Compensation in Social Work: Critical for Satisfaction and a Sustainable Profession

Abstract

Challenges with social worker satisfaction and subsequent high staff turnover rates are not new to the profession. For decades researchers have studied social worker satisfaction from several perspectives, though generally with child welfare staff. This exploratory study examined responses from a statewide survey of 838 social workers across a broad spectrum of employment settings to determine which variables had the greatest impact on satisfaction. Standard multiple regression results indicate that social workers' level of satisfaction with their jobs and employment benefits were best predicted by variables that translate into improved compensation. These findings suggest that efforts to improve social work satisfaction, and subsequently lower turnover rates, should focus on improving factors that directly or indirectly influence compensation to preserve this vital workforce. Limitations and next steps for future research are discussed.