Social Workat Salem State University
Graduates earn $45,450/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Social Work average. Base-case 10-year earnings $530K; scenarios range from $505K to $530K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Salem State University
At $45,450 per year, Social Work graduates from Salem State University earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Work programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Social Work's typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $24,991 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,450 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #25 of 338 programs, Salem State University's Social Work program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $53,211 are relatively flat compared to the $45,450 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Salem State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Social Work
How Salem State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Salem State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Salem State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Social Work offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Social Work at Salem State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Salem State University?
A score of 55/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.