Social worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level social worker earnings begin at:

$46.61 per hour

$96,940 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level social worker earnings begin at:

$39.24 per hour

$81,610 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level social worker earnings begin at:

$36.74 per hour

$76,410 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level social worker earnings begin at:

$29.91 per hour

$62,220 per year

10th percentile

Starting level social worker earnings begin at:

$22.78 per hour

$47,390 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Social worker salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Hawaii $90,540
Massachusetts $88,770
Nevada $86,510
Georgia $81,620
Washington $81,510
New Hampshire $80,540
South Dakota $78,640
Rhode Island $77,970
South Carolina $77,480
New York $76,410
Kansas $76,190
Virginia $75,800
Idaho $74,850
North Dakota $73,260
West Virginia $73,260
Indiana $71,700
Alabama $71,300
Illinois $71,120
Pennsylvania $68,370
Delaware $67,230
Texas $67,190
North Carolina $67,160
Iowa $64,650
Connecticut $64,380
Minnesota $63,480
New Jersey $63,410
Maryland $63,340
California $61,690
Michigan $61,210
Nebraska $61,210
Arizona $60,510
Wisconsin $60,040
District of Columbia $60,020
Vermont $58,390
Ohio $57,390
New Mexico $57,370
Louisiana $54,730
Oregon $54,220
Oklahoma $53,410
Wyoming $50,970
Maine $50,070
Alaska $49,630
Colorado $48,620
Mississippi $47,820
Florida $47,260
Guam $46,920
Montana $46,920
Kentucky $46,640
Utah $45,360
Tennessee $39,820
Arkansas $37,200
Missouri $37,200
Puerto Rico $30,010

How do social worker salaries compare to similar careers?

Social workers earn 6% less than similar careers in New York. On average, they make less than detectives but more than funeral directors.

Career Median Salary
Detective salary $100K
American sign language interpreter salary $78K
Police officer salary $79K
Arbitrator salary $74K
Probation officer salary $76K
Social worker salary $76K
Firefighter salary $79K
Fire inspector salary $64K
Correctional officer salary $65K
Funeral director salary $66K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)