How much does a Social Worker make?

Updated Dec 5, 2023

Experience

Industry

Total Pay Range
$55K - $86K/yr
Base Pay
$52K - $80K/yr
Additional Pay
$3K - $5K/yr

$68K

/yr
$55K$86K
Most Likely Range

The estimated total pay for a Social Worker is $68,439 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $64,546 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $3,893 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $55K-$86K/yr?

Total Pay Trajectory

For Social Worker

$68,439 /yr
Social Worker
$80,757 /yr
Senior Social Worker
No Salary Reports
Adjunct Social Worker
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

What is the total pay trajectory for Social Worker?

Job TitleSalary
Social Worker$68,439 /yr
Senior Social Worker$80,757 /yr
Adjunct Social Worker

Top Paying Companies

For a Social Worker in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Social Worker in United States. Employers include Google, Alameda County and County of San Mateo.

1
Google
Google
$107,991/yr
1K open jobs
See pay for all companies for a Social Worker in United StatesView data as table

Top Paying Companies

For Social Worker in United States

1Google$107,991
2Alameda County$87,936
3County of San Mateo$79,881
4UCLA Health$79,616
5Stanford Health Care$78,877
6UC San Francisco$78,816
7County of Santa Clara$78,481
8City and County of San Francisco$78,356
9Sutter Health$77,915
10County of Sonoma$76,382
Total Pay Trajectory

For Social Worker

$68,439 /yr
Social Worker
$80,757 /yr
Senior Social Worker
No Salary Reports
Adjunct Social Worker
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

What is the total pay trajectory for Social Worker?

Job TitleSalary
Social Worker$68,439 /yr
Senior Social Worker$80,757 /yr
Adjunct Social Worker

What are total pay estimates for a Social Worker at different companies?

or
Sort:
Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
US Department of Veterans Affairs
3.7
Social WorkerSee 297 salaries from all locations

$70,822

 / yr
DaVita
3.4
Social WorkerSee 221 salaries from all locations

$66,887

 / yr
Fresenius Medical Care - North America
3.4
Social WorkerSee 121 salaries from all locations

$63,320

 / yr
Mount Sinai Health System
3.5
Social WorkerSee 118 salaries from all locations

$70,503

 / yr
ProMedica Senior Care
3.3
Social WorkerSee 82 salaries from all locations

$61,885

 / yr
Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
2.8
Social WorkerSee 73 salaries from all locations

$62,116

 / yr
VITAS Healthcare
3.4
Social WorkerSee 71 salaries from all locations

$61,691

 / yr

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NYC Health + Hospitals
3.6
Social WorkerSee 70 salaries from all locations

$68,465

 / yr
Northwell Health
3.9
Social WorkerSee 67 salaries from all locations

$68,770

 / yr
Gandara Center
2.8
Social WorkerSee 67 salaries from all locations

$58,988

 / yr
Dept. of Children and Family Services
3.3
Social WorkerSee 59 salaries from all locations

$59,836

 / yr
Ascension
3.4
Social WorkerSee 58 salaries from all locations

$62,120

 / yr
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
3.8
Social WorkerSee 57 salaries from all locations

$70,761

 / yr
SelfEmployed.com
4.4
Social WorkerSee 55 salaries from all locations

$60,176

 / yr
JCCA
3.1
Social WorkerSee 55 salaries from all locations

$61,652

 / yr
Providence
3.6
Social WorkerSee 48 salaries from all locations

$34

 / hr
Los Angeles County
3.8
Social WorkerSee 48 salaries from all locations

$74,795

 / yr
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
4
Social WorkerSee 47 salaries from all locations

$68,395

 / yr
Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services
3.3
Social WorkerSee 47 salaries from all locations

$52,859

 / yr
Center for Urban Community Service (CUCS)
3.5
Social WorkerSee 47 salaries from all locations

$54,695

 / yr
Download as data table

Social Worker Salaries

Job TitleSalary
US Department of Veterans Affairs Social Worker salaries - 297 salaries reported$70,822/yr
DaVita Social Worker salaries - 221 salaries reported$66,887/yr
Fresenius Medical Care - North America Social Worker salaries - 121 salaries reported$63,320/yr
Mount Sinai Health System Social Worker salaries - 118 salaries reported$70,503/yr
ProMedica Senior Care Social Worker salaries - 82 salaries reported$61,885/yr
Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Social Worker salaries - 73 salaries reported$62,116/yr
VITAS Healthcare Social Worker salaries - 71 salaries reported$61,691/yr
NYC Health + Hospitals Social Worker salaries - 70 salaries reported$68,465/yr
Northwell Health Social Worker salaries - 67 salaries reported$68,770/yr
Gandara Center Social Worker salaries - 67 salaries reported$58,988/yr
Dept. of Children and Family Services Social Worker salaries - 59 salaries reported$59,836/yr
Ascension Social Worker salaries - 58 salaries reported$62,120/yr
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Social Worker salaries - 57 salaries reported$70,761/yr
SelfEmployed.com Social Worker salaries - 55 salaries reported$60,176/yr
JCCA Social Worker salaries - 55 salaries reported$61,652/yr
Providence Social Worker salaries - 48 salaries reported$34/hr
Los Angeles County Social Worker salaries - 48 salaries reported$74,795/yr
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Social Worker salaries - 47 salaries reported$68,395/yr
Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services Social Worker salaries - 47 salaries reported$52,859/yr
Center for Urban Community Service (CUCS) Social Worker salaries - 47 salaries reported$54,695/yr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 8,300

Top Paying Industries

For a Social Worker in United States

The top 5 paying industries for a Social Worker in United States are Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $75,644, Information Technology with a median total pay of $67,204, Human Resources & Staffing with a median total pay of $66,526, Insurance with a median total pay of $65,737, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $64,111.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • Aerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense$75,644

    17% Higher than other industries

  • Information TechnologyInformation Technology$67,204

    6% Higher than other industries

  • Human Resources & StaffingHuman Resources & Staffing$66,526

    5% Higher than other industries

  • InsuranceInsurance$65,737

    4% Higher than other industries

  • Government & Public AdministrationGovernment & Public Administration$64,111

    2% Higher than other industries

Aerospace & Defense

The top paying company in Aerospace & Defense for Social Worker is US Department of Defense.

US Department of DefenseUS Department of Defense$75,644/yr

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

What is the pay outlook for Healthcare?

Healthcare jobs, already in high demand, are expected to grow extensively to meet the increased need from an aging population. Careers in this industry are diverse, though most require additional training and pay above-average wages. Despite fewer opportunities for remote work than other professions, healthcare jobs can be found nearly everywhere, including both rural and urban settings. While careers in healthcare offer high job security, they also often involve long hours, including evening and weekend shift work, particularly for those just starting their career.

Recent Salaries Shared

For social worker

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Social Worker

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$34

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Social Service Aide

United States of America

 | <1 year

$45,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

<1 year
Yesterday
Social Worker

United States of America

 | 15+ years

$26

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

15+ years
Yesterday
Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCSW

United States of America

 | 7-9 years

$37

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

7-9 years
Yesterday
Social Worker

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$36,450

/yr

$36K | $400

Submitted Yesterday

4-6 years
Yesterday
School Social Worker

United States of America

 | 7-9 years

$56,000

/yr

$55K | $1K

Submitted Yesterday

7-9 years
Yesterday
Youth Worker

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$14

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday

Social Worker pay FAQ

The average salary for a Social Worker is $68,439 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 18961 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Social Worker employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Social Worker in United States is $85,685 per year.

The lowest salary for a Social Worker in United States is $54,845 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Social Worker or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Social Worker.

Social workers are paid similarly to health education specialists, marriage and family therapists, school counselors and substance use counselors. Healthcare-focused social workers are generally paid more than family-focused social workers and substance-abuse focused social workers. Social workers looking to increase their take home pay can earn a master’s or a doctoral degree, and progress into administrative roles including that of program manager or program director.

Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

Data from Glassdoor reveals that when asked anonymously, 66% of social workers say they're satisfied with how much they earn. You can also earn $3,892.13 in additional pay for some jobs, including profit sharing and bonuses for social workers who practice within health care systems.

The average salary for social workers is $64,534.65, and earnings increase as you gain years of experience in your career. You can also increase your compensation from the minimum of $44,945.89 to the maximum of $104,683.45 over the course of your career as a social worker by continuing your education to earn your master's degree.

Certifications can expand your scope of practice and increase your social worker salary accordingly. You can advance in your career by earning credentials from the National Association of Social Work, including the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) and Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW) designations. Additional specialty areas that can raise your salary as a social worker include clinical social work, addiction, gerontology, education, case management, hospice, health care, military, youth, and family. The social work setting where you're employed also makes a difference in your salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social workers earn the highest average salaries in local government.

Whether you're applying for a job at a new organization or asking for more money in your current role, start your negotiations by sticking to the facts about average pay for social workers in your area. Having this information at hand demonstrates that you've done your research. You should also emphasize concrete ways you've exceeded performance expectations with your current employer, such as taking on leadership responsibilities or mentoring new social workers on your team. If you've pursued continuing education opportunities or conducted research, these assets add to your value as an employee and should come into play when you ask for your target salary.

Additional Resources

Social Worker Job Description Template

Salaries

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