Perceptions of Professional and Financial Worth Among Master of Social Work Students (WITHDRAWN)

Background and Focus: Research has suggested that social workers have the lowest pay rates among those in the helping professions (Barth, 2003; Jones, 2005). Some scholars assert that the wage gap between social workers and other helping professions is due, in part, to external forces, which have created a negative image of social work that many in the profession have internalized (Gibelman, 1999; Lecroy & Stinson, 2004). To date, no prior studies have examined the role between professional perceptions and how social workers view their financial worth. That is, the perceived earning power and usefulness a person believes they possess. This study sought to explore the perceptions MSW students have about the profession and the impact those views have on beliefs about their financial worth.

Methods: In spring 2015, three focus groups (N=31) were conducted with second-year and advanced-standing MSW students. Participants were asked a series of semi-structured questions related to the overarching topics of professional and financial worth. Participants were predominantly female (77%) and of an ethnic/racial minority (58%). Focus group responses were coded using thematic analysis (Strauss & Corbin, 1998).

Results: Findings from this study were categorized into thematic groupings including: financial orientation, pay, value and respect, and professional role clarity.

Financial Orientation: Participants described whether their earning power was dependent on factors within their control (internal) or external factors. Several participants suggested that they were worth a specific dollar amount, indicating “I see a number [I am worth].” Other participants indicated their financial worth was equal to a dollar value plus the perceived emotional benefit of their job. In contrast, others indicated that external factors determined their financial worth: “I think at first you have to have respect from other people, to tell them how much you [are] worth as a social worker.”

Pay: Several participants relayed strong feelings surrounding the unacceptability of current pay rates for social workers. Nevertheless, participants indicated an acceptance of low wages and a general hopelessness about change: “When you first enter the social work field…the first thing everybody says is, ‘you’re not gonna make any money’- so, you’re started off with that in your mind!”

Value and Respect: Many conveyed beliefs that the profession is not respected by other professions or broader society.

Professional Role Clarity: A majority indicated that the lack of clarity surrounding what social workers do is a primary reason why those in the profession are undervalued and underpaid.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings suggest that the link between professional perceptions and financial worth is salient. As such, the findings hold important implications for the education/training of social work practitioners, including: 1) social work educators should provide students with more balanced and proactive messages related to the financial worth; 2) educators should help students identify and cultivate advocacy skills that will promote change and 3) social workers should collectively eliminate self-defeating language from discussions about the profession and motivations (“it’s not about the money”), as these messages perpetuate and reinforce the construct of low earnings in the field.