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Careers in Social Work Where You Can Work From Home

Here's a snapshot of the top careers in social work you can do from anywhere. Each example shows how MSW graduates are working in remote or hybrid settings, with salary ranges based on data. 

A Closer Look at These Roles

1. Telehealth Therapist

Telehealth therapy is a popular career in social work for people who want flexibility. In this role, your day might start with back-to-back video sessions. First up could be a college kid stressed about finals, while your next client may be a working parent squeezing in therapy while the kids are at school. After your sessions are done for the day, you'll likely spend time catching up on notes and tweaking treatment plans. 

A lot of new grads get their start as associate clinicians in local practices that offer telehealth, while others jump onto platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace to build experience and confidence before striking out on their own.

A master's degree in social work gets you qualified for licensure, which you need to practice therapy in most states. In this role, you can expect to earn anywhere from $61,000 to $105,000, with room to grow as you build your client base.

2. Behavioral Health Case Manager

If you like helping people stay on track with their treatment but don't want to be in therapy sessions all day, then case management might be your sweet spot. As a behavioral health case manager, you'll check in with clients regularly to ensure they're showing up to appointments and staying connected to resources they need.

Case management is a career in social work that requires problem-solving, organization, and mentorship skills. A typical day may involve coordinating follow-up care for someone who just got discharged from the hospital, followed by helping a client figure out their insurance paperwork. 

Behavioral health case managers earn between $47,000 and $66,000, but this number can increase when working in specialized programs or bigger healthcare systems. A master's degree in social work prepares you for this role because it helps you understand mental health conditions and the systems designed to support people through them.

3. Mental Health Program Manager

Think about the mental health apps and online therapy platforms people now rely on like SimplePractice, Headway, and Alma. Behind the scenes, these companies hire mental health program managers to make sure things run smoothly and their counselors are supported.

Instead of facilitating one-on-one sessions, program managers lead a team of social workers or therapists and shape how care gets delivered online. Daily tasks in this role may include looking at data to see if a program is working or hopping on Zoom with clinicians to brainstorm ways to better support clients.

Because this career in social work requires leadership responsibilities, salaries are often higher and fall between $90,000 and $140,000. 

4. Policy Analyst

Careers in social work aren’t always about direct client service. Policy analysts in social services work to improve programs like child welfare, healthcare, and housing, and much of their work can be done from home. The biggest employer of policy analysts is the government, where agencies rely on them to shape and evaluate programs. 

As a policy analyst, your work will involve research and strategy. Analyzing legislation and meeting with advocacy groups often happens over Zoom or shared digital platforms, and hybrid schedules are common, with only occasional travel for hearings or stakeholder meetings.

Policy roles pay anywhere from $78,000 for entry-level analysts to well into six figures for senior advisors. What really sets MSW grads apart in this space is the ability to connect abstract laws to the real impact they have on families and communities.

5. Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare consultants focusing on social impact can earn anywhere from $126,000 to $216,000, which is impressive for a social services-related role. What makes this career stand out is the freedom it provides: most of the work including data review, planning sessions, and presentations can be done remotely, with in-person visits reserved for big projects.

The pay is competitive, but what also draws many MSW graduates to this path is the chance to shape healthcare systems on a broad scale. Instead of sitting in sessions with clients, consultants analyze programs and recommend changes that improve equity and outcomes.

6. Grant Writer

Grant writers play a critical role in helping nonprofits, schools, and social service organizations secure funding. In this role, you’ll spend much of your time researching grant opportunities, writing proposals, and aligning requests with funder priorities. Collaboration often happens over email or video meetings, and deadlines structure your workweek more than office hours do.

Grant writing is a natural fit for MSW graduates because the degree gives you deep knowledge of community needs and program design. Salaries for grant writers typically range from $47,000 to $75,000.

7. Online Adjunct Social Work Instructor

Teaching is another way MSW graduates can share their expertise while working remotely. Online adjunct instructors lead courses for bachelor’s or master’s programs in social work, often teaching part-time while continuing in professional practice. Classes are delivered through video lectures and discussion boards, which makes the role well-suited for remote work.

Opportunities are available at community colleges, universities, and online MSW degree programs. Salaries can vary widely depending on the school and course load, but many adjunct instructors earn between $70,000 and $128,000 a year.

An MSW qualifies you to teach social work courses and allows you to bring real-world practice into the classroom.

8. Chat-Based Crisis Counselor

Crisis counselors who work through text and chat platforms provide immediate support to people in distress from wherever they are. This role often involves helping individuals through moments of anxiety, depression, or crisis situations, and guiding them toward safety plans or connecting them with longer-term resources.

Many nonprofits and digital platforms, like and , offer fully remote positions for these counselors. Pay varies depending on the organization and whether the role is full-time or part-time, but typical salaries range from $54,000 to $82,000 a year.

An MSW equips you with the crisis intervention skills and trauma-informed approaches that are essential for this work. It’s a role where you can make an immediate impact by providing real-time support to people who may not have anywhere else to turn.

What It Takes to Earn a Master’s in Social Work

Most MSW programs run about two years full time, though you can stretch the timeline with part-time study or choose an accelerated option if you want to move quickly.

The curriculum includes topics like human behavior, social justice, and research methods, while also building counseling and policy skills. A is always part of the program and gives you experience working directly in community settings.

Many universities now offer a master’s degree in social work online, which allows you to take classes remotely and complete placements locally. 

How to Choose an MSW Program that Prepares You for Remote Work

A strong MSW program will teach you the core practice skills every social worker needs, but it should also prepare you for the reality of today’s digital-first workplaces.

When you’re comparing schools, pay attention to things like:

• Flexibility – Online or hybrid courses, asynchronous class options, and support for arranging field placements near where you live.
• Macro or policy concentrations – Tracks in leadership or social innovation can lead to nontraditional careers like consulting or program design.
• Tech-forward learning – Programs that use interactive platforms and integrate telehealth or remote collaboration tools make it easier to transition into jobs where much of the work is online.

Ask schools directly whether their graduates are prepared for roles like remote therapy or online program management. The right MSW program can make it easier to step into the kind of career that matches your lifestyle after graduation.

Gaining Purpose and Work-Life Balance with an MSW

A master’s degree in social work has always been about impact. What’s changing is where and how that impact happens. MSW graduates can now find fulfilling careers in social work that don’t require being in an office or on the ground every day. Remote and hybrid options let you build a career that fits your lifestyle while staying true to the values that brought you to the field.

The classic social work occupations, like school social work and child welfare, are still essential, but you don’t have to choose between traditional paths and more modern options. With the right program and direction, you can create a career that feels purposeful without sacrificing your life outside of work.

Frequently Asked Questions