Healthcare Social Workers
SOC Code: 21-1022 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Healthcare Social Workers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $94,786 | $111,155 | $127,525 | $143,894 |
| Vallejo, CA | $66,706 | $89,752 | $112,819 | $135,866 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $79,955 | $97,968 | $116,002 | $134,014 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $63,877 | $86,382 | $108,888 | $131,394 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $69,326 | $89,856 | $110,365 | $130,894 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $65,603 | $86,486 | $107,390 | $128,274 |
| Chico, CA | $80,870 | $94,515 | $108,160 | $121,805 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,357 | $82,285 | $101,234 | $120,162 |
| Modesto, CA | $60,715 | $79,019 | $97,302 | $115,606 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,866 | $76,586 | $95,306 | $114,026 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford | 2 | $95,274 |
| Stanford Health Care | 2 | $96,522 |
| The Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority d/b/a Atrium Health | 1 | $79,560 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | $89,170 |
| 2023 | 1 | $100,277 |
| 2024 | 2 | $90,470 |
| 2025 | 1 | $92,768 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.2 | |
| Speaking | 4.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 4.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Coordination | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Psychology | 4.9 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 4.7 |
| English Language | 4.4 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 4.4 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 |
| Education and Training | 3.5 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 3.1 |
| Administrative | 3.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 70.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 14.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.1% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 3.7% |
Typical Tasks
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
- Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in clients' status.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
MEDITECH software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Teams Microsoft Word Zoom Adobe PageMaker Automated clinical information systems Calendar software Command Systems ComServe Corel WordPerfect Office Suite Database software Email software Google Meet
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