Social Work to Wealth Podcast

Welcome to the Salary Series! This is a mini-series where we’re getting into the real numbers behind what social workers make. In this episode, I’m talking with Erika Morris, MSW, a forensic social worker who went from making $44/hr straight out of grad school to making up to $95/hr as a contractor in Washington state. Erika breaks down what forensic social work actually is and how working on public defense teams can be both meaningful and financially sustainable. If you’ve ever wondered about what it’s like to work on a defense team or how to position yourself for work in legal and court-adjacent spaces, this is your episode.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• What forensic social work really looks like in practice
• How Erika went from intern to earning $55/hr in one year
• How contract work offers flexibility and strong pay, especially for working parents
• The differences in public defense systems between states
• Why holistic defense is growing and how social workers fit into this model
• How to approach public defense agencies even if you don’t see job openings
• Common job titles to look for in forensic and legal-focused social work

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

This week, we are excited to welcome Jerrel Peterson, MSW, to the podcast! He’s the Head of Global Content Policy at Spotify, and formerly held a trust & safety role at Twitter. Jerrel walks us through his journey from direct practice in mental health to landing a job in tech. We dive into what “trust and safety” means in tech, how his team develops interventions for content-related harm, and how his social work training helps him create safer online spaces. Jerrel also shares practical advice on how social workers can break into the tech space and translate their skills.

👀 If you want more tech SW info, check out this pre-recorded panel!

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why trust & safety work is a perfect fit for social workers
• Why social work skills (crisis management, systems thinking, advocacy) are in demand in tech
• The power of policy as intervention in online platforms
• Negotiation tips: base salary, RSUs, sign-on bonuses, and benefits
• Advice for social workers exploring tech careers: networking, LinkedIn outreach, and resume rewrites
• Why being bold matters in corporate spaces

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we’re joined by Aja Evans, financial therapist and licensed mental health counselor, to talk all things feelings and finances. We get into what financial therapy actually is, why our money habits are deeply emotional, and how unprocessed shame and avoidance are holding so many of us (especially those of us in helping professions) back from financial clarity and peace. Aja gives us so much permission to pause, reflect, and rewrite our money story without shame.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why financial therapy is more than just numbers... It’s about emotions, patterns, and past experiences
• The emotional toll of money avoidance (and how to gently start facing it)
• Why so many of us feel left out of the financial conversation and how to reclaim our place in it
• A peek inside what financial therapy can actually look like
• The power of financial confidence and how it can change your entire life
• A reminder: your financial journey takes time. You are not behind.

Mentioned resources:

• Buy Feel Good Finance Here
• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, I’m talking with Lauryn Williams, CFP®, and consultant with Student Loan Planner, about what’s really going on with student loans right now, especially for social workers trying to make sense of repayment, forgiveness, and all the recent changes. We break down the current repayment options, what’s happening with the SAVE plan, and how the new RAP plan is expected to work (when it finally rolls out).

If your loans feel overwhelming or you’ve been avoiding them altogether, this episode will help you understand your options and what next steps to take.

Get $100 off a consult with Student Loan Planner*

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why repayment isn’t one-size-fits-all and how to choose what works for you
• What’s happening with the SAVE plan and why it might be time to move off it
• Which income-driven repayment plans are still available (and who qualifies)
• What the new RAP plan is, and what we know about it so far
• How PSLF actually works and common myths that confuse borrowers
• What to consider before refinancing your federal loans
• How a consult with Student Loan Planner works and why it could save you thousands

Mentioned resources:

• Get $100 off a consult with Student Loan Planner*
• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. (This post has extra resources that were not shared in the episode, thanks to Leslie!)

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

*This episode may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

In this episode, I’m talking with Leslie Taylor, MSW, about what it looks like to leave traditional social work and build a career in tech, and specifically in the growing field of Trust & Safety. Leslie shares her career journey from intensive in-home therapy to working at organizations like Snap and Adobe.

We get into what Trust & Safety actually means, how social workers are already equipped for this work, and why more of us should be exploring this path (especially if we’re feeling stuck, underpaid, or burned out). This conversation is full of insight for anyone considering a nontraditional path with their MSW.

👀 If you want more tech SW info, check out this pre-recorded panel!

Takeaways From This Episode:

• What Trust & Safety work involves and how it connects to core social work skills
• The kinds of companies hiring for these roles and what they’re actually looking for
• Common job titles to search for if you’re exploring a career pivot
• Practical advice on how to reposition your experience and update your resume for tech roles
• How Leslie approached negotiating her salary

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. (This post has extra resources that were not shared in the episode, thanks to Leslie!)

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ashley Stephens, LCSW-S, a social worker, supervisor, and consultant who shares how she built a career that’s financially stable and aligned with how she actually wants to live. Ashley walks us through her early money story and how she started creating multiple income streams, from clinical work to supervision, retreats, teaching, and consulting.

If you’re feeling stuck in your current job, curious about supervision, or just trying to figure out how to make social work sustainable, this episode is for you!

Takeaways From This Episode:

• The harmful (and persistent) belief that wanting financial stability makes you less “dedicated” as a social worker
• Why diversifying your income isn’t about hustle culture... it’s about safety, creativity, and sustainability
• The powerful ripple effect of becoming a supervisor and pouring into the next generation of clinicians
• What autonomy really means in your work and how it can lead to more joy, purpose, and freedom
• How the Social Work Compact could expand your clinical reach without starting from scratch in every state
• Permission to leave a job that doesn’t serve you, just because it doesn’t serve you 👀

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, I’m joined by Amber Joiner-Hill, MSSW, a social worker and consultant who shares her story of how she transitioned from a traditional role in social work to starting her own consulting business. We get into the nitty gritty of program evaluation, setting up an LLC, pricing your services, and navigating the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own consulting business or just want a peek behind the scenes of how one social worker made it happen, this episode is for you.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. What sparked Amber’s love for program evaluation and systems-level change
2. How she transitioned from full-time work into full-time consulting (and back again)
3. Why her first paid training was $1,300, but her next contract was $15K 👀
4. The mindset shift from hourly to flat-rate pricing (and how it saved her time and made her more money)
5. How building relationships early in her career opened doors years later
6. Why your consulting journey doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to start

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.

Find Social Work to Wealth on: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

How do you actually write a bill and get lawmakers to take it seriously? In this episode, we’re talking with Dan and Monique from Payment for Placements (P4P) in New York, two social workers who helped draft and introduce a pilot bill to pay MSW interns in New York State. They walk us through the entire process, from gathering a team to drafting the bill language, finding the right sponsors, and pitching their vision to legislators who can actually move it forward.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why unpaid internships are a structural equity issue and how this bill addresses it
• What made their pitch resonate with legislators
• Details of the bill’s structure, funding timeline, and why they focused on MSW students
• Rolling out the bill: sponsors, co-sponsors, off-session activity, and continued advocacy
• The balance between idealism and feasibility when writing legislation
• Tips for social workers who want to get into advocacy or policy

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.

Find Social Work to Wealth on: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

If you've been curious about consulting but unsure where to start, this episode is packed with gems! I’m joined by Christina Broderick-Royes, LSW, founder of Intention Elevation, to talk about what consulting actually is, how social workers can step into it, and why your experience is already more than enough. We get real about pricing, packaging your services, tapping into your network for leads, and navigating that awkward “how much do I charge?” phase. Christina doesn’t just talk theory, she gives actual numbers and examples of projects she’s done, so you can see exactly how this work can play out.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. What “consulting” actually means and how social workers are already doing it
2. Why starting small (and messy) is better than waiting to be “ready”
3. Real-life contract examples Christina’s landed (and what they paid 👀)
4. How to find leads through your existing network and conferences
5. Why undercharging keeps us stuck and how to start pricing with confidence
6. How to use your phone contacts and old job connections to land opportunities

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
3. Find Social Work to Wealth on: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we’re diving into salary data from over 700 social workers who filled out our anonymous income survey. We talk about who’s hitting six figures, where they live, what jobs they have, and how long they’ve been in the field. But it’s not only about the numbers... we also get into the very real barriers social workers face when it comes to increasing income: expensive licensing processes, low starting pay, and a serious lack of salary transparency in MSW programs.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Yes, some social workers make over $100K — but they’re still the minority (~14%)
2. Most six-figure earners are licensed, have 10+ years of experience, and/or work in hospitals or federal roles
3. Half of the salaries reported fell between $30K–$60K... which is unacceptable, especially for folks with master’s degrees
4. State and cost of living play a big role in how much social workers are paid
5. MSW programs need to start talking about money, not just “self-care”

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.

Find Social Work to Wealth on: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.