The question that we see the most from readers is definitely “How much do social workers make?“
And we don’t blame you for asking! Determining your salary is a smart thing to do before making any big career decisions. Let’s take a look!
Below, we’ve broken down the average social worker salary and hourly wage by state. These numbers were taken from a salary study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011.
Click a social work job below to see how much they earn!
| Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Alaska | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| Arizona | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Arkansas | $34,110 | $16.40 |
| California | $47,180 | $22.69 |
| Colorado | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| Connecticut | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Delaware | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| District of Columbia | $51,340 | $24.68 |
| Florida | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| Georgia | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Hawaii | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Idaho | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Illinois | $49,970 | $24.02 |
| Indiana | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Iowa | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| Kansas | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Kentucky | $36,970 | $17.77 |
| Louisiana | $42,400 | $20.38 |
| Maine | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| Maryland | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Massachusetts | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| Michigan | $49,110 | $23.61 |
| Minnesota | $57,400 | $27.59 |
| Mississippi | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| Missouri | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| Montana | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| Nebraska | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Nevada | $45,830 | $22.03 |
| New Hampshire | $42,410 | $20.39 |
| New Jersey | $55,180 | $26.53 |
| New Mexico | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| New York | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| North Carolina | $42,840 | $20.60 |
| North Dakota | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Ohio | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Oklahoma | $30,820 | $14.82 |
| Oregon | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| Rhode Island | $55,150 | $26.51 |
| South Carolina | $31,660 | $15.22 |
| South Dakota | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Tennessee | $34,640 | $16.66 |
| Texas | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Utah | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| Vermont | $42,590 | $20.48 |
| Virgin Islands | $41,140 | $19.78 |
| Virginia | $43,130 | $20.74 |
| Washington | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| West Virginia | $28,730 | $13.81 |
| Wisconsin | $46,830 | $22.51 |
| Wyoming | $43,190 | $20.76 |
| Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,030 | $19.73 |
| Alaska | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| Arizona | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| Arkansas | $46,350 | $22.28 |
| California | $60,000 | $28.85 |
| Colorado | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Connecticut | $58,590 | $28.17 |
| Delaware | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| District of Columbia | $68,780 | $33.07 |
| Florida | $44,770 | $21.52 |
| Georgia | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Guam | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| Hawaii | $59,650 | $28.68 |
| Idaho | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Illinois | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Indiana | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Iowa | $44,210 | $21.25 |
| Kansas | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| Kentucky | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Louisiana | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Maine | $44,940 | $21.60 |
| Maryland | $58,490 | $28.12 |
| Massachusetts | $51,700 | $24.86 |
| Michigan | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Minnesota | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| Mississippi | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Missouri | $39,820 | $19.15 |
| Montana | $45,460 | $21.85 |
| Nebraska | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Nevada | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| New Hampshire | $54,830 | $26.36 |
| New Jersey | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| New Mexico | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| New York | $53,090 | $25.52 |
| North Carolina | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| North Dakota | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| Ohio | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| Oklahoma | $41,520 | $19.96 |
| Oregon | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,270 | $21.76 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,490 | $12.74 |
| Rhode Island | $58,880 | $28.31 |
| South Carolina | $42,110 | $20.25 |
| South Dakota | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| Tennessee | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| Texas | $51,820 | $24.91 |
| Utah | $51,970 | $24.99 |
| Vermont | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| Virginia | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Washington | $53,740 | $25.84 |
| West Virginia | $41,190 | $19.80 |
| Wisconsin | $48,500 | $23.32 |
| Wyoming | $49,220 | $23.66 |
| Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,940 | $14.40 |
| Alaska | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| Arizona | $35,620 | $17.12 |
| Arkansas | $45,040 | $21.66 |
| California | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Colorado | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Connecticut | $49,580 | $23.84 |
| Delaware | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| District of Columbia | $58,810 | $28.27 |
| Florida | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Georgia | $43,800 | $21.06 |
| Hawaii | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| Idaho | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Illinois | $36,130 | $17.37 |
| Indiana | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Iowa | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Kansas | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Kentucky | $35,480 | $17.06 |
| Louisiana | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Maine | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Maryland | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| Massachusetts | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Michigan | $41,460 | $19.93 |
| Minnesota | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Mississippi | $31,580 | $15.18 |
| Missouri | $30,420 | $14.63 |
| Montana | $34,100 | $16.39 |
| Nebraska | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Nevada | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| New Hampshire | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| New Jersey | $56,150 | $27.00 |
| New Mexico | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| New York | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| North Carolina | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| North Dakota | $39,590 | $19.04 |
| Ohio | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Oklahoma | $31,420 | $15.11 |
| Oregon | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,240 | $8.77 |
| Rhode Island | $50,950 | $24.49 |
| South Carolina | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| South Dakota | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Tennessee | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Texas | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Utah | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| Vermont | $34,100 | $16.40 |
| Virgin Islands | $41,930 | $20.16 |
| Virginia | $42,980 | $20.66 |
| Washington | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| West Virginia | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Wisconsin | $47,600 | $22.88 |
| Wyoming | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Median Annual Salary | Median Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $57,420 | $27.60 |
| Alaska | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Arizona | $56,630 | $27.23 |
| Arkansas | $33,670 | $16.19 |
| California | $63,150 | $30.36 |
| Colorado | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Connecticut | $48,970 | $23.54 |
| Delaware | $63,380 | $30.47 |
| District of Columbia | $68,260 | $32.82 |
| Florida | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Georgia | $61,230 | $29.44 |
| Hawaii | $59,540 | $28.62 |
| Idaho | $61,310 | $29.47 |
| Illinois | $59,310 | $28.52 |
| Indiana | $43,850 | $21.08 |
| Iowa | $47,450 | $22.81 |
| Kansas | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Kentucky | $63,140 | $30.35 |
| Louisiana | $55,630 | $26.75 |
| Maine | $45,240 | $21.75 |
| Maryland | $66,410 | $31.93 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $27.87 |
| Michigan | $46,840 | $22.52 |
| Minnesota | $66,910 | $32.17 |
| Mississippi | $66,960 | $32.19 |
| Missouri | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Montana | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Nebraska | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Nevada | $65,120 | $31.31 |
| New Hampshire | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| New Jersey | $53,890 | $25.91 |
| New Mexico | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| New York | $57,260 | $27.53 |
| North Carolina | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| North Dakota | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Ohio | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| Oklahoma | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| Oregon | $45,160 | $21.71 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,270 | $11.19 |
| Rhode Island | $64,780 | $31.14 |
| South Carolina | $41,000 | $19.71 |
| South Dakota | $65,060 | $31.28 |
| Tennessee | $50,630 | $24.34 |
| Texas | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Utah | $40,490 | $19.47 |
| Vermont | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Virginia | $59,690 | $28.70 |
| Washington | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| West Virginia | $68,810 | $33.08 |
| Wisconsin | $54,390 | $26.15 |
| Wyoming | $47,700 | $22.93 |
Factors That Affect Average Salary for Social Workers
In 2009, the National Association of Social Workers conducted a Compensation & Benefits study to determine how much social workers earn on average, and which factors affected pay the greatest. 5,000 social workers were surveyed regarding their salaries and benefits, and here are the results:
- Age. As expected, older and more experienced social workers earned more than younger, less experienced individuals. Average base pay for social workers under 35 was $46,000, while those aged 55-64 earned $59,000.
- Gender. The survey found that median base pay for women ($53,000) was lower than than men ($64,000).
- Race/Ethnicity. No strong correlations were found between a social worker’s race and their average pay.
- Education. Education had a huge impact on how much social workers earned! Those holding only a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) earned $15,000 less than those who had their master’s degree in social work (MSW). Individuals who went beyond their MSW to obtain a DSW or PhD in social work made an additional $17,000 more!
- Licenses & Certifications. Licensed social workers earned moderately more than their unlicensed colleagues: $55,000 vs. $50,000. Other certifications, such as school and geriatric certifications, also led to moderate increases in salary.
- Sector. Social workers working in government and military sectors earned more than any other. For those working in the private sector, average salaries were not much different between profit and non-profit organizations. Social workers in private practice had a wide range that included the highest and lowest base salaries recorded for any sector.
- Work Environment. The highest to lowest paying settings were government agencies, K-12 schools, hospitals, colleges, psychiatric settings, health clinics, social services, solo practice, mental health, hospice, and group practice.
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