Social Worker, All Other Career Assessment
Social work roles that do not fit the usual categories
Welcome
"Social Workers, All Other" is the label the government uses for social work jobs that do not fit the usual boxes. Think policy work, program planning, research, training, or specialty roles in state and tribal agencies.
It is a small group in North Dakota, but the pay is high. You will explore whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Social Worker, All Other?
These social workers do social work that is not straight casework. They may write policy, plan programs, train staff, run quality reviews, coordinate services across agencies, or work in research. Many work for state government, tribal nations, or large nonprofits. In North Dakota, if the job title says "social worker," a state license is usually required.
The Reality: These jobs are few. North Dakota has around 180 of them and only about 10 openings a year. Most people get here after years of regular social work first. It is not an entry point. Licensing also means a nationwide criminal history check and a child abuse and neglect check. A record does not automatically stop you, but the board looks at what the offense was and how long ago it happened. Convictions involving abuse, neglect, violence, or dishonesty raise the most concern. North Dakota law says five years clean after your sentence ends counts as evidence of rehabilitation. Ask the Board of Social Work Examiners about your own situation rather than guessing.
Your Responsibilities:
- Plan and improve social service programs
- Write policy and procedure documents
- Train other social workers and staff
- Review cases for quality and compliance
- Coordinate services between agencies and tribes
- Collect and study data on how programs work
- Write grants and reports
- Represent an agency in meetings and workgroups
You improve the systems that help people.
A Day in the Life
8:00 AM — Read email and check on a grant deadline.
9:00 AM — Meeting with county staff about a new intake process.
10:30 AM — Review a batch of case files for quality.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
1:00 PM — Build a training slide deck for new workers.
2:30 PM — Video call with a tribal program partner.
3:30 PM — Write up notes and a short report.
4:30 PM — Plan tomorrow.
More desk work and meetings than home visits.
Training in North Dakota
You need a CSWE-accredited social work degree, and usually a master's. Most of these jobs ask for a master's in social work plus years of experience. The degree must be from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) if you want a North Dakota license.
Training Pathways:
- BSW then work (4 years plus experience): Get licensed as an LBSW, do casework for a few years, then move into program or training roles.
- BSW then MSW (5-6 years): Advanced standing lets BSW graduates finish a master's faster. The LMSW opens more doors.
- Master's while working: Online MSW programs let you keep your job and your paycheck while you finish.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) — BSSW and MSW, both CSWE-accredited, offered online and on campus with advanced standing for BSW graduates (und.edu)
- University of Mary (Bismarck) — B.S. in Social Work on campus and a 30-credit online MSW (umary.edu)
- Minot State University (Minot) — CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (minotstateu.edu)
- Sitting Bull College (Fort Yates) — Bachelor of Social Work (sittingbull.edu)
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Human Services AAS, on campus or online, as a transfer starting point (bismarckstate.edu)
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Strong writing. Comfort with computers, spreadsheets, and reports.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
North Dakota licensing is required for social work titles. The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners (ndbswe.com) licenses social workers at three levels. Every level needs a CSWE-accredited degree and an ASWB exam.
License Levels in ND:
- LBSW — CSWE-accredited bachelor's in social work plus the ASWB Bachelor's exam
- LMSW — CSWE-accredited master's in social work plus the ASWB Master's exam; this is what most of these jobs want
- LCSW — master's plus 3,000 supervised clinical hours within 4 years plus the ASWB Clinical exam
- Background checks — a statewide and nationwide criminal history check and a child abuse and neglect check for all new applicants
The Exams: ASWB gives the exam. You register after the board approves you, and you must test within one year of applying.
Cost: At the bachelor's level: $25 application fee and $75 license fee. The criminal history check is $43, paid to the ND Attorney General. ASWB charges its own exam fee. Check the board for current numbers.
Keeping It Current: Every two years, with 30 continuing education hours including at least 2 on ethics.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Social Worker Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $30.35–$35.68/hour ($63,130–$74,210/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $39.10/hour ($81,330/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $46.86–$49.70/hour ($97,470–$103,380/year)
What that means: This is the best-paid social work group in North Dakota, and North Dakota pay here runs well above the national median. Most of these are state, tribal, or large-agency jobs with good benefits.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 180 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 170 (about 2% decline). Expect about 10 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 4% growth — about average.
Outlook: Limited. Only about 10 openings a year in North Dakota, and the state projects a small decline. Plan on entering social work another way and working toward these roles.
Who Hires in ND: North Dakota Health and Human Services, county human service zones, tribal nations, hospitals and health systems, universities, and statewide nonprofits.
Work Setting: Offices, meeting rooms, and video calls. Some travel across the state. Less home-visiting than regular casework.
Physical Demands: Low. Mostly desk work, computers, and meetings.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 21-1029); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Program Coordinator — Run one program area for an agency.
Path 2: Policy Analyst — Study and write the rules programs run on.
Path 3: Trainer — Teach new social workers how the work is done.
Path 4: Quality Reviewer — Check that cases meet standards.
Path 5: Grant Writer — Bring funding into an agency.
Path 6: Program Director — Lead a department or a statewide program.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Highest social work pay in the state
- You shape whole programs, not one case
- Regular weekday hours
- Strong public benefits
- Less emotionally raw than direct casework
- Your experience really counts
What's Hard:
- Very few openings
- Almost never an entry-level job
- Usually needs a master's degree
- Slow-moving government processes
- Heavy writing and reporting
- Background checks can be a barrier
Be Honest: Are you willing to do direct social work for several years first? Can you finish a master's degree? Are you patient with paperwork and politics? And if you have a criminal record, have you asked the Board of Social Work Examiners what it means for licensing? Do that before you enroll anywhere.