Home Salary Guide Social Worker

Social Services

Social Worker Salary

Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, addressing issues like substance abuse, child welfare, mental health, and poverty.

Median: $55,350 Growth: 9% BLS Data

Social Worker Salary Range

Entry Level

$38,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$55,000

5-10 years

Senior Level

$75,000

10+ years

Salary Percentiles

10th Percentile $36,130

25th Percentile $42,770

Median (50th) $55,350

75th Percentile $71,700

90th Percentile $87,300

Top Paying States for Social Workers

1 California

$72,000

2 Connecticut

$68,000

3 New Jersey

$67,000

4 Rhode Island

$65,000

5 Massachusetts

$64,000

Job Outlook & Education

Growth Rate

+9%

Above Average

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in Social Work (MSW for clinical)

How Much Do Social Workers Make?

The median annual salary for a social worker in the United States is $55,350 as of 2026. This means half of social workers earn more than this amount, and half earn less.

Salary by Experience Level

Entry Level (0-2 years): $38,000
Mid Career (5-10 years): $55,000
Senior Level (10+ years): $75,000

Calculate Your Take-Home

See exactly how much you'll take home after taxes with our income calculator.

Calculate $55,350 Salary

Hourly Equivalent

Based on 2,080 work hours/year

$26/hr

See $26/hr Breakdown

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What Can a Social Worker Afford?

Based on median salary of $55,350

Max Rent $1,374/mo

Max Car Payment $549/mo

Monthly Savings $723/mo

See Full Budget Breakdown

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