social work careers in AZ (Phoenix, Chandler: house, find a job, college)

[1phwalls]

I may be moving to AZ next year and I am curious about medical social work jobs. I have experience in an acute rehab unit in a hospital and also in a dialysis unit. Does anyone know what the wages are like and if these types of jobs are available to out of state people? I prefer to live in the Chandler area but I am open to others. Any info would be helpful. I have a masters degree in social work. Thanks.

[sablebaby]

Have you checked out careerbuilder.com? That's where I always find my jobs. I'm not too informed about social work jobs per sey, but I am a lic counselor. I know counseling jobs pay nothing! Starting pay for a counselor is $32k-35k usually. There are some exceptions of course. Good luck to you!

[Kabfon]

iphwalls,

I was looking for social work based jobs lately (as I am a social worker), and what I noticed is that there were a lot of social work jobs in the state of Arizona that are based in a medical settings. What I noticed is that most of them seem to be in palliative care and I was able to find them through different search engines that I found through google (I understand that we cannot give out links on this site). With regards to commenting on the wages, I am not in a position to do so as I am currently working in Canada and the wages are so much higher than what you would find in the states (but the cost of living can be higher). Depending as to what kind of benefits you are looking for, you should be able to find a job in your field.

Good luck to you!!!

[1phwalls]

It's always so strange to me when people say $35,000 is low because I live in Youngstown Ohio (aka murdertown ohio). Around here $35 is pretty good - but housing is also very cheap, on the better side of town you could get 2000sq ft for $70,000. Or you could move to the burbs and pay $150-200. But I have tried careerbuilder and monster but they never have salary listed, it drives me crazy. I found another great job website though at jobing.com, and it's only for AZ. Counselor huh, you're as crazy as us social workers.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by 1phwalls

It's always so strange to me when people say $35,000 is low because I live in Youngstown Ohio (aka murdertown ohio). Around here $35 is pretty good - but housing is also very cheap, on the better side of town you could get 2000sq ft for $70,000. Or you could move to the burbs and pay $150-200. But I have tried careerbuilder and monster but they never have salary listed, it drives me crazy. I found another great job website though at jobing.com, and it's only for AZ. Counselor huh, you're as crazy as us social workers.

Hahaha, yeah $35k is low for phoenix (or anywhere in my opinion) for a Master's degree and a license. But, then add in the higher cost of living here with an average house costing $250k+, yes it is low. When I look at other careers with less college making double I just shake my head in disbelief.

Yeah, nowadays careerbuilder doesn't show salaries as much. That's makes me frustrated! I'll have to check out jobing.com.

[Cary Schroeder]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Hahaha.

Information so good I thought I owed the site my perspective. I've been Licensed Masters social worker for three years in Conservitive south. Competition is so high with gov wanting to end all ways money is spent on individuals. With out a LCSW you have no chance to be a therapist in an office with out real good conections. Peoople have to work to keep a home and bosses as well in social work, so billable hours in case management without a law suit on the non profit company, for ex., becomes the only objective of the jobs. Even the state gov. made it legal for all social workers to work over time w/o pay after 80 extra hours which was a typical 3 months for me and my girlfriend to reach. I have wounderful friends and weather is great for me, but stress from being poor and always being made to worry of us being openly taunted by bosses with others performance in billable hours to keep company with its state contract, etc. was too much. I see all the time great masters social workers that didn't get a good break in the career and with in a couple of years left the career or even worse just gave up on their dream of using their masters knoweledge and just want to keep their career and gradually become degraded enough to just care about keeping their job. Things are begining to turn liberal, but I can't wait any longer I am heading to Phoenix AZ because of this web site. Thanks!

[TurboD]

FWIW... I know that many people do not like the sound of working in a corrections setting, which helps to narrow the competition. I was a corrections counselor in county jails up until 1993. I was at 39K, when I left to work in my wife's business. This was in Florida, but jails are everywhere. The counties that I worked in participated in the State retirement system. I do have an MSW.
Good luck in finding employment.