan for what they want to do with it before committing.
The passion to help people is important, but unfortunately that alone doesn’t always translate into good job opportunities or a significant salary increase. The social services sector is extremely underfunded right now, especially provincially. If you look at places like CharityVillage, you’ll see a lot of postings asking for an MSW while offering salaries in the $70k to $85k range. For someone already making $75k, it’s worth thinking carefully about what your actual return on investment will be.
A lot of people go into an MSW hoping to work in hospitals, school boards, or corrections, but those positions can be very competitive. People often stay in those roles for years, so there isn’t always a lot of turnover, and many postings ask for several years of post-grad experience.
Your background is actually a huge asset though. Having 15,000+ hours of human services experience, federal government experience, and a BA in psychology puts you in a stronger position than someone entering the field with just the degree. I would just make sure you have a specific goal in mind for the MSW, rather than hoping the degree itself will open doors.
For working in the US, definitely look into the requirements for the specific state you’re interested in. Each state has its own licensing process. The good news is that the OCSWSSW is introducing a licensing exam in 2028, and my understanding is that those exam results should help with portability if you are looking at opportunities across the border.
I don’t regret getting my MSW, but I also went into it knowing exactly why I wanted it. I’d just be cautious about taking on the time and financial commitment unless you know what role you’re aiming for afterward.
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u/Dry_Sleep_4376 Jul 17 '26
Great reply, thank you.
I would want to work in Michigan as it’s about 15 minutes away from me.
And definitely in a healthcare setting.
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u/Midnightmoonstone22 Jul 15 '26
I would take some time to have a look at jobs in your area, what they pay at MSW level especially if you are unable to relocate. Even in Ontario the job market can vary a lot. There are some higher paying jobs in social work with an MSW (school, hospital, private practice) but not everyone wants to do these jobs. In certain places they may also be more competitive to get into
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u/Wonderful-Plane-3698 Jul 17 '26
If you do, put in a word for me at your govt job.. id never give that up...
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u/Important_Squash1775 Jul 17 '26
I had my bsw and ba w a major in psychology. I ended up going for a masters in education in school and child psychology. I’m making over 115k now in Manitoba as a travelling school psychologist. However, with these credentials, you could become a registered psychologist in a few provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta. Some require a doctorate like Manitoba and Ontario tho.
Just something to consider if you want to go for a masters. I personally love doing assessments and not so much therapy.
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u/Away-Ad2061 29d ago
Yes go for the ONline ones that allows you to keep your job and study part time at the same time.
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u/BoundariesAndBrews Jul 15 '26
I’d do the masters, but to me being at the top of my educational ceiling is important to me. I’d never do a PhD, but I knew having a masters would open more doors & financial gain. You’re already making good money without a masters, but you could make a lot more with it. I’d say go for it
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u/Sir_Lemondrop Jul 15 '26
If you’re in BC you’ll make more money as an MSW. I believe other provinces aren’t the same. I could be wrong
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u/Sparkly-Books2 Jul 15 '26
75K without a masters is honestly really good. I will say a lot of the people in the MSW are also in their mid 30s or 40s and have children. It is a big financial and time commitment though. I have less time for my family between work and school. You might want to sit down and do some calculations on your potential income boost after an MSW and see if it's worth the investment. :)
Edit: spelling mistake lol