Social workers are notoriously overworked and underpaid. Out of all of the “helping professions” (including teaching and nursing), social work is paid the least. This is absolutely absurd to me as social workers do some of the most important work in the world. They work one on one or sometimes in administrative positions with the most disadvantaged populations, which is emotionally draining and time consuming, with irregular hours and frequent overtime. They also have to obtain at least a master’s degree, which neither teachers nor nurses have to do, but hardly get paid enough to pay for this schooling. How to actually pay social workers more is a tricky problem, since their clients are often of low-income, so if they work for a non-profit there isn’t much room to charge the clients more, and relying on donations is risky. It might be an easier fix for government social workers, as the government could allocate more of its budget to these essential workers. Regardless, paying social workers the wage they deserve should be a priority.

**A social worker's salary is inadequate in contrast to their integral part of society.** In a perfect world, a job’s wages would reflect these contributing, key factors: → The [importance](https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/online-master-of-social-work/careers/social-worker-jobs/) of a particular career’s work. → The amount of schooling necessary to gain the required qualifications necessary for a particular job. → How competitive is that field? Are others in that same line of work a dime a dozen or a rare commodity? → The level of difficulty corresponding with the required skill sets that are a career's requisite. [Salaries](http://www.socialworkblog.org/pressroom/2019/03/what-can-be-done-to-raise-social-work-salaries-listen-to-our-podcast-series-and-give-us-your-comments/) of the most important professions: → [Social Worker](https://www.studentloanplanner.com/social-worker-salary-worth-student-debt/) = $31,300/ year upon obtaining a B.S. → [Registered Nurse](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) = $75,330/ year upon obtaining a BSN → [Police Officer](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm) = $68,000/ year upon obtaining a Bachelor's Degree → [Teacher](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm) = $62,870/ year upon obtaining a Bachelor's Degree _*I based the incomes listed above on the national averages, as the pay scale fluctuates state by state._ Social worker's compensation should be akin to those of equally important vocations.