Social Worker Salary: How Much Do Social Workers Really Make?
Discover social work salary data by specialization, location, licensure, and experience.
- Social workers reported a median pay of $61,300 in May 2024.
- Social work salaries vary depending on specialization and location. Some of the highest-paid social workers earn average salaries in the six figures.
- Demand for social workers also varies by specialization, so prospective social workers benefit from learning more about salaries in their area.
Social work is a meaningful career path that focuses on helping people. But how much do social workers really make? Our guide breaks down social work salary data by specialization, location, and more to offer insights to prospective and current social workers.
What Does a Social Worker Do?
Direct service social workers help clients manage daily challenges and connect with support services. Clinical social workers provide mental health counseling. Social workers often specialize in working with children, families, individuals with substance use disorders, or healthcare patients Every state requires social workers to be licensed.
How Much Does a Social Worker Make?
Social workers earn a median pay of $61,330, according to May 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries vary widely, with the lowest-paid social workers making under $42,000, while the highest-paid social workers earn more than $99,500.
Several factors influence social work salaries. For instance, specialization, location, licensing level, and years of experience all impact earning potential.
| Percentile | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10% | $41,580 |
| 25% | $48,680 |
| 50% | $61,330 |
| 75% | $78,500 |
| 90% | $99,500 |
$29.49
Median Hourly Wage
+7%
Job Growth
751,900
Total Employment
Source: BLS, May 2024
Social Worker Salaries by Specialization
Social workers can specialize by working with a specific population, including children and those in need of mental health services. They work in schools, hospitals, social services agencies, and other settings. Your earning potential varies based on the type of social worker you become.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Child, family, and school social workers are direct service professionals who advocate for vulnerable children, connect families with social services, and support children in school settings. They may also specialize in adoption services.
Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers
Mental health and substance use social workers provide clinical support to individuals with mental health and addiction disorders. They may lead individual or group sessions and connect clients with additional support services.
Healthcare Social Workers
Healthcare workers offer clinical or direct services to patients and families navigating the healthcare system and medical diagnoses. They connect people with healthcare services and support groups. These social workers may focus on specific populations, such as geriatric or hospice care.
Social Worker Salaries by State
Social work salaries depend on where you live and work. Learn about the highest and lowest-paying states for different types of social workers.
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers: Child, family, and school social workers earn the highest salaries in Connecticut, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Washington, and Maryland. The lowest-paying states include Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
- Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers: Mental health and substance use social workers earn the highest salaries in New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, California, and Washington, D.C. The states with the lowest salaries include Montana, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Alabama, and South Carolina.
- Healthcare Social Workers: Where do healthcare social workers earn the highest salaries? California, Washington, D.C., Oregon, Hawaii, and Connecticut report the highest social work salaries, while Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota, and Oklahoma pay the lowest salaries.
Social Worker Annual Median Salary by State and Specialization
| State⇅ | Child, Family, and School Social Workers⇅ | Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers⇅ | Healthcare Social Workers⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,890 | $42,100 | $58,000 |
| Alaska | $60,220 | $57,650 | $77,990 |
| Arizona | $50,140 | $46,650 | $66,540 |
| Arkansas | $42,960 | $49,820 | $62,040 |
| California | $69,250 | $75,320 | $92,970 |
| Connecticut | $78,940 | $78,820 | $81,900 |
| Delaware | $46,170 | $57,620 | $62,730 |
| District of Columbia | $78,920 | $72,720 | $92,600 |
| Florida | $52,350 | $50,860 | $67,090 |
| Georgia | $47,770 | $50,810 | $62,090 |
Highest Paying Metro Areas for Social Workers
The highest-paid child, family, and school social workers live in New Jersey and Connecticut metro areas. While these states both have above-average costs of living, these areas report salaries above the 75th percentile for social workers.
Mental health and substance use social workers are among the highest-paid social workers, and several California metro areas report six-figure average salaries. Las Cruces, the second-largest city in New Mexico, also ranks in the top five for salaries.
| Metro Area | Annual Median Wage |
|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $116,630 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $102,760 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $101,100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $98,680 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $97,490 |
Healthcare social workers report the highest salaries in California cities, with many metro areas reporting six-figure average salaries. California’s high cost of living can contribute to higher salaries in the state, and many of its healthcare employees, including social workers, benefit from a strong union presence.
| Metro Area | Annual Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $141,490 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $132,790 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $114,480 |
| Chico, CA | $110,030 |
Factors That Impact Social Worker Salary
Other factors impacting your earning potential as a social worker include educational attainment, licensing level, years of experience, and the cost of living in your area.
- 1Education
A social worker’s highest degree can influence their salary. Some social work jobs require a master’s degree, which typically translates into higher salaries. Other social workers hold a bachelor’s as their highest degree.
For example, 66.5% of mental health and substance use social workers hold a master’s degree, according to 2021-22 BLS data. In contrast, a bachelor’s degree is the most common degree for child, family, and school social workers.
Clinical social workers typically hold an MSW, while direct service social workers may hold a BSW or an MSW.
- 2Licensure and Certification
All social workers need a state-issued license to practice. Social workers with a bachelor’s in social work can qualify for a licensed bachelor social worker (LBSW) credentialing, while social workers with a master’s degree can pursue credentialing as a licensed master social worker (LMSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
LCSWs generally earn more than LBSWs and LMSWs who specialize in direct service social work. BSW-prepared social workers report a median pay of $50,000, according to May 2025 Payscale data. In contrast, MSW-prepared social workers earn a median of $58,000, while LCSWs make a median of $69,000 per year.
- 3Experience
Experience level directly impacts social work salaries. Social workers can typically increase their pay as they gain experience. For example, LCSWs with ten or more years of experience earn an average salary above $70,000, according to Payscale data.
Specialization and work setting can also influence salary. Medical social workers earn an average annual salary of $63,000, according to Payscale data, which is higher than the average pay of $56,000 for school social workers.
Social workers with supervisory responsibilities also typically earn higher salaries. Payscale reports an average pay of $56,000 for all social workers, while social work supervisors earn an average of $68,000.
- 4Cost of Living
Areas with a higher cost of living typically pay higher social worker salaries. The ten most expensive states to live in, which include California, New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Connecticut, also report some of the highest salaries for social workers.
Similarly, some of the lowest-paying states, including Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama, rank among the most affordable places to live. Taking the cost of living into account can help you compare salaries more accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Worker Salary
Healthcare social workers report the highest median pay. Overall, social workers earn a median of $61,330 per year, while healthcare social workers earn a median of $68,090, based on May 2024 BLS data.
