How Much Do Social Workers Make

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A Guide to the Social Worker’s Salary

Salary expectations are very important. While you are likely to be a social worker for the love of the job, you do also want to make a living yourself. However, determining exactly how much a social worker makes can be quite difficult. This is because it is down to a variety of different factors, including:

The type of degree you hold and whether that has a concentration or not
Where in the country you work
What kind of organization you work for
How much experience you have
Your job title
Your certifications

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all social workers earn an average annual salary of $45,900 per year. The bottom 10% of social workers earn $28,530 or less, while the top 10% earn $76,820 or more. Additionally, they report a 12% rise in demand for social workers from 2014 to 2024, which is faster than the national average. This generally translates into higher salaries as well. The BLS has also reported the average salaries of specific types of social workers:

Healthcare social workers earn an average of $52,380 per year.
Child, family, and school social workers earn an average of $42,350 per year.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn an average of $42,170 per year.
All other social workers earn an average of $58,560 per year.

Another very important factor is the type of organization that you work for as a social worker. The BLS states that:

29% of social workers work in state and local government, excluding education and hospitals, with average earnings of $46,940.
18% of social workers work in individual and family services, with average earnings of $38,760.
13% of social workers work in ambulatory healthcare services, with average earnings of $46,050.
11% of social workers work in state, local, and private hospitals, with average earnings of $56,650.
9% of social workers work in nursing and residential care facilities, with average earnings of $40,440.

As you can see, each of these industries and places of work offers different salaries. Additionally, you must understand that the above translates into national average wages. There are tremendous differences in average earnings between the different states, and within that even between the different cities. Additionally, there are significant variations between the different types of social workers.

In terms of child, family, and school social workers, the top five states for earnings are:

Connecticut, with earnings of $65,380
New Jersey, with earnings of $61,630
Rhode Island, with earnings of $61,190
District of Columbia, with earnings of $60,730
Illinois, with earnings of $57,600

The worst state in terms of salary for child, family, and school social workers is West Virginia, with average annual earnings of $34,230.

In terms of healthcare social workers, the top five states for earnings are:

California, with earnings of $69,970
District of Columbia, with earnings of $67,450
Connecticut, with earnings of $64,660
Oregon, with earnings of $64,210
Nevada, with earnings of $62,070

The worst state in terms of salary for healthcare social workers is South Dakota, with average annual earnings of $40,300.

In terms of mental health and substance abuse social workers, the top five states based on earnings are:

New Jersey, with earnings of $66,590
Connecticut, with earnings of $60,920
California, with earnings of $60,620
Maine, with earnings of $58,790
New Hampshire, with earnings of $58,320

The worst state in terms of salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers is West Virginia, with average annual earnings of $28,310.

In terms of all other social workers, the top five states in regards to earnings are:

Rhode Island, with average earnings of $74,080
Massachusetts, with average earnings of $72,200
District of Columbia, with average earnings of $70,940
New Jersey, with average earnings of $70,740
Hawaii, with average earnings of $69,870

The worst state in terms of salary for all other social workers is Montana, with average annual earnings of $39,940.

Unfortunately, it is incredibly complex to really determine how much you will earn as a social worker. Added to the complexities and different factors above, is also the issue of education, licensing, and certification. It is possible to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work and enter the workforce, although you will not be able to work independently, will not have any decision making capabilities, and will earn significantly less. Additionally, certain social work positions require licensure in certain states, enabling you to become a Licensed Social Worker. Those who do hold additional licenses and certification tend to earn more. Similarly, the longer people have worked, the more they will earn as well. As such, the BLS-reported average annual salary of $45,900 is perhaps your best guiding factor, although not one that will really reflect on your personal pay package. You also have to remember that there are a number of non-monetary benefits you can enjoy as a social worker, such as pensions, health and dental insurance, childcare schemes, cycle to work schemes, and more.

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