SOC 21-1029 · May 2025
Social Worker Salary
Social Workers in the US earn a median of $71,900 a year ($36.50 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Social Worker pay climbed from $61,750 in 2019 to $75,910 in 2025, a +22.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$71,900
Half of all Social Workers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+22.9% since 2019 · +1.6% YoY
Hourly
$36.50
Job growth 2025-35
+2.3%
US workers
62,930
BLS series
Annual median wage for Social Workers, All Other in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Social Workers is $43,620 – $115,610.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$43,620
25th
$51,900
Median
$71,900
75th
$97,040
90th
$115,610
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Social Workers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $43,620 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $51,900 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $71,900 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $97,040 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $115,610 |
Geography
Social Worker pay by state
Social Workers earn the most in Nevada ($121,830, +69% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($47,790). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 50 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$71,900
Highest-paying states for social workers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $121,830 | +69% | 370 |
| Hawaii | $116,130 | +62% | 200 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | +55% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $103,710 | +44% | 100 |
| Washington | $102,520 | +43% | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $101,860 | +42% | 320 |
| Massachusetts | $101,280 | +41% | 540 |
| Missouri | $98,740 | +37% | 590 |
| D.C. | $96,380 | +34% | 350 |
| South Carolina | $96,350 | +34% | 440 |
All 50 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $121,830 | 370 |
| Hawaii | $116,130 | 200 |
| Rhode Island | $111,590 | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $103,710 | 100 |
| Washington | $102,520 | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $101,860 | 320 |
| Massachusetts | $101,280 | 540 |
| Missouri | $98,740 | 590 |
| D.C. | $96,380 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $96,350 | 440 |
| Alabama | $94,270 | 400 |
| South Dakota | $93,760 | 130 |
| Delaware | $93,250 | 130 |
| Virginia | $92,930 | 860 |
| Mississippi | $91,560 | 280 |
| Iowa | $91,170 | 230 |
| New Mexico | $90,820 | 250 |
| Idaho | $88,610 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $85,160 | 610 |
| Indiana | $84,570 | 460 |
| Texas | $84,240 | 2,880 |
| New York | $84,010 | 2,470 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $79,790 | 7,270 |
| Georgia | $78,260 | 1,510 |
| New Jersey | $76,640 | 640 |
| Nebraska | $76,520 | 220 |
| Maryland | $75,600 | 1,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,430 | 1,730 |
| Vermont | $73,070 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $69,230 | 850 |
| Connecticut | $69,080 | 460 |
| Wyoming | $69,020 | 160 |
| Oregon | $67,820 | 3,710 |
| Utah | $66,440 | 660 |
| Illinois | $64,030 | 1,910 |
| North Carolina | $63,490 | 1,670 |
| California | $63,010 | 6,430 |
| Wisconsin | $62,830 | 1,860 |
| West Virginia | $62,590 | 680 |
| Arizona | $62,150 | 2,850 |
| Michigan | $62,140 | 1,700 |
| Colorado | $61,610 | 2,190 |
| Alaska | $61,220 | 330 |
| Maine | $60,280 | 470 |
| Ohio | $59,780 | 3,250 |
| Florida | $58,550 | 4,800 |
| Montana | $51,650 | 540 |
| Tennessee | $51,460 | 1,910 |
| Arkansas | $47,790 | 690 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Social Workers
Social workers (BLS SOC 21-1029, Social Workers, All Other; specific specialties have separate SOCs) help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social work requires a master's degree (MSW) plus state licensure (LCSW). Pay varies by setting: federal VA and hospital positions typically pay above community-services and child-welfare positions.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $43,620 – $115,610. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Nevada, Hawaii and Rhode Island. Pay in Nevada runs 2.5 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 5,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Social Worker salary in the US?
How much does a Social Worker make an hour?
How much do Social Workers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Social Workers the most?
Is the average Social Worker salary higher than the median?
Is Social Worker a growing career?
Open positions
Open Social Worker roles hiring now
Browse current Social Worker listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 21-1029. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.