Social Work Salary: How Much Do Social Workers Make?
- Social workers typically make from $46,000-$76,000 a year.
- The typical social worker’s salary in 2023 was around $58,000.
- Their pay depends on different factors, such as industry and geographical location.
- As a social worker, your level of education may influence your salary potential.
Social workers dedicate their careers to advocating for vulnerable people and promoting social justice. While challenging, the job can also be rewarding, especially for those driven to serve others. But how much does it realistically pay?
Social work salaries vary widely and depend on many factors, like the sector you work in or your degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2023, the median annual salary for social workers was $58,380. However, different types of social workers report different earnings.
Median Social Work Salary by the Numbers
$58,380
Social workers
$62,940
Healthcare Social Workers
$55,960
Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers
$53,940
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Keep reading to learn how social work salaries vary based on your job, industry, and level of education.
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Highest-Paying Social Work Jobs
Social workers who become directors or supervisors in social service organizations tend to earn salaries on the higher end for all social workers. These social workers may also have several years of clinical experience or advanced degrees.
| Social Work Job | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Director | $85,490 |
| Social Work Professor | $80,840 |
| Executive Director of a Social Work Organization | $74,800 |
| Behavior Analyst | $71,210 |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker | $65,880 |
| Clinical Supervisor | $65,890 |
| Social Services Director | $62,760 |
| Medical Social Worker | $60,940 |
What Industry Pays Social Workers the Most?
A social worker’s salary can depend on the industry they work in. Social workers can find jobs in many industries, including schools, hospitals, small private clinics, and large government agencies.
Social workers tend to earn the most money working for the federal government, where they research and develop social service, healthcare, and education policies. Social workers working for the federal government earned a median salary of $93,870 in 2023.
Other top-paying industries for social workers include:
- State-Owned Hospitals: Median annual wage of $77,570 in 2023
- Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $75,360
- Physicians’ Offices: $68,000
- Insurance carriers: $65,250
More Education Leads to Higher Social Work Salaries
Bachelor’s in Social Work Salary
In bachelor’s in social work (BSW) programs, students learn the foundations of social work. They may complete internships assisting licensed social workers. When they graduate, they can start a master’s degree program or enter the workforce.
BSW graduates are not legally qualified to provide clinical services or therapy. However, some social work jobs only require a BSW. These are entry-level positions in direct service:
Social and Community Service Managers
These professionals coordinate programs and manage staff at social service organizations. They might hire people, create budgets, and use data to improve their organization’s offerings.
Median Salary
$77,030 (BLS, May 2023)
Community Outreach Workers
Community outreach workers work for social service organizations to spread the word about their agency’s services. They also recruit or enroll people who may need help. These professionals typically complete extensive on-the-job training.
Average Salary
$48,340 (Payscale, April 2024)
Housing Case Managers
Case managers support individuals through major life transitions. They advocate for people and connect them to needed services. Housing case managers work with people experiencing homelessness. They help people apply for housing and stay in housing for the long term.
Average Salary
$47,020 (Payscale, April 2024)
Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Salary
A master’s in social work prepares graduates for clinical social work, healthcare, and administration careers. You need a master’s degree to become a licensed social worker.
Most social workers have master’s degrees, according to O*NET OnLine, including 77% of mental health and substance use social workers and 70% of healthcare social workers. However, just 26% of child, family, and school social worker occupations require master’s degrees.
Social workers may increase their earning potential by pursuing an MSW. Check out some of the jobs and salaries for MSW graduates below:
Medical Social Worker
Medical social workers primarily work with patients and their families in hospitals or outpatient clinics. These professionals advocate for patients and help them cope through treatment. They may provide families with emotional support and connect them to support groups or financial resources.
Median Salary
$62,940 (BLS, May 2023)
Geriatric Social Worker
Geriatric or gerontological social workers work with older individuals and their families. They may specialize in:
- Transitioning to long-term care
- Investigating elder abuse
- Coping with age-related disease or other aspects of aging
Average Salary
$65,790 (Payscale, April 2024)
School Social Worker
School social workers try to understand students’ lives outside of school to help students do their best. These professionals connect students and families to services when needed. They may also influence school policies to better support students’ social and emotional lives.
Median Salary
$53,940 (BLS, May 2023)
Doctorate or Ph.D. in Social Work Salary
If you want to study social work at the doctoral level, you can earn a Ph.D. or a doctor of social work degree (DSW). People with a Ph.D. in social work may be qualified to work as professors or researchers. The DSW prepares students to perform macro-level social work, which involves solving systemic problems in society through policies and social programs.
Doctoral degrees in social work may correspond to higher paychecks. Below, check out some of the careers for these graduates.
Policy and Public Administration Researcher
These researchers study forces that impact society’s well-being. They may specialize in housing, child welfare, or drug rehabilitation, among other fields. They design research projects, uncover best practices, and help inform policies and legislation.
Median Salary
$132,350 (BLS, May 2023)
Department Chair
Department chairs lead an academic department at a college or university. A social work department chair may supervise other faculty, work with the school’s administrators, and help get resources for the department or social work research.
Average Salary
$87,960 (Payscale, April 2024)
Professor
Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Social work professors might teach courses about family systems, public policy, or program evaluation methods. Professors who are also clinicians may instruct and advise students pursuing social work licensure.
Median Salary
$75,020 (BLS, May 2023)
Social Worker Salaries by State
According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Pacific region social workers tend to make higher salaries. Salaries for social workers in the South Central area of the U.S. tend to be lower. Additionally, metropolitan areas tend to have higher social worker salaries than rural areas.
Median Salary for Social Workers by State (2023)
| State⇅ | Child, Family, and School Social Workers⇅ | Healthcare Social Workers⇅ | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers⇅ | Other Social Workers⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,970 | $55,850 | $37,870 | $83,470 |
| Alaska | $63,360 | $64,500 | $60,120 | $57,630 |
| Arizona | $48,220 | $63,790 | $45,100 | $57,640 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 | $60,580 | $45,910 | $44,370 |
| California | $65,840 | $89,800 | $71,450 | $63,680 |
| Colorado | $62,520 | $62,660 | $60,450 | $52,150 |
| Connecticut | $63,050 | $79,210 | $78,720 | $66,750 |
| Delaware | $44,820 | $63,460 | $54,550 | $79,620 |
| District of Columbia | $73,560 | $83,460 | $84,560 | $99,110 |
| Florida | $47,490 | $61,940 | $50,900 | $48,980 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | Healthcare Social Workers | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | Other Social Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
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Job Growth for Social Workers
The BLS projects that social worker employment will grow 7% from 2023-2033. That’s faster than the average for all occupations.
The BLS projects even more growth for social workers in healthcare (10%) and mental health and substance use (11%).
As the population ages, social workers in healthcare settings can help people and their families adjust to medical interventions and elder care. And, as more people seek out mental health and substance use treatment, social workers help staff the clinics and services that assist people in recovery.
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