2

Entry Level Social Worker Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

This is an entry level MSW role. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: * Patient Assessment / Care ... The Social Worker will interview the patient to identify root causes or concerns for the discharge ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Entry Level Social Worker information

See Texas salary details

$32.1K

$71.1K

$109K

How much do entry level social worker jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level social worker in Texas is $71,053.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,000.00 and $85,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level social worker?

Entry level social workers are professionals who have recently entered the field of social work, often holding a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) or a related field. They typically assist clients in managing challenges related to mental health, family, housing, or employment under the supervision of experienced social workers. Their responsibilities often include assessing client needs, connecting clients to resources, and providing support or advocacy. Entry level social workers may work in settings such as schools, hospitals, community organizations, or government agencies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level social worker, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Social Worker, you generally need a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field, along with foundational knowledge of case management and social services. Familiarity with client management databases, documentation systems, and possibly state licensure or certification is typically required. Exceptional interpersonal communication, empathy, and organizational skills help you build trust and effectively advocate for clients. These skills and qualifications are crucial for providing effective support, managing caseloads, and navigating complex social service environments.

What are some typical challenges entry level social workers face when starting out, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level social workers often encounter challenges such as managing large caseloads, dealing with emotionally charged situations, and navigating complex systems like healthcare or social services. Building strong time management and self-care strategies is essential for preventing burnout. New social workers should seek mentorship, participate in regular supervision, and take advantage of training opportunities to develop their skills and resilience. Open communication with colleagues and supervisors also helps build a supportive network for problem-solving and professional growth.

What is the difference between Entry Level Social Worker vs Case Manager?

AspectEntry Level Social WorkerCase Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in social work or related fieldBachelor's degree often preferred; social work background beneficial
Work EnvironmentHospitals, schools, community agenciesHealthcare facilities, social service agencies, community programs
Employer & Industry UsagePublic and private social service organizationsHealthcare providers, insurance companies, social service agencies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Entry Level Social Workers and Case Managers often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments, focusing on supporting clients and coordinating services. While social workers may handle more complex cases and advocacy, case managers primarily coordinate care and resources. Both roles are essential in social services, with overlapping skills and settings, making them common points of comparison for job seekers.

What are the most commonly searched types of Social Worker jobs in Texas?

The most popular types of Social Worker jobs in Texas are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Social Worker jobs in Texas?

For Entry Level Social Worker jobs in Texas, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Social Worker jobs in Texas look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Social Worker jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Entry Level Social Worker jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Entry Level Social Worker job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Social Worker job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,053 per year, or $34.2 per hour.

Social Worker - EDRP Authorized

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Abilene, TX โ€ข On-site

$69K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Qualifications:Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written or spoken English.
  • Education: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
  • Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met for each grade level.
GS-09: None beyond the basic requirements.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
(b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.
Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certification. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience.
GS-11: Experience and Licensure:
Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non- VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level, OR, in addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.
(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.
(d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
(e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.
Preferred Experience:
  • Ability to work at the independent license level in Social Work to provide clinical services and interventions.
  • Ability to engage and perform at the basic level of direct case management and crisis intervention.
  • Ability to complete Psychosocial assessment or Biopsychosocial assessment, Treatment Plan, and/or Plan of Action Development.
  • Ability to Engage, Advocate, Collaborate, Practice, and Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams as well as other services and disciplines within the VHA or in the Community and assist with discharges of Veterans from community inpatient facilities to close the gap of services for Veterans.
  • Ability to discuss and complete Advance Directives and engage in further discussions with Veteran and families around Patient Care Priorities Advanced Care Planning, End of Life Discussions, etc.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: A pre-placement examination will be required to determine if you are able to safely operate a government vehicle without harm to yourself or others. The following requirements must be met:
  • distant vision 20/40 in one eye with or without correction,
  • field of vision 70 degrees,
  • ability to distinguish red, green and amber,
  • whispered voice at five feet, or average hearing loss of not greater than 40 dbs. at 500, 1000 and 2,000 Hz
Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts are not required, however, failure to provide transcript may result in non-referral of your application if your education cannot be verified.
Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Must have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
If your school was accredited by CSWE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the CSWE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Employment Type: OTHER