How much does a social worker make? Social Worker salary by state
In the US, social workers earn a median of about $59,550 to $67,880 a year depending on the type: child, family & school social workers $59,550; healthcare social workers $67,880; mental health & substance abuse social workers $60,280.
Social Worker pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. State figures are medians; the pay level applies to US figures.
Social Worker salary by type
| Type | Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% | US jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family & school social worker | $42,280 | $59,550 | $95,530 | 392,550 |
| Healthcare social worker | $46,220 | $67,880 | $100,360 | 187,630 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social worker | $39,740 | $60,280 | $104,170 | 132,810 |
Social Worker salary by state
Median annual pay by state, BLS May 2025.
| State | Child, family & school social worker | Healthcare social worker |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,660 | $60,000 |
| Alaska | $62,630 | $62,000 |
| Arizona | $50,150 | $64,030 |
| Arkansas | $43,330 | $55,640 |
| California | $65,200 | $89,660 |
| Colorado | $63,720 | $63,480 |
| Connecticut | $78,970 | $79,900 |
| Delaware | $48,520 | $64,620 |
| District of Columbia | $73,550 | $94,100 |
| Florida | $56,550 | $64,820 |
| Georgia | $47,510 | $62,420 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | $85,420 |
| Idaho | $59,840 | $74,500 |
| Illinois | $63,220 | $64,270 |
| Indiana | $50,470 | $64,580 |
| Iowa | $52,250 | $63,050 |
| Kansas | $54,300 | $64,440 |
| Kentucky | $59,100 | $64,080 |
| Louisiana | $56,800 | $61,080 |
| Maine | $63,290 | $71,610 |
| Maryland | $76,390 | $76,440 |
| Massachusetts | $75,570 | $76,440 |
| Michigan | $59,270 | $67,600 |
| Minnesota | $67,450 | $73,970 |
| Mississippi | $46,530 | $62,250 |
| Missouri | $48,520 | $59,870 |
| Montana | $56,780 | $57,090 |
| Nebraska | $47,770 | $62,420 |
| Nevada | $61,080 | $78,470 |
| New Hampshire | $71,010 | $78,260 |
| New Jersey | $76,280 | $82,690 |
| New Mexico | $56,160 | $65,930 |
| New York | $65,100 | $73,070 |
| North Carolina | $59,610 | $63,280 |
| North Dakota | $64,560 | $62,860 |
| Ohio | $51,520 | $63,610 |
| Oklahoma | $43,950 | $56,120 |
| Oregon | $64,130 | $84,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,820 | $61,900 |
| Rhode Island | $69,870 | $75,390 |
| South Carolina | $51,800 | $60,840 |
| South Dakota | $51,100 | $57,510 |
| Tennessee | $56,310 | $61,240 |
| Texas | $55,680 | $69,990 |
| Utah | $52,000 | $78,150 |
| Vermont | $67,340 | $81,140 |
| Virginia | $61,330 | $66,550 |
| Washington | $74,480 | $78,570 |
| West Virginia | $52,220 | $60,140 |
| Wisconsin | $59,280 | $66,910 |
| Wyoming | $56,420 | $62,260 |
Highest-paying states for social workers
For healthcare social workers:
- District of Columbia: $94,100
- California: $89,660
- Hawaii: $85,420
- Oregon: $84,350
- New Jersey: $82,690
Common questions
How much does a social worker make?
Median pay ranges from $59,550 (child, family & school social workers) to $67,880 (healthcare social workers) a year, per BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a social worker make a month?
At a median of $67,880 a year, a healthcare social worker earns about $5,657 a month before taxes.
Which state pays social workers the most?
For healthcare social workers, District of Columbia has the highest median at $94,100, followed by California ($89,660) and Hawaii ($85,420).
How much does an entry-level social worker make?
The lowest-paid 10% of healthcare social workers earn under $46,220 a year, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of social workers make?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers earn over $100,360 a year.
How much does a social worker make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median pay for healthcare social workers is $89,660 in California, $69,990 in Texas, $64,820 in Florida, $73,070 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey, the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. General information, not career or financial advice.