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Social worker salary in United States

How much does a Social Worker make in the United States?

Average base salary

$63,900
Average $63,900
Low $41,348
High $98,753
Non-cash benefit
401(k)
View more benefits

The average salary for a social worker is $63,900 per year in the United States. 24.8k salaries reported, updated at November 27, 2023

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Salaries by years of experience in the United States

Years of experiencePer year
Less than 1 year
1 to 2 years
3 to 5 years
6 to 9 years
More than 10 years
View job openings with the years of experience that is relevant to you on Indeed
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Top companies for Social Workers in United States

  1. Cross Country Nurses
    3.9
    382 reviews8.1k salaries reported
    $127,460per year
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Highest paying cities for Social Workers near United States

  1. Washington, DC
    $102,957 per year
    776 salaries reported
  2. Fresno, CA
    $82,317 per year
    141 salaries reported
  3. Detroit, MI
    $66,808 per year
    134 salaries reported
  1. Brooklyn, NY
    $64,341 per year
    871 salaries reported
  2. New York, NY
    $63,555 per year
    1.1k salaries reported
  3. Flint, MI
    $61,249 per year
    53 salaries reported
  1. Bronx, NY
    $60,950 per year
    746 salaries reported
  2. Chicago, IL
    $58,040 per year
    292 salaries reported
  3. Philadelphia, PA
    $57,634 per year
    112 salaries reported
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Where can a Social Worker earn more?

Compare salaries for Social Workers in different locations
vs
Explore Social Worker openings
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Best-paid skills and qualifications for Social Workers

Most recommended license

LCSW-R

(earn +97.29% more)

The jobs requiring this license have decrease by 6.49% since 2018. Social Workers with this license earn +97.29% more than the average base salary, which is $63,900 per year.

Job Trend
YearNumber of job openings on Indeed requiring this licenseChange from previous year
201295increase by 95
2013299increase by 214.74%
2014342increase by 14.38%
2015297decrease by 13.16%
2016495increase by 66.67%
2017373decrease by 24.65%
2018478increase by 28.15%
2019447decrease by 6.49%

Top companies hiring Social Workers on Indeed

John Muir Health
Guilford County Schools
Penn Highlands Healthcare
Kulanu Academy
FARMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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Top specialties
Pathology
+86.16%salary
Top certifications
Certified School Psychologist
+69.79%salary
Top skills
Early Intervention
+81.23%salary

More critical skills and qualifications that pay well

Top SpecialtiesSalaryJob openingsCompanies
6 jobs7
10 jobs34
66 jobs396
594 jobs1,476
570 jobs1,423
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Most common benefits for Social Workers

  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • 403(b)
  • 403(b) matching
  • AD&D insurance
  • Adoption assistance
  • Continuing education credits
  • Dental insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee discount
  • Employee stock purchase plan
  • Flexible schedule
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Loan forgiveness
  • Loan repayment program
  • Mileage reimbursement
  • Opportunities for advancement
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Professional development assistance
  • Referral program
  • Relocation assistance
  • Retirement plan
  • Travel reimbursement
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance
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Salary satisfaction

Based on 6,723 ratings

50% of Social Workers in the United States think their salaries are enough for the cost of living in their area.

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How much do similar professions get paid in United States?

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Job openings

Average $74,055 per year

Mental Health Technician

Job openings

Average $27.56 per hour

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Common questions about salaries for a Social Worker

How can I know if I am being paid fairly as a social worker?

If you’re unsure about what salary is appropriate for a social worker, visit Indeed's Salary Calculator to get a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry and experience.

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What type of social worker gets paid the most?

The types of social workers that are paid the most include :

  • Clinical Social Worker
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Healthcare Social Worker
  • School and Career Counselor
  • Social Work Teacher
  • Social and Community Service Manager
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Do social workers make good money?

Social worker salaries vary between states. Some factors that determine how much a social worker makes include the level of experience, education, employer, location, speciality and work setting.

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Where do social workers get paid the most?

How can social workers make more money?

How much do similar professions to social worker get paid?

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