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Few professions are as personally gratifying as social work, which U.S. News & World Report includes in its 2021 list of the best 100 jobs. Social workers take great pride in helping those in need; this spirit of service keeps many feeling fulfilled even as they deal with long hours and often heavy responsibilities.
Income is also worth considering, however, as it can have a significant impact on quality of life. To that end, we’ve compiled a detailed guide explaining how much social workers can expect to earn based on a variety of contributing factors.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) pointed to median annual wages of $51,760 as of 2020. This figure, however, does not truly capture the range of incomes available within this diverse profession.
Earnings within specific niches, for example, tend to vary significantly. Even within a particular specialty, social workers can make dramatically different wages. The tables below highlight percentile wage estimates for four categories of social workers, as compiled by the BLS.
Keep in mind that there are significant differences between the median and average, both of which are often referenced by the BLS. The median highlights the midpoint within a set of salary figures. Half the salaries represented exceed this midpoint, while half fall below. Conversely, the mean (otherwise known as the average) involves the sum of all relevant salary figures divided by the total number of figures within the set.
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Annual Wage | $32,300 | $38,350 | $48,430 | $62,080 | $80,290 |
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Annual Wage | $30,770 | $37,220 | $48,720 | $65,210 | $87,420 |
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Annual Wage | $36,110 | $45,280 | $57,630 | $72,120 | $87,150 |
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Annual Wage | $36,070 | $45,130 | $64,210 | $83,200 | $96,140 |
When examining job prospects, it’s important to consider both annual and hourly wages. After all, annual earnings that seem reasonable at first glance might not look as favorable when taking long hours into account.
The BLS cites median hourly wages of $24.88 for social workers. A lot depends, however, on the type of schedules these professionals maintain. Some work on a part-time basis, but overtime hours are common for many.
As experts at the BLS point out, social workers see clients in the evening, on weekends, or during holidays. Even when they are not actively working, they may be on call.
The following statistics provide a glimpse into how several types of social workers fare on an hourly basis.
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $15.53 | $18.44 | $23.28 | $29.85 | $38.60 |
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $14.79 | $17.89 | $23.42 | $31.35 | $42.03 |
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $17.36 | $21.77 | $27.71 | $34.67 | $41.90 |
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $17.34 | $21.70 | $30.87 | $40.00 | $46.22 |
Regional variations in pay are worth considering when determining where to work, especially when compared against a particular location’s cost of living. Social work wages can vary from one state to the next, as evidenced by the location-based salary data we’ve compiled. As with the annual and hourly statistics referenced above, these are divided into categories based on social work specialties.
| Rank | State | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $34.54 | $71,840 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $34.19 | $71,110 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $32.81 | $68,230 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $31.46 | $65,430 |
| 5 | New York | $30.65 | $63,740 |
| Rank | State | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Delaware | $19.42 | $40,390 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $19.22 | $39,980 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $18.79 | $39,080 |
| 49 | Missouri | $18.16 | $37,770 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $17.69 | $36,800 |
| Rank | State | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $43.79 | $91,070 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $35.33 | $73,490 |
| 3 | California | $35.17 | $73,150 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $31.97 | $66,500 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $31.46 | $65,430 |
| Rank | State | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $18.99 | $39,510 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $18.74 | $38,970 |
| 48 | Montana | $18.66 | $38,820 |
| 49 | Alabama | $18.20 | $37,850 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $17.17 | $35,710 |
| Rank | State | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $39.91 | $83,000 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $36.59 | $76,100 |
| 3 | Oregon | $36.41 | $75,730 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $35.29 | $73,410 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $34.54 | $71,850 |
| Rank | State | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Tennessee | $24.04 | $49,990 |
| 47 | Missouri | $23.58 | $49,050 |
| 48 | Alabama | $23.23 | $48,310 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $23.20 | $48,260 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $21.84 | $45,430 |
As indicated above, specialty and location can play a significant role in social worker income. Beyond this, however, social workers’ earnings may depend on the following factors:
If the data cited above are any indication, a range of factors must be taken into account when considering the financial implications of a career in social work. Now that you have a basic understanding of the field’s typical salary ranges, however, you may still have questions. Below, we’ve answered a few of the most common queries that both aspiring and current social workers ask about earnings and job outlook.
The aforementioned median of $51,760 per year compares favorably to the 2020 median wages identified by the Census Bureau.) for all employees ages 15 and over: $41,535. This looks less impressive, however, when compared to the Census Bureau’s data on median wages for full-time, year-round workers: $61,417 for men and $50,982 for women.
In its May 2020 report, the BLS highlights federal executive branch social workers as especially well paid, earning annual average wages of $82,490. Social workers employed by general medical and surgical hospitals earn, on average, $75,270 per year. But take a close look at the specialty-based income charts above, and you might notice that the category labeled “all other” consistently exceeds other types of social work in terms of pay. While this category encompasses several varieties of social work, these are the five top-paying industries for social workers classified under “All Other.”
| Industry | Average hourly wage | Average annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch [Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Designation | $39.66 | $82,490 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $36.19 | $75,270 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $33.42 | $69,520 |
| Educational Support Services | $32.94 | $68,520 |
| Insurance Carriers | $32.76 | $68,140 |
Although uncommon, it is possible for social workers to exceed six figures in annual earnings. This is most likely after earning an upper-level degree, specializing in an in-demand niche, and working in the industry for a decade or longer. Living in the right location is also important. In New Jersey, for example, social workers specializing in mental health/substance abuse earn average annual wages of over $91,000.
According to the BLS, median annual wages for registered nurses reached $75,330 in 2020. This significantly exceeds the median of $51,760 that the BLS reported across the spectrum of social work that year.
That being said, certain social work specialties may allow some professionals to out-earn certain types of RNs. Nurses employed in residential care facilities and educational services, for example, tend to earn less than those in other areas of healthcare, although respective wages of $68,450 and $64,630 still place these niches ahead of most social work specialties.
Impressive demand should make it relatively easy for social workers to find employment, although variations exist based on specialty and location. The BLS highlights a social work job outlook of 12% growth between 2020 and 2030, as compared to just 8% across all occupations.
Social work is a diverse field that encompasses a variety of licenses, specialties, and work settings. Pay can be excellent in some areas and less impressive in others. As such, due diligence is critical when determining which niches and job opportunities to pursue.
Stephanie Lica is a contributor for Berxi and an experienced content writer who enjoys using the written word to help others achieve the same sense of fulfillment in their professional lives.
Image courtesy of iStock.com/SDI Productions
Last updated on Jul 24, 2024.
Originally published on Nov 23, 2021.
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