As of January 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Social Worker (MSW) in the United States is $73,792. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $66,836 to $81,360, with most professionals earning between $60,504 and $88,251.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $81,360 | $6,780 | $1,565 | $39 |
| Average | $73,792 | $6,149 | $1,419 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,836 | $5,570 | $1,285 | $32 |
An entry-level Social Worker (MSW) with less than 1 year of experience earns about $70,193. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $70,708. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $73,847. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $76,989, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $77,550.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Social Worker (MSW) | $70,193 |
| Intermediate Level Social Worker (MSW) | $70,708 |
| Senior Level Social Worker (MSW) | $73,847 |
| Specialist Level Social Worker (MSW) | $76,989 |
| Expert Level Social Worker (MSW) | $77,550 |
| Entry Level | 5% |
| Mid Level | 4% |
| Senior Level | 0% |
| Top Level | 4% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of January 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Social Worker (MSW) compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $74,373 in 2023 to approximately $72,204 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Social Worker (MSW) salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Social Worker (MSW) information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Social Worker (MSW) job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Social Worker (MSW) and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $73,792 | 71.5% | ||
| Bonus | $128 | 0.1% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $5,655 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,622 | 3.5% | ||
| Disability | $1,183 | 1.1% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 6.2% | ||
| Pension | $3,105 | 3.0% | ||
| Time Off | $9,382 | 9.1% | ||
| Total Compensation | $103,237 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.1% |
| High School | 0.8% |
| Associates | 1.5% |
| Bachelors | 5.1% |
| Masters | 91.4% |
| Doctorate | 1.1% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Social Worker (MSW) is $73,792. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Social Worker (MSW) is $35; the average weekly pay of Social Worker (MSW) is $1,419; the average monthly pay of Social Worker (MSW) is $6,149.
A Social Worker (MSW)'s earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Social Worker (MSW) earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Social Worker (MSW) is $92,608.
The highest pay for Social Worker (MSW) is $88,251.
The lowest pay for Social Worker (MSW) is $60,504.
Social Worker (MSW) interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and emotional needs. Provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of the life situation and its impact on lifestyle. Being a Social Worker (MSW) provides professional social work assistance to clients and families as related to illness, disease, hospitalization, financial and educational needs by utilizing a variety of modalities in all areas of service. Responsibilities also include involvement in the discharge planning process. Additionally, Social Worker (MSW) requires a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Social Worker (MSW)'s years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Patient Care: Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
Geriatrics: Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek geron meaning "old man", and iatros meaning "healer".
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
