Saturday, November 2, 2024
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Social workers can earn an average of $89K—here’s how much this role pays across the U.S.

Whether you find fulfillment in helping the disadvantaged or are studying in an accredited social work program, chances are that if you’re in the industry, you aren’t in it for the money. 

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Whatever your reason for joining the workforce, you might be happy to know that your career prospects are growing. In fact, social work employment is expected to grow 7% by 2032, adding more than 50,000 jobs nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is good news for prospective workers looking to lend a hand to the childcare, family, schooling, mental health, or substance abuse sectors. 

Whether you are already in the industry or still exploring your options, you will likely want to know typical salaries for this job based on your location––and why factoring in the cost of living is crucial before taking an offer. 

What does a social worker do?

In a nutshell, social workers promote social welfare, advocate for social and economic justice, and embody the NASW’s code of ethics.

They can work in diverse settings, such as schools, hospitals, government agencies, and community clinics. They serve a wide range of populations, including refugees, the elderly, veterans, LGBTQ+ communities, and people in the criminal justice system. In short, social workers help people of all backgrounds overcome challenges. 

Some characteristics and skills of social workers are empathy, communication, patience, cultural competence, and critical thinking. 

There are different types of social work, too, and depending on which direction you take, your cases might look different. The three different types of social work are micro, mazzo, and mezzo. 

Micro counseling involves one-on-one sessions to help individuals overcome social, emotional, or health challenges. Mazzo counseling focuses on lobbying for social issues to assist entire communities, while Mezzo counseling provides group services such as conflict resolution and grief support.

How much do social workers make?

Social workers make, on average, between $45,000 and $76,000 in the United States, based on an analysis of salary estimates from sources including ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and BLS. However, it’s important to note that base salaries provided by these websites don’t include additional pay such as bonuses or equity.

Also, keep in mind that your income may fall above or below your state’s average social worker salary for several reasons, such as your experience, background, what level of degree you have, if you have the required state licensure, the type of company you’re applying to, or the field of social work you’re interested in. 

Cost of living

As you analyze the salaries of social workers, understand that your purchasing power, the spread of the value of your money, depends on where you live. The cost of living directly impacts how far you can make a dollar stretch.

Social worker salary by state

The following salary information for social workers is based on data collected by ZipRecruiter. We used the general search term “social worker,” but a person with a dual master’s in social work (MSW) and an MBA may make more on average than someone without a degree. 

Each state’s cost of living index comes from the latest reporting from the Council for Community and Economic Research, as cited by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Here are the states where social workers make the most, in descending order:

Rank Location Avg. social worker salary (as of July 2024) Cost of living
1 Massachusetts $89,328 144.3
2 Oregon $88,018 114.1
3 Colorado $87,686 101.8
4 Alaska $87,584 125.1
5 North Dakota $87,570 92.8
6 Iowa $86,293 90.1
7 Hawaii $85,721 186.2
8 Washington $83,751 115.1
9 Nevada $82,812 102.7
10 South Dakota $82,764 93.4
11 Connecticut $82,719 113.2
12 Rhode Island $81,525 113.4
13 New York $77,681 123.1
14 Delaware $76,825 100.9
15 Vermont $75,857 114.7
16 Virginia $75,713 101.3
17 Maine $75,262 111.3
18 Idaho $75,027 101.1
19 Maryland $74,403 116.2
20 Nebraska $72,814 93.4
21 New Jersey $72,622 113.7
22 California $72,163 145
23 Pennsylvania $72,010 95.6
24 Minnesota $71,831 94.8
25 South Carolina $71,739 97.6
26 Oklahoma $70,516 86.4
27 North Carolina $70,258 98.5
28 New Mexico $69,806 93.6
29 Michigan $69,601 91.8
30 New Hampshire $69,203 113.6
31 Arizona $68,714 110.5
32 Texas $68,568 92.4
33 Wisconsin $68,430 97
34 Kentucky $68,346 92.6
35 Wyoming $68,105 95.1
36 Georgia $67,919 91.3
37 Ohio $67,284 94
38 Indiana $67,206 90.3
39 Illinois $66,866 93.3
40 Alabama $66,833 88.1
41 Missouri $65,243 88.5
42 Mississippi $65,021 88.3
43 Montana $64,824 94.6
44 Arkansas $64,587 88.5
45 Kansas $63,592 87.3
46 Utah $63,532 102.9
47 Tennessee $63,039 90.3
48 Louisiana $62,529 92.1
49 Florida $55,101 103.1
50 West Virginia $54,959 83.8
Social worker salaries by state
1
Massachusetts
$89,328
144.3
2
Oregon
$88,018
114.1
3
Colorado
$87,686
101.8
4
Alaska
$87,584
125.1
5
North Dakota
$87,570
92.8
6
Iowa
$86,293
90.1
7
Hawaii
$85,721
186.2
8
Washington
$83,751
115.1
9
Nevada
$82,812
102.7
10
South Dakota
$82,764
93.4
11
Connecticut
$82,719
113.2
12
Rhode Island
$81,525
113.4
13
New York
$77,681
123.1
14
Delaware
$76,825
100.9
15
Vermont
$75,857
114.7
16
Virginia
$75,713
101.3
17
Maine
$75,262
111.3
18
Idaho
$75,027
101.1
19
Maryland
$74,403
116.2
20
Nebraska
$72,814
93.4
21
New Jersey
$72,622
113.7
22
California
$72,163
145
23
Pennsylvania
$72,010
95.6
24
Minnesota
$71,831
94.8
25
South Carolina
$71,739
97.6
26
Oklahoma
$70,516
86.4
27
North Carolina
$70,258
98.5
28
New Mexico
$69,806
93.6
29
Michigan
$69,601
91.8
30
New Hampshire
$69,203
113.6
31
Arizona
$68,714
110.5
32
Texas
$68,568
92.4
33
Wisconsin
$68,430
97
34
Kentucky
$68,346
92.6
35
Wyoming
$68,105
95.1
36
Georgia
$67,919
91.3
37
Ohio
$67,284
94
38
Indiana
$67,206
90.3
39
Illinois
$66,866
93.3
40
Alabama
$66,833
88.1
41
Missouri
$65,243
88.5
42
Mississippi
$65,021
88.3
43
Montana
$64,824
94.6
44
Arkansas
$64,587
88.5
45
Kansas
$63,592
87.3
46
Utah
$63,532
102.9
47
Tennessee
$63,039
90.3
48
Louisiana
$62,529
92.1
49
Florida
$55,101
103.1
50
West Virginia
$54,959
83.8

Job title variations

There are many career opportunities available for people passionate about social work. However, not all job titles in the field have the word “social work” in them. These are some typical job titles:

  • Counselor
  • Advocate
  • Caseworker
  • Welfare specialist

Candidates’ education paths vary depending on their goals. It’s possible to get an entry-level job by meeting basic state requirements and obtaining a bachelor’s degree. However, more managerial, senior-level jobs may require a master’s. There are affordable social work master’s programs that cost less than $40,000. 

Learn more: Is an MSW worth it?


Frequently asked questions

What field of social work pays the most?

Clinical social workers and corporate social responsibility managers are among the highest-paying social work fields. The top earners of the former reported salaries of around $159,000, according to ZipRecruiter.  

Can social workers make 6 figures?

Clinical social workers, licensed master social workers, and directors of social work are three positions within the realm of social work that can make six-figure salaries. 

Is social work a hard career?

Social work is a noble profession, but it can be demanding for many reasons. Preliminary challenges include acquiring the required licensure and the right education. The workload on the job might be heavy, sometimes even taking an emotional toll; other times, the job might be dangerous or tedious when working with difficult people.


Check out all of Fortune’rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.

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