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How Much Can a Social Worker Make?
Discover the average social worker salary by state, including estimates for mental health, medical, and child, family, and school social workers.
Social worker salary breakdown
The average annual salary for social workers depends on several factors, including the specialty in which you work, employer-specific pay grades, and state in which you practice. Social workers in a healthcare environment, such as a hospital social worker, will typically earn a different average salary than those who work in behavioral health or family services.
Keep in mind the salary figures presented below do not represent starting figures for entry-level positions. These are average salaries for social workers across all educational/experience levels.
Social worker salary by state
Average salaries can vary widely by the state in which you practice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides average salary estimates for three unique types of social work specialties:
Child, family, and school social workers average salary by state*
| Average Salary | Median Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Per Hour | Per Year | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Alabama | $24.24 | $50,430 | $22.54 | $46,890 |
| Alaska | $31.00 | $64,490 | $28.95 | $60,220 |
| Arizona | $25.10 | $52,200 | $24.10 | $50,140 |
| Arkansas | $22.21 | $46,190 | $20.65 | $42,960 |
| California | $35.17 | $73,150 | $33.29 | $69,250 |
| Colorado | $33.40 | $69,470 | $30.56 | $63,560 |
| Connecticut | $38.55 | $80,180 | $37.95 | $78,940 |
| Delaware | $25.17 | $52,350 | $22.20 | $46,170 |
| District of Columbia | $38.48 | $80,040 | $37.94 | $78,920 |
| Florida | $27.28 | $56,740 | $25.17 | $52,350 |
| Georgia | $27.39 | $56,970 | $22.97 | $47,770 |
| Hawaii | $33.07 | $68,790 | $31.95 | $66,450 |
| Idaho | $29.60 | $61,560 | $29.88 | $62,150 |
| Illinois | $33.38 | $69,430 | $29.93 | $62,260 |
| Indiana | $26.51 | $55,130 | $24.71 | $51,400 |
| Iowa | $27.33 | $56,840 | $24.38 | $50,710 |
| Kansas | $26.67 | $55,460 | $25.33 | $52,690 |
| Kentucky | $28.07 | $58,380 | $27.59 | $57,390 |
| Louisiana | $26.46 | $55,040 | $27.83 | $57,880 |
| Maine | $30.86 | $64,180 | $30.11 | $62,620 |
| Maryland | $35.33 | $73,490 | $34.06 | $70,840 |
| Massachusetts | $33.95 | $70,620 | $32.64 | $67,880 |
| Michigan | $29.13 | $60,580 | $28.38 | $59,030 |
| Minnesota | $32.97 | $68,580 | $31.26 | $65,010 |
| Mississippi | $21.79 | $45,310 | $21.49 | $44,690 |
| Missouri | $23.39 | $48,660 | $22.69 | $47,200 |
| Montana | $25.45 | $52,930 | $23.86 | $49,630 |
| Nebraska | $24.42 | $50,800 | $22.79 | $47,400 |
| Nevada | $30.24 | $62,900 | $29.05 | $60,430 |
| New Hampshire | $31.67 | $65,880 | $31.07 | $64,630 |
| New Jersey | $38.27 | $79,610 | $37.57 | $78,150 |
| New Mexico | $28.20 | $58,650 | $23.81 | $49,530 |
| New York | $36.19 | $75,270 | $31.46 | $65,430 |
| North Carolina | $28.37 | $59,010 | $27.72 | $57,660 |
| North Dakota | $32.38 | $67,350 | $32.17 | $66,900 |
| Ohio | $26.22 | $54,550 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| Oklahoma | $22.31 | $46,410 | $21.13 | $43,950 |
| Oregon | $31.89 | $66,320 | $30.18 | $62,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $26.68 | $55,490 | $24.54 | $51,030 |
| Rhode Island | $33.64 | $69,960 | $32.28 | $67,150 |
| South Carolina | $23.73 | $49,360 | $22.86 | $47,550 |
| South Dakota | $25.86 | $53,780 | $25.55 | $53,140 |
| Tennessee | $27.83 | $57,890 | $27.11 | $56,390 |
| Texas | $24.76 | $51,490 | $24.01 | $49,940 |
| Utah | $27.12 | $56,410 | $23.59 | $49,070 |
| Vermont | $31.47 | $65,460 | $31.43 | $65,370 |
| Virginia | $31.27 | $65,040 | $28.98 | $60,280 |
| Washington | $35.14 | $73,080 | $34.75 | $72,290 |
| West Virginia | $24.02 | $49,970 | $23.18 | $48,220 |
| Wisconsin | $29.31 | $60,960 | $28.21 | $58,670 |
| Wyoming | $27.19 | $56,560 | $27.13 | $56,430 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||||
Healthcare social workers average salary by state*
| Average Salary | Median Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Per Hour | Per Year | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Alabama | $27.43 | $57,050 | $27.89 | $58,000 |
| Alaska | $38.20 | $79,450 | $37.50 | $77,990 |
| Arizona | $33.95 | $70,610 | $31.99 | $66,540 |
| Arkansas | $29.59 | $61,540 | $29.83 | $62,040 |
| California | $46.68 | $97,090 | $44.70 | $92,970 |
| Colorado | $32.05 | $66,660 | $30.16 | $62,740 |
| Connecticut | $41.14 | $85,570 | $39.37 | $81,900 |
| Delaware | $31.87 | $66,300 | $30.16 | $62,730 |
| District of Columbia | $44.35 | $92,240 | $44.52 | $92,600 |
| Florida | $32.50 | $67,600 | $32.26 | $67,090 |
| Georgia | $31.27 | $65,040 | $29.85 | $62,090 |
| Hawaii | $39.20 | $81,530 | $40.69 | $84,640 |
| Idaho | $32.80 | $68,230 | $34.25 | $71,240 |
| Illinois | $32.27 | $67,130 | $33.04 | $68,710 |
| Indiana | $33.46 | $69,600 | $32.32 | $67,220 |
| Iowa | $30.97 | $64,410 | $30.40 | $63,230 |
| Kansas | $31.04 | $64,570 | $30.91 | $64,280 |
| Kentucky | $30.95 | $64,380 | $31.18 | $64,840 |
| Louisiana | $32.08 | $66,720 | $30.95 | $64,380 |
| Maine | $34.23 | $71,210 | $34.86 | $72,520 |
| Maryland | $32.17 | $66,910 | $32.68 | $67,970 |
| Massachusetts | $35.82 | $74,510 | $34.75 | $72,280 |
| Michigan | $32.86 | $68,340 | $31.94 | $66,440 |
| Minnesota | $35.29 | $73,400 | $34.78 | $72,330 |
| Mississippi | $27.69 | $57,600 | $27.26 | $56,690 |
| Missouri | $27.72 | $57,660 | $25.51 | $53,060 |
| Montana | $29.19 | $60,720 | $28.25 | $58,760 |
| Nebraska | $29.59 | $61,540 | $28.99 | $60,300 |
| Nevada | $37.22 | $77,420 | $36.67 | $76,280 |
| New Hampshire | $38.17 | $79,400 | $37.50 | $78,000 |
| New Jersey | $41.88 | $87,110 | $39.29 | $81,710 |
| New Mexico | $31.80 | $66,150 | $31.77 | $66,090 |
| New York | $34.85 | $72,480 | $32.33 | $67,250 |
| North Carolina | $31.58 | $65,690 | $31.32 | $65,140 |
| North Dakota | $30.68 | $63,810 | $30.61 | $63,660 |
| Ohio | $31.91 | $66,380 | $31.13 | $64,750 |
| Oklahoma | $27.08 | $56,320 | $24.92 | $51,830 |
| Oregon | $40.78 | $84,830 | $40.94 | $85,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $31.70 | $65,940 | $30.30 | $63,010 |
| Rhode Island | $37.77 | $78,560 | $38.20 | $79,460 |
| South Carolina | $31.73 | $66,000 | $31.61 | $65,760 |
| South Dakota | $27.17 | $56,520 | $24.98 | $51,960 |
| Tennessee | $30.90 | $64,280 | $29.76 | $61,910 |
| Texas | $33.31 | $69,280 | $33.64 | $69,960 |
| Utah | $35.97 | $74,820 | $34.79 | $72,370 |
| Vermont | $39.22 | $81,580 | $37.69 | $78,390 |
| Virginia | $32.23 | $67,040 | $30.86 | $64,200 |
| Washington | $37.18 | $77,320 | $36.38 | $75,670 |
| West Virginia | $29.63 | $61,630 | $29.17 | $60,670 |
| Wisconsin | $32.39 | $67,370 | $31.36 | $65,240 |
| Wyoming | $32.48 | $67,550 | $31.16 | $64,800 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||||
Mental health and substance abuse social workers average salary by state*
| Average Salary | Median Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Per Hour | Per Year | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Alabama | $21.47 | $44,670 | $20.24 | $42,100 |
| Alaska | $31.45 | $65,420 | $27.71 | $57,650 |
| Arizona | $23.81 | $49,530 | $22.43 | $46,650 |
| Arkansas | $28.35 | $58,980 | $23.95 | $49,820 |
| California | $39.96 | $83,110 | $36.21 | $75,320 |
| Colorado | $31.51 | $65,530 | $31.29 | $65,080 |
| Connecticut | $36.15 | $75,190 | $37.89 | $78,820 |
| Delaware | $28.29 | $58,850 | $27.70 | $57,620 |
| District of Columbia | $39.09 | $81,300 | $34.96 | $72,720 |
| Florida | $26.98 | $56,120 | $24.45 | $50,860 |
| Georgia | $25.96 | $54,000 | $24.43 | $50,810 |
| Hawaii | $34.12 | $70,960 | $33.82 | $70,340 |
| Idaho | $29.46 | $61,280 | $24.47 | $50,900 |
| Illinois | $29.62 | $61,600 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| Indiana | $27.96 | $58,170 | $26.16 | $54,410 |
| Iowa | $27.36 | $56,910 | $24.20 | $50,340 |
| Kansas | $28.19 | $58,640 | $26.98 | $56,110 |
| Kentucky | $24.31 | $50,560 | $21.85 | $45,450 |
| Louisiana | $24.22 | $50,380 | $21.18 | $44,050 |
| Maine | $34.53 | $71,820 | $32.60 | $67,820 |
| Maryland | $32.70 | $68,020 | $29.38 | $61,100 |
| Massachusetts | $33.65 | $69,990 | $31.23 | $64,960 |
| Michigan | $29.91 | $62,220 | $28.85 | $60,000 |
| Minnesota | $37.11 | $77,190 | $37.07 | $77,100 |
| Mississippi | $23.23 | $48,330 | $23.48 | $48,830 |
| Missouri | $23.33 | $48,520 | $22.23 | $46,250 |
| Montana | $24.47 | $50,890 | $21.09 | $43,880 |
| Nebraska | $23.26 | $48,390 | $21.69 | $45,120 |
| Nevada | $26.68 | $55,490 | $23.97 | $49,850 |
| New Hampshire | $34.15 | $71,030 | $30.68 | $63,810 |
| New Jersey | $34.83 | $72,450 | $33.85 | $70,420 |
| New Mexico | $33.95 | $70,620 | $31.54 | $65,600 |
| New York | $46.27 | $96,240 | $38.57 | $80,230 |
| North Carolina | $28.03 | $58,300 | $27.28 | $56,730 |
| North Dakota | $31.64 | $65,800 | $29.64 | $61,660 |
| Ohio | $24.74 | $51,470 | $22.27 | $46,330 |
| Oklahoma | $20.49 | $42,620 | $20.76 | $43,190 |
| Oregon | $35.73 | $74,310 | $34.53 | $71,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $26.57 | $55,260 | $23.84 | $49,590 |
| Rhode Island | $36.15 | $75,200 | $29.08 | $60,490 |
| South Carolina | $21.34 | $44,380 | $20.07 | $41,750 |
| South Dakota | $24.79 | $51,560 | $23.83 | $49,560 |
| Tennessee | $25.60 | $53,240 | $23.44 | $48,760 |
| Texas | $24.84 | $51,660 | $21.53 | $44,790 |
| Vermont | $35.64 | $74,120 | $33.43 | $69,540 |
| Virginia | $34.07 | $70,870 | $30.54 | $63,530 |
| Washington | $34.45 | $71,660 | $33.20 | $69,060 |
| West Virginia | $23.68 | $49,250 | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| Wisconsin | $28.92 | $60,150 | $27.69 | $57,590 |
| Wyoming | $23.25 | $48,360 | $20.30 | $42,220 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. No data available for Utah. | ||||
Social workers, all other average salary by state*
| Average Salary | Median Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Per Hour | Per Year | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Alabama | $41.27 | $85,850 | $42.87 | $89,170 |
| Alaska | $32.47 | $67,530 | $29.27 | $60,880 |
| Arizona | $32.56 | $67,720 | $29.00 | $60,330 |
| Arkansas | $31.93 | $66,420 | $22.21 | $46,210 |
| California | $39.17 | $81,480 | $33.87 | $70,440 |
| Colorado | $32.45 | $67,500 | $30.44 | $63,320 |
| Connecticut | $34.40 | $71,560 | $32.94 | $68,510 |
| Delaware | $41.72 | $86,780 | $44.09 | $91,710 |
| District of Columbia | $51.00 | $106,090 | $51.47 | $107,060 |
| Florida | $32.47 | $67,540 | $27.50 | $57,200 |
| Georgia | $42.20 | $87,770 | $44.59 | $92,750 |
| Hawaii | $47.78 | $99,390 | $52.30 | $108,780 |
| Idaho | $34.31 | $71,370 | $28.82 | $59,950 |
| Illinois | $34.70 | $72,170 | $30.57 | $63,590 |
| Indiana | $38.02 | $79,080 | $38.66 | $80,410 |
| Iowa | $40.18 | $83,570 | $42.31 | $88,000 |
| Kentucky | $36.77 | $76,490 | $35.19 | $73,200 |
| Louisiana | $34.00 | $70,720 | $31.12 | $64,720 |
| Maine | $30.74 | $63,930 | $26.55 | $55,220 |
| Maryland | $39.96 | $83,110 | $37.45 | $77,900 |
| Massachusetts | $44.33 | $92,200 | $45.19 | $94,000 |
| Michigan | $32.27 | $67,130 | $28.33 | $58,920 |
| Minnesota | $37.93 | $78,900 | $38.09 | $79,220 |
| Mississippi | $38.51 | $80,110 | $43.20 | $89,860 |
| Missouri | $33.20 | $69,060 | $25.04 | $52,080 |
| Montana | $27.85 | $57,930 | $23.85 | $49,600 |
| Nebraska | $34.56 | $71,880 | $32.50 | $67,590 |
| Nevada | $50.09 | $104,180 | $52.51 | $109,220 |
| New Hampshire | $49.08 | $102,090 | $50.37 | $104,770 |
| New Jersey | $35.09 | $72,990 | $33.86 | $70,430 |
| New Mexico | $35.88 | $74,630 | $33.15 | $68,950 |
| New York | $37.49 | $77,970 | $36.07 | $75,020 |
| North Carolina | $34.87 | $72,530 | $30.36 | $63,150 |
| North Dakota | $36.90 | $76,760 | $37.20 | $77,380 |
| Ohio | $32.26 | $67,090 | $29.32 | $60,990 |
| Oklahoma | $45.83 | $95,330 | $48.15 | $100,150 |
| Oregon | $31.94 | $66,440 | $30.46 | $63,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $34.07 | $70,870 | $31.73 | $65,990 |
| Rhode Island | $49.48 | $102,910 | $51.40 | $106,910 |
| South Carolina | $40.73 | $84,720 | $44.20 | $91,940 |
| South Dakota | $41.44 | $86,180 | $42.94 | $89,320 |
| Tennessee | $29.55 | $61,470 | $25.03 | $52,060 |
| Texas | $41.55 | $86,420 | $43.04 | $89,520 |
| Utah | $33.71 | $70,120 | $30.56 | $63,560 |
| Vermont | $36.53 | $75,980 | $33.94 | $70,590 |
| Virginia | $39.24 | $81,620 | $41.68 | $86,690 |
| Washington | $43.95 | $91,410 | $46.42 | $96,550 |
| West Virginia | $35.21 | $73,230 | $33.17 | $68,990 |
| Wisconsin | $31.89 | $66,330 | $30.05 | $62,510 |
| Wyoming | $39.40 | $81,940 | $36.00 | $74,880 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||||
What type of social worker is paid the most?
Among the distinct social worker specialties the Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes, Healthcare Social Workers earn the highest average salary across all states:
Average wages*
| Job / career | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers (BLS) | $30.25 | $62,920 |
| Healthcare Social Workers (BLS) | $34.63 | $72,030 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (BLS) | $32.83 | $68,290 |
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- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
1. Individuals considering the Master of Social Work program should be aware that state certification/ licensure requirements and eligibility to apply for certification/licensure vary from state to state. While certification/licensure is not a requirement for certain types of jobs, in some states, it may be required for any positions titled ‘Social Worker’ and to refer to yourself as a Social Worker in professional settings.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.