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Public Administration · Social Work Rank #180 of 338

Social Workat University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Graduates earn $40,836/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Social Work average. Base-case 10-year earnings $480K; scenarios range from $464K to $480K depending on AI disruption.

Pittsburgh, PA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
41 AVERAGE
42
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,836
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$480K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
37% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Pittsburgh

At $40,836 per year, Social Work graduates from University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

A 5.6x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 3% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Social Work career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $22,000 against $40,836/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #180 ranking among 338 Social Work programs places University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $40,836 to $46,526 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$464K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple5.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$480K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple5.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$480K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple5.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Pittsburgh's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Social Work graduates typically work

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.

1
Social and community service managers
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 18,600 openings/yr
$78,240/yr
Moderate
2
Social work teachers, postsecondary
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$76,210/yr
Moderate
3
Social workers, all other
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 7,000 openings/yr
$69,480/yr
Low
4
Healthcare social workers
+7.7% 10-yr growth · 18,400 openings/yr
$68,090/yr
Moderate
5
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 7,900 openings/yr
$64,520/yr
Moderate
6
Marriage and family therapists
+12.6% 10-yr growth · 7,700 openings/yr
$63,780/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Social Work

How University of Pittsburgh stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of North Dakota
ND · Public
60
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
11.4x
ROI
Top score
San Francisco State University
CA · Public
69
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
21.5x
ROI
University of Alaska Fairbanks
AK · Public
54
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
11.4x
ROI
Seton Hall University
NJ · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Metropolitan State University
MN · Public
62
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
13.6x
ROI
Also at University of Pittsburgh

Other top programs at University of Pittsburgh

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pittsburgh, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Social Work at University of Pittsburgh

What does a 41/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Social Work at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?

At 41/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Social Work programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.