Social Worker Salary

Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Social Workers, All Other

The median social worker salary in the United States is $71,900 per year ($34.57/hour). Salaries range from $43,620 at the entry level to $115,610+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 62,930 social worker jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.9% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$71,900
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.57
per hour
Employment
62,930
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$43,620
25th percentile
$51,900
Median
$71,900
75th percentile
$97,040
90th percentile
$115,610

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+3.9%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

7,000
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Social Worker Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for social workers.

Social workers, all other (BLS SOC 21-1029) covers social work roles that do not fall inside the three named categories (Child/Family/School, Healthcare, or Mental Health/Substance Abuse). Typical seats: Veterans Affairs (VA) social worker in Whole Health, primary care behavioral health, or homeless-veteran outreach programs; Department of Corrections re-entry social worker; Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselor at large employers (Kaiser Permanente EAP, Cigna EAP, ComPsych, LifeWorks, Optum); hospice / palliative care social worker; forensic social worker consulting on capital defense mitigation or immigration court cases; military social worker (Army MSW-track officer, Air Force civilian social worker); disability-benefits and adult-protective-services social worker at county or state DHS; refugee resettlement caseworker at USCRI, IRC, LIRS, HIAS, or Catholic Charities. BLS reports 62,930 employed at a median $71,900; p10 $46,750, p90 $98,570+. Entry MSW-track associate $50-62k; established LCSW at VA / DoC / EAP $72-95k; senior LCSW / clinical lead $88-115k; senior consulting / private forensic $115-165k+. The single biggest earning lever is completing an MSW at a CSWE-accredited program, moving into a licensed clinical seat (LCSW after 2-3 years of supervised post-MSW hours), and either laddering into VA GS-11 β†’ GS-12 β†’ GS-13 (federal), a supervisor track at an EAP, or a specialty private practice adjacent (forensic mitigation, adoption home studies, immigration psycho-social evaluations).

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Assessment and biopsychosocial-spiritual formulation
Complete a structured biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment covering presenting concern, mental status, trauma history, substance use, medical, social supports, cultural/spiritual identity, functional level, safety (suicide/homicide/self-harm), and strengths. Document under agency template (VA CPRS note templates, EAP intake form, DoC re-entry assessment). A weak intake shapes the next 12 months of the case; a strong one saves the client and the agency time.
Evidence-based practice fluency (CBT, MI, TF-CBT, Seeking Safety, PST, ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy fundamentals (Beck); Motivational Interviewing (Miller & Rollnick) for substance use and behavior change; Trauma-Focused CBT for trauma-exposed clients; Seeking Safety for concurrent PTSD + substance use (common in veteran and re-entry populations); Problem-Solving Therapy for depression in primary care; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic illness and grief. Most seats require documented training in at least 2-3 EBPs; VA has mandatory rollouts (CPT, PE for PTSD; ACT, CBT-D for depression; MI system-wide).
Case management and interdisciplinary team practice
Coordinate care across primary care physician, psychiatrist, addiction medicine, chaplain, physical therapy, occupational therapy, benefits counselor, housing navigator, and community-based organizations. Own the case-conference note. Advocate for the client without steamrolling clinical colleagues. In VA Whole Health teams, PACT teams, and hospital-based palliative care, this is the daily work β€” the social worker often functions as the clinical hub.
Suicide, homicide, and self-harm risk assessment and safety planning
Structured risk assessment (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, C-SSRS; Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation) followed by collaborative Safety Planning (Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention) with warning signs, coping strategies, distraction / social contacts, professional / crisis contacts, and lethal means counseling. Document the risk-assessment rationale and the safety plan in the record. This is a hiring-gate skill at VA, DoC, and any hospital-based seat.
Federal / state / county benefit navigation
SSDI/SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Compensation & Pension, VA Aid & Attendance, HUD-VASH voucher, TANF, LIHEAP, WIC, county general assistance, state rental assistance, ACA Marketplace, IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Populations you serve don't have time to navigate this alone; a competent social worker knows the eligibility windows, the documentation lists, and the timelines. This is where you actually move the client's life forward day-to-day.
Motivational interviewing (MI) as a core communication stance
OARS (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) as the interviewing rhythm. Rolling with resistance rather than fighting it. Eliciting change talk (DARN-C: Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need, Commitment). Deploy for substance use, medication non-adherence, weight management, smoking cessation, and behavior-change work in EAP and primary-care social-work seats. MI proficiency is often assessed live in interviews β€” expect a roleplay.
Crisis intervention (Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model, ASIST)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a standard 2-day certification at community mental health, VA, and DoC; Roberts' 7-stage model (plan and conduct crisis assessment β†’ establish rapport β†’ identify major problems β†’ deal with feelings β†’ explore alternatives β†’ implement action plan β†’ follow-up) is the go-to framework for acute crisis. Warm-handoff to 988, mobile crisis team, or emergency department when clinically appropriate β€” never a cold referral.
Cultural humility and structural competence
Cultural humility (Tervalon & Murray-GarcΓ­a): lifelong learning stance, redress of power imbalances, institutional accountability. Structural competence (Metzl & Hansen): recognize how upstream policy (immigration, housing, criminal justice) shapes downstream clinical presentation. Populations in scope β€” veterans, incarcerated / recently released, refugees, LGBTQ+ elders, undocumented immigrants β€” carry structural histories that non-culturally-humble practice re-traumatizes.
Documentation, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and EHR fluency (CPRS/JLV, Epic, Cerner, Netsmart myAvatar)
Progress-note quality is the single biggest observable output of your job. Structure: SOAP, DAP, or GIRP. Timely (within 24-72 hr of encounter per agency policy). Objective (behavior + observation, not interpretation). Sign the note yourself; do not co-sign a note you didn't write. Substance-use records fall under 42 CFR Part 2 with heightened disclosure protection; violation is a career-ending event.

How to Become a Social Worker

  1. 1
    Complete a bachelor's degree, ideally BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) from a CSWE-accredited program
    BSW from a CSWE-accredited program provides advanced-standing entry to MSW programs (skip the foundation year, complete the specialization year only β€” saves 12-18 months and $18-45k). Non-BSW bachelor's from any accredited institution is fine but you'll complete the 2-year MSW. Strong candidates: psychology, sociology, human services, criminal justice, public health majors with volunteer / internship hours in a social service agency.
  2. 2
    Complete an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program
    CSWE accreditation is non-negotiable; state licensure requires CSWE-accredited MSW. Advanced standing (1 year) for BSW graduates from CSWE programs; 2-year traditional for others. Tuition ranges $22k (in-state public) to $95k+ (Columbia, Chicago, Michigan, USC, Boston University). Field placement of 900-1,200 supervised hours across the MSW is required; the placement is where you convert theory to seat-ready practice. Employer-based MSW programs (Fordham, Simmons, USC, Michigan) allow employed candidates to attend part-time over 3-4 years.
  3. 3
    Take the ASWB Master's exam within your first year post-MSW
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Master's exam is the entry-level licensure exam in most US states. $260 exam fee + $150-450 prep material. Pass this and apply for the state license (title varies by state: LMSW in NY / TX / DC; LGSW in Georgia / DC; LSW in NJ / PA / IL). This is the license that allows you to practice at the master's level under supervision.
  4. 4
    Accumulate 2-3 years (2,000-4,000 hours) of post-MSW supervised clinical experience
    State-varying supervised-hour requirements for the clinical license: California requires 3,000 hours (BBS); New York requires 3,000 hours; Texas 3,000; Illinois 3,000; Florida 3,000; Georgia 3,000. Supervision must be from an LCSW-Supervisor (state-specific credentialing). VA, DoC, and hospital systems all have formal supervision structures that produce hours efficiently; small nonprofits often do not β€” verify supervision availability before accepting a job in this window.
  5. 5
    Sit the ASWB Clinical exam and become licensed as LCSW (or state equivalent β€” LICSW, LCSW-C, LISW-CP)
    ASWB Clinical exam is the terminal licensing exam. $260 exam + $200-800 prep. Title varies by state: LCSW in most (CA, NY, TX, FL); LICSW in MA, DC, NM; LCSW-C in MD; LISW-CP in SC; LICDC in some states pairs with a Substance-Use Disorder specialty. LCSW is the door-opener for VA GS-11+ seats, EAP counselor seats, hospice clinical social worker, and clinical private practice.
  6. 6
    Maintain CEUs and state licensure renewal (typically 30-40 CEUs per 2-year cycle)
    State licensure boards require ongoing continuing education units β€” typically 30-40 CEUs per 2-year renewal, with mandatory content areas (ethics 3-6 hours, cultural competence 3-6 hours, suicide assessment in some states, mandated reporter refresh). NASW membership ($100-260/yr) provides free CE library; NASW ACE-approved providers dominate the CE market.
  7. 7
    Move into a target seat: VA (federal GS-11 β†’ GS-12 β†’ GS-13), DoC re-entry, EAP counselor, hospice social worker, forensic consultant
    VA GS-11 LCSW $72-95k depending on locality; GS-12 $85-110k; GS-13 $102-135k. DoC re-entry LCSW $65-92k with state benefits + pension. EAP counselor at ComPsych, Optum, LifeWorks, Kaiser $68-95k. Hospice social worker at HCA, Amedisys, Kindred, VITAS $65-88k. Forensic private consulting $150-350/hr with 5+ years LCSW experience and expert-witness credentialing.
  8. 8
    Advance to Sr LCSW / Clinical Supervisor / Program Manager
    Sr LCSW $92-125k+ at VA GS-13 / Step 10; Clinical Supervisor $95-130k at EAP or community mental health; Program Manager $110-150k+ at hospice, VA, DoC. LCSW-Supervisor credentialing (state-varying) unlocks supervision of MSW-track staff and Field Instructor status with a CSWE MSW program β€” a career-capital move.

Career Progression

MSW-track Associate / LMSW (pre-clinical license)
0-3 yrs$50-62k salaried at VA GS-9 through GS-10 / DoC / hospital / nonprofit (locality-varying) + benefits + pension
  • β€’Complete supervised clinical hours toward LCSW licensure (2,000-4,000 hours state-varying)
  • β€’Manage a caseload of 25-65 clients depending on setting β€” VA Whole Health, EAP short-term, DoC re-entry, hospice
  • β€’Document all client encounters within 24-72 hr per agency policy; sign own notes
  • β€’Complete required training rollouts (MI, PST, CPT/PE, ACT, TF-CBT depending on agency)
Next: LCSW / Sr Social Worker at 3-5 years post-MSW with ASWB Clinical passed.
LCSW / Licensed Clinical Social Worker
3-8 yrs$72-95k salaried at VA GS-11 / DoC / hospital / EAP (locality-varying) + benefits + pension
  • β€’Independent clinical caseload β€” VA GS-11 in Whole Health / Primary Care Mental Health Integration / Homeless Program; EAP short-term therapy up to 3-8 sessions per client; DoC re-entry with 90-day post-release follow-through
  • β€’Deliver evidence-based individual and group therapy (typically 20-32 client-facing hours/wk plus documentation and coordination)
  • β€’Complete comprehensive C-SSRS suicide-risk assessments and collaborative Stanley-Brown safety plans
  • β€’Interdisciplinary team practice β€” case conferences, warm handoffs, discharge planning, benefits advocacy
Next: Sr LCSW at 6-10 years with LCSW-Supervisor credential and specialty depth.
Sr LCSW / Clinical Supervisor / Team Lead
6-12 yrs$92-125k salaried at VA GS-12 / DoC Sr / hospital Sr / EAP Sr + benefits + pension
  • β€’Own a specialty caseload (VA PTSD-focused clinic, DoC sex-offender treatment, EAP critical-incident response) or a supervisor role
  • β€’Provide LCSW-Supervisor clinical supervision to 2-6 MSW-track associates working toward licensure
  • β€’Own a program-level responsibility β€” training rollouts, QA/QI, satisfaction surveys, EHR template stewardship
  • β€’Represent the team at monthly clinical operations meetings and quarterly program review
Next: Program Manager / Assistant Chief SW at 10-16 years.
Program Manager / Assistant Chief Social Worker
10-18 yrs$115-155k salaried at VA GS-13 / GS-14 / DoC Program Chief / hospital Manager / EAP Regional Manager + benefits + pension
  • β€’Program-level ownership β€” VA Homeless Program Manager, DoC Re-entry Program Manager, EAP Regional Clinical Manager
  • β€’Budget management, hiring, staff evaluation, program-level QA/QI
  • β€’Represent the program at facility-level operations reviews and regulator / accreditor site visits (Joint Commission, CARF, NCQA for EAP)
  • β€’Community partnerships β€” housing partners, court partners, CBO partners, faith-based partners
Next: Chief Social Worker / Director of Social Work at 15-22 years.
Chief Social Worker / Director of Social Work / Senior Consultant
15+ yrs$135-215k+ salaried at VA GS-14 / GS-15 / DoC Chief / hospital Director / EAP VP; private forensic consulting $200-450/hr
  • β€’Facility-level or system-level leadership of the social work function β€” VA Chief Social Worker at a medical center; DoC Chief Social Worker for a state system; hospital-system Director of Social Work
  • β€’Represent social work at C-suite operations, quality, and accreditation forums
  • β€’Own hiring, credentialing, licensure compliance, and CE program for the social work workforce
  • β€’Alternative track: senior private consulting β€” capital-defense mitigation, immigration psycho-social evaluations, adoption home studies, expert-witness testimony

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a comprehensive suicide risk assessment and safety planning process you'd use in a first encounter with a new client.technical
Structured. (1) Establish rapport before assessment β€” never lead with 'are you suicidal?' as the first sentence. Ask about presenting concern, life stressors, supports first. (2) When indicated by content, transition explicitly: 'Given what you've shared about the last two months, I want to ask you some direct questions about safety β€” this is part of what I do with every new client.' (3) Administer the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS): ideation intensity (frequency, duration, controllability, deterrents, reasons), behavior (any preparatory acts, aborted or interrupted attempts, actual attempts). Document dates and lethality of any past attempts. (4) Assess warning signs, risk factors (isolation, hopelessness, recent loss, access to lethal means, substance use, previous attempts, family history), and protective factors (reasons for living, social supports, treatment engagement, cultural/spiritual anchors). (5) Deliver a collaborative Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention β€” warning signs, internal coping strategies, distraction/social contacts, people I can ask for help, professional/crisis contacts, means restriction. (6) Document risk level (low / moderate / high acute risk; low / moderate / high chronic risk) with rationale, disposition, and next-appointment plan. (7) For elevated risk β€” warm handoff to psychiatric emergency, 988, mobile crisis, or ED; never a cold referral, never let the client leave without a documented next-24-hour plan. Interviewers screen hard for candidates who name the C-SSRS and Stanley-Brown by name and describe both risk stratification and safety planning as collaborative not directive.
Q2. Describe a time you had to advocate for a client against an institutional decision (VA, DoC, hospital, insurance) and how you handled it.behavioral
STAR. Situation: veteran client at VA had a Compensation & Pension claim for PTSD denied on the basis of insufficient stressor documentation despite a well-documented service history in a combat zone. Task: as the assigned Whole Health LCSW, support the veteran in the appeals process while maintaining clinical role integrity. Action: (1) Documented the clinical PTSD presentation with DSM-5 criteria explicitly mapped in the progress note (Criterion A stressor with detail; Criteria B-H with clinical observations); (2) Coordinated with the VA Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office through a written clinical statement (via the VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Patient Advocate channels β€” never freelanced outside the record); (3) Referred the veteran to a Veterans Service Organization (DAV, VFW, American Legion Service Officer) for advocacy representation on the claim itself (social workers do not act as VSO representatives); (4) Continued the clinical work on symptom stabilization and CPT protocol enrollment during the appeal window; (5) Provided the appeals-support letter documenting functional impact on ADL / IADL / employment. Result: appeal granted at 70% service-connection for PTSD; veteran began receiving retroactive benefits and continued clinical engagement. Lesson: social work advocacy operates through documented clinical role, referral to the appropriate advocacy structure (VSO in this case), and never freelancing outside of established channels. Interviewers screen for candidates who advocate structurally rather than emotionally.
Q3. A client with an active substance use disorder is refusing to engage in treatment. How would you approach this using Motivational Interviewing?situational
MI stance first. (1) Roll with resistance rather than fighting it β€” 'You've been through this before and it hasn't stuck. That makes sense that you're skeptical.' (2) Elicit change talk through OARS β€” Open questions ('What would need to be different for you to think about cutting back?'), Affirmations ('You showed up today even though you didn't want to β€” that matters'), Reflections (double-sided reflection: 'On one hand, drinking has been helping you sleep at night. On the other, it's cost you two relationships in the last year'), Summaries. (3) Explore ambivalence explicitly through a decisional-balance conversation β€” good things about substance use, less-good things; good things about change, less-good things. Do not stack the deck; the client sees through it. (4) Elicit DARN-C change talk β€” Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need, Commitment. Once commitment language emerges, transition to specifics. (5) If the client remains pre-contemplative, book the next appointment, hold the door open, and continue building the relationship. Do not deliver an ultimatum; MI is explicitly non-directive on the timeline. (6) Consider harm-reduction (fentanyl test strips, naloxone dispensing, safer-drinking guidelines) as evidence-based even absent abstinence commitment. Interviewers screen for candidates who understand MI as a stance not a technique and who don't confuse MI with confrontational addiction models.
Q4. Why social work rather than counseling, psychology, or psychiatric nursing?culture
Honest answer that resonates. 'Social work is the profession that pairs clinical practice with the structural / systems view. Counseling and psychology work with the individual client and internal experience; psychiatric nursing pairs the clinical with medication and medical care. Social work uniquely operates at the intersection of the client, the family, the community, and the systems β€” housing, benefits, courts, immigration, employment β€” that shape whether treatment sticks. My client's PTSD doesn't heal if they lose housing during the treatment window. The MSW gives me the clinical training to do the individual work and the systems training to move the housing piece at the same time. Also β€” the license portability across VA, DoC, hospitals, EAP, community mental health, and private practice gives me career optionality that a single-setting license does not.' Interviewers screen for candidates who chose social work with clarity about the profession's identity, not who defaulted to it.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Show a clear track. 'I'm on the federal VA track. I complete LCSW licensure in year 2 post-MSW, target VA GS-11 as Whole Health social worker in a mid-size VA medical center. Complete VA-required EBP training rollouts (CPT for PTSD, CBT-D for depression, PST for primary care mental health integration). Sit LCSW-Supervisor credential in year 4. Move to GS-12 as Sr LCSW in a specialty clinic (PTSD Clinical Team, Homeless Program, or Suicide Prevention Coordinator role) in year 5. Longer-term either GS-13 Program Manager or a lateral to Chief Social Worker at a smaller VA medical center. Alternative fork if the federal path doesn't materialize β€” Sr LCSW in an EAP regional-manager track at ComPsych, Optum, or LifeWorks. If your program has a documented pathway to LCSW-Supervisor credentialing plus an EBP training portfolio, that accelerates the timeline.'

Resume Template β€” LCSW / Licensed Clinical Social Worker (3-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

LCSW / Licensed Clinical Social Worker (3-8 yrs)
  • β–ΈLCSW GS-11 in VA Whole Health at a 620-bed VA medical center; managed 48-client active caseload with weekly individual therapy, monthly group therapy (Seeking Safety), and coordinated care across PACT primary care and Mental Health teams.
  • β–ΈDelivered 220+ CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) protocol completions for PTSD across 26 months with 68% clinically significant symptom reduction on PCL-5 (Cohen's d = 0.94 on program-level outcome data).
  • β–ΈCompleted C-SSRS suicide-risk assessments and Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention on 100% of intake encounters (~340 intakes across 26 months); zero unmanaged high-acute-risk dispositions in the reporting period.
  • β–ΈLCSW (state), MSW (CSWE-accredited program), ASWB Clinical passed, MI + CPT + PE + Seeking Safety + PST + ACT certified through VA rollouts. NASW member + ACE-approved CE provider network. $88k base + full federal benefits + FERS pension + TSP with 5% match.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—MSW from a non-CSWE-accredited program β€” bars state licensure and disqualifies from every credible seat.
  • βœ—Cannot articulate a suicide-risk assessment framework by name (C-SSRS, Beck) and pair it with a safety-planning intervention (Stanley-Brown) β€” hiring gate at VA, DoC, hospital, and EAP seats.
  • βœ—No documented evidence-based practice training in the resume β€” hiring managers screen for at least 2-3 EBPs (MI, CBT, TF-CBT, CPT, PE, PST, ACT, Seeking Safety) with clock hours.
  • βœ—Weak understanding of 42 CFR Part 2 substance-use record protection β€” this is a career-ending compliance area if violated.
  • βœ—History of licensure discipline β€” public disciplinary orders on state boards flag at every credentialing step; even a resolved matter requires proactive disclosure.
  • βœ—Vague on progress-note structure and timeliness β€” 'I document as time permits' is a red flag; the standard is within 24-72 hr of encounter, in a documented SOAP/DAP/GIRP structure, signed and dated by the clinician.
  • βœ—Overstated caseload numbers on the resume that collapse under questioning β€” hiring managers will ask 'walk me through your average day' and count the hours.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Federal locality pay β€” VA GS-11 in San Francisco, DC, NYC pays 30-45% above rest-of-US locality; use VA locality pay tables at OPM.gov as an anchor.
  • βœ“LCSW premium β€” full clinical licensure adds $12-25k over LMSW / LGSW pre-clinical at the same seat.
  • βœ“LCSW-Supervisor credential β€” adds $6-14k at community mental health, EAP, and hospital-based supervisor seats.
  • βœ“Bilingual premium β€” Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Arabic, or Tagalog fluency adds $3-10k at VA, DoC, hospice, and refugee-resettlement seats (some VA sites pay a formal Bilingual Award).
  • βœ“Federal hiring pathways β€” Direct Hire Authority for LCSW at VA and DoD makes offer timelines shorter; Veterans Preference (5-point / 10-point) applies to hiring but not comp.
  • βœ“EAP short-term therapy premium β€” ComPsych, Optum, LifeWorks, and Kaiser EAP pay 8-18% above equivalent county community mental health seats.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus and student loan repayment β€” VA Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) offers up to $200,000 over 5 years for hard-to-fill LCSW seats; Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) after 120 qualifying payments at VA, DoC, county, or 501(c)(3) nonprofit employer.
  • βœ“Telehealth flexibility β€” negotiable at EAP and increasingly at VA (Video Connect); hybrid schedules preserve the caseload while reducing burnout.
  • βœ“Continuing-education budget β€” negotiate $2,500-5,000/year plus study leave for specialty certifications (EMDR, DBT-Linehan credential, ACT, TF-CBT).

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Social Worker Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$48K
$122Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Nevada
$122K
+69%
Hawaii
$116K
+62%
Rhode Island
$112K
+55%
New Hampshire
$104K
+44%
Washington
$103K
+43%
Oklahoma
$102K
+42%
Massachusetts
$101K
+41%
Missouri
$99K
+37%
District of Columbia
$96K
+34%
South Carolina
$96K
+34%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Nevada$121,830+69.4%
Hawaii$116,130+61.5%
Rhode Island$111,590+55.2%
New Hampshire$103,710+44.2%
Washington$102,520+42.6%
Oklahoma$101,860+41.7%
Massachusetts$101,280+40.9%
Missouri$98,740+37.3%
District of Columbia$96,380+34.0%
South Carolina$96,350+34.0%
1–10 of 50

Social Worker Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Reno, NV$154,040+114.2%
Stockton-Lodi, CA$121,180+68.5%
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$118,250+64.5%
Urban Honolulu, HI$117,190+63.0%
Worcester, MA$112,960+57.1%
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA$110,990+54.4%
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA$109,390+52.1%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$108,740+51.2%
Manchester-Nashua, NH$107,060+48.9%
Waco, TX$105,830+47.2%
1–10 of 227
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A social worker earning $71,900/year would need 829 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 890 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how social worker salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Social Worker salary trend (2011–2024) β†’