Government20% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Social Worker Salary
by City (2026)

Help individuals and families cope with challenges and connect to community resources. National median: $55K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$55K

Top 10% earn

$92K

Entry level

$40K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Social Worker salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
Washington, DC	$58K	$80K	$104K	152	8.5%
Arlington, VA	$54K	$74K	$97K	148	5.75%
San Francisco, CA	$52K	$72K	$94K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$51K	$70K	$92K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$51K	$70K	$92K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$51K	$70K	$91K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$51K	$70K	$91K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$50K	$69K	$90K	185	9.3%
Bellevue, WA	$49K	$68K	$89K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$49K	$67K	$88K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$48K	$66K	$86K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$48K	$66K	$87K	165	6.85%
Kirkland, WA	$48K	$66K	$86K	162	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$48K	$66K	$86K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$48K	$66K	$87K	165	5.75%
Boston, MA	$47K	$65K	$85K	162	5%
Newark, NJ	$47K	$65K	$85K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$47K	$65K	$85K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$47K	$64K	$84K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$46K	$63K	$83K	148	9.3%
Sacramento, CA	$46K	$63K	$83K	128	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$46K	$63K	$83K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$46K	$63K	$83K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$46K	$63K	$83K	150	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$45K	$63K	$82K	145	5.75%
Huntsville, AL	$46K	$63K	$83K	88	5%
Baltimore, MD	$46K	$63K	$83K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$46K	$63K	$83K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$45K	$63K	$82K	145	10.75%
Honolulu, HI	$46K	$63K	$83K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$46K	$63K	$83K	128	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$45K	$62K	$81K	155	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$45K	$62K	$81K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$44K	$61K	$79K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$45K	$61K	$80K	138	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$44K	$61K	$79K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$44K	$61K	$79K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$44K	$61K	$79K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$45K	$61K	$80K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$45K	$61K	$80K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$43K	$59K	$78K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$43K	$59K	$78K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$43K	$59K	$78K	118	6.99%
Plano, TX	$42K	$58K	$76K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$42K	$58K	$76K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$42K	$58K	$76K	102	4.55%
Aurora, CO	$42K	$58K	$76K	112	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$42K	$58K	$76K	98	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$42K	$58K	$76K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$42K	$58K	$76K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$43K	$58K	$77K	122	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$42K	$58K	$76K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$42K	$58K	$76K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$41K	$57K	$74K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$41K	$57K	$74K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	4.55%
Cary, NC	$41K	$57K	$74K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$42K	$57K	$75K	115	5.99%
Round Rock, TX	$41K	$56K	$73K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$41K	$56K	$73K	123	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$41K	$56K	$73K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$41K	$56K	$73K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$41K	$56K	$73K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$41K	$56K	$73K	99	5.75%
Eugene, OR	$41K	$56K	$74K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$41K	$56K	$73K	105	4.85%
Boise, ID	$41K	$56K	$73K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$41K	$56K	$73K	108	6.6%
Denton, TX	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$40K	$55K	$72K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$40K	$55K	$73K	105	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$40K	$55K	$72K	118	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$40K	$55K	$73K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$40K	$55K	$72K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$40K	$55K	$72K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$40K	$55K	$72K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$40K	$55K	$72K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$40K	$55K	$72K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	6.8%
Salem, OR	$40K	$55K	$73K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$40K	$55K	$73K	105	None ✓
West Jordan, UT	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	5.7%
Albuquerque, NM	$40K	$55K	$72K	88	5.9%
Meridian, ID	$40K	$55K	$73K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$40K	$55K	$72K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$40K	$55K	$71K	100	6.6%
Irving, TX	$39K	$54K	$71K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$39K	$54K	$71K	108	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$39K	$54K	$71K	102	9.3%
Bakersfield, CA	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$39K	$54K	$71K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$39K	$54K	$71K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$39K	$54K	$71K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$39K	$54K	$71K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$39K	$54K	$71K	118	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	4.95%
Phoenix, AZ	$39K	$54K	$71K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$39K	$54K	$71K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$39K	$54K	$71K	100	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$39K	$54K	$71K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$39K	$54K	$71K	90	3.07%
Allentown, PA	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	3.07%
North Las Vegas, NV	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$39K	$54K	$71K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$39K	$54K	$70K	95	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$39K	$54K	$71K	98	7.15%
Dallas, TX	$38K	$53K	$69K	96	None ✓
Garland, TX	$38K	$53K	$69K	91	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$39K	$53K	$70K	92	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$38K	$53K	$69K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	4.95%
Athens, GA	$39K	$53K	$70K	92	5.75%
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$38K	$53K	$69K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$39K	$53K	$70K	92	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$38K	$53K	$69K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$38K	$53K	$69K	108	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$38K	$53K	$69K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$39K	$53K	$70K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$39K	$53K	$70K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$38K	$53K	$69K	90	2.5%
Arlington, TX	$38K	$52K	$68K	94	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$38K	$52K	$68K	88	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$38K	$52K	$68K	90	2.5%
Mesa, AZ	$38K	$52K	$68K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$38K	$52K	$68K	88	3.99%
Warren, MI	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$38K	$52K	$68K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	5%
Columbia, SC	$38K	$52K	$68K	88	6.5%
Baton Rouge, LA	$38K	$52K	$68K	88	6%
Lafayette, LA	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$38K	$52K	$69K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$38K	$52K	$68K	85	4.9%
Fort Worth, TX	$37K	$51K	$67K	93	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$37K	$51K	$66K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$37K	$51K	$66K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$37K	$51K	$66K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$37K	$51K	$66K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$37K	$51K	$66K	82	4.25%
Erie, PA	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$37K	$51K	$66K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$37K	$51K	$66K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$37K	$51K	$66K	82	4.75%
Norman, OK	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$37K	$51K	$66K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$37K	$51K	$66K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$37K	$51K	$66K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$37K	$51K	$67K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$37K	$51K	$66K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$37K	$51K	$66K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$37K	$51K	$67K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$37K	$51K	$66K	78	6.5%
Houston, TX	$36K	$50K	$66K	91	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$36K	$50K	$66K	75	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$36K	$50K	$65K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$36K	$50K	$65K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$36K	$50K	$65K	85	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$36K	$50K	$65K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$36K	$50K	$65K	82	5%
Tulsa, OK	$36K	$50K	$65K	80	4.75%
Little Rock, AR	$36K	$50K	$65K	82	4.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$36K	$50K	$66K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$36K	$50K	$66K	75	6.5%
San Antonio, TX	$35K	$48K	$63K	87	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$35K	$48K	$63K	82	5.7%
Corpus Christi, TX	$34K	$46K	$60K	84	None ✓
El Paso, TX	$33K	$45K	$59K	82	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$33K	$45K	$59K	76	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$31K	$43K	$56K	78	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $55K Social Worker salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Social Worker Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Social Worker is $55,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $40,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $72,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Social Workers nationally earn $92,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's or Master's in Social Work; LCSW licensure. This role is 20% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Social Worker compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Social Worker salary FAQ

How much does a Social Worker make?

The median Social Worker salary in the US is $55,000 per year — about $26/hour. Most earn between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $72,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Social Worker?

Entry-level Social Worker positions typically start around $40,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Social Workers earn?

The top 10% of Social Workers earn $92,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Social Workers the most?

Washington has the highest median Social Worker salary at $80K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Social Worker salaries going up?

Yes — Social Worker pay is growing about 3.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Social Worker Salaryby City (2026)