How Much Does a Social Worker Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$59,550
Social workers in the U.S. earn a median of $59,550 a year, or $28.63 an hour. Half of social workers earn more than $59,550 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $95,530.
Pay percentiles for social workers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.33 | $42,280 |
| 25th | $23.21 | $48,270 |
| 50th (median) | $28.63 | $59,550 |
| 75th | $36.57 | $76,070 |
| 90th | $45.93 | $95,530 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Child, Family, and School Social Workers (SOC 21-1021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for social workers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $78,970 | $37.97 | +33% |
| Maryland | $76,390 | $36.73 | +28% |
| New Jersey | $76,280 | $36.67 | +28% |
| Massachusetts | $75,570 | $36.33 | +27% |
| Washington | $74,480 | $35.81 | +25% |
| District of Columbia | $73,550 | $35.36 | +24% |
| New Hampshire | $71,010 | $34.14 | +19% |
| Rhode Island | $69,870 | $33.59 | +17% |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | $32.82 | +15% |
| Minnesota | $67,450 | $32.43 | +13% |
| United States | $59,550 | $28.63 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many social workers are there?
BLS counts about 392,550 social workers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Child, Family, and School Social Workers”. The most jobs are in California (60,310), New York (30,170) and Texas (21,670).
The mean (average) annual wage is $64,000, higher than the median of $59,550.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,963
- Biweekly
- $2,290
- Weekly
- $1,145
- Daily (8 hours)
- $229
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do social workers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for social workers is $28.63. The middle 50% earn between $23.21 and $36.57 an hour.
Which state pays social workers the most?
Connecticut has the highest median wage for social workers at $78,970, +33% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for social workers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of social workers earn less than $42,280 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.