How much does a Social Worker (MSW) make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Social Worker (MSW) in the United States is $63,028 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.
However, a Social Worker (MSW)'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,943
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,685 to $70,835
Key Factors That Influence Social Worker (MSW) Salaries
A Social Worker (MSW)'s salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Social Worker (MSW) Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Social Worker (MSW)'s salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,188
Early Career (1-2 years): $60,661
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,611
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $66,873
Expert (over 8 years): $67,456
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Social Worker (MSW)
$60,188
Intermediate Level Social Worker (MSW)
$60,661
Senior Level Social Worker (MSW)
$63,611
Specialist Level Social Worker (MSW)
$66,873
Expert Level Social Worker (MSW)
$67,456
$60,1880 yr
$60,661< 2 yrs
$63,6112-4 yrs
$66,8735-8 yrs
$67,456> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Social Worker (MSW) Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Social Worker (MSW)s.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $79,497
San Francisco: $78,627
Oakland: $76,970
San Jose, CA$79,497
San Francisco, CA$78,627
Oakland, CA$76,970
New York, NY$72,570
Paramus, NJ$71,687
Queens Village, NY$71,684
Passaic, NJ$71,624
Bergenfield, NJ$71,619
Stamford, CT$71,480
Huntington, NY$71,454
Newark, NJ$70,988
Bridgeport, CT$70,855
Vallejo, CA$70,730
New Brunswick, NJ$70,705
Petaluma, CA$70,667
Middlesex, NJ$70,547
Somerset, NJ$70,503
Santa Cruz, CA$70,421
Boston, MA$70,037
Monterey, CA$69,815
Seattle, WA$69,671
Santa Rosa, CA$69,659
Los Angeles, CA$69,640
Juneau, AK$69,476
Washington, DC$69,406
Orange, CA$69,182
Santa Ana, CA$69,016
Long Beach, CA$68,953
Anaheim, CA$68,940
Anchorage, AK$68,909
Santa Maria, CA$68,719
Everett, WA$68,707
Danbury, CT$68,485
Bremerton, WA$68,398
Tacoma, WA$68,171
New Suffolk, NY$68,170
Sacramento, CA$68,152
Santa Barbara, CA$68,083
Trenton, NJ$68,014
San Diego, CA$68,014
Brockton, MA$67,944
Fairbanks, AK$67,790
Lompoc, CA$67,629
Lowell, MA$67,578
Ventura, CA$67,566
Nashua, NH$67,553
Stockton, CA$67,547
Modesto, CA$67,087
Poughkeepsie, NY$66,948
Olympia, WA$66,829
Kennewick, WA$66,829
New Haven, CT$66,803
Lawrence, MA$66,576
Hartford, CT$66,513
Riverside, CA$66,501
New Bedford, MA$66,438
Richland, WA$66,438
Bakersfield, CA$66,350
San Bernardino, CA$66,324
New Britain, CT$66,318
Atlantic City, NJ$66,318
New London, CT$66,293
Norwich, CT$66,274
Portsmouth, NH$66,261
Boulder, CO$66,128
Portland, OR$66,041
Worcester, MA$66,034
Minneapolis, MN$65,839
Philadelphia, PA$65,751
Honolulu, HI$65,543
Saint Paul, MN$65,513
Vineland, NJ$65,499
Providence, RI$65,316
Chicago, IL$65,133
Bellingham, WA$65,058
Springfield, MA$65,007
Baltimore, MD$64,988
Chico, CA$64,831
Pittsfield, MA$64,660
Manchester, NH$64,541
Spokane, WA$64,263
Denver, CO$64,257
Albany, NY$63,961
Troy, NY$63,936
Nassau, NY$63,868
Schenectady, NY$63,803
Wilmington, DE$63,753
Burlington, VT$63,665
Salem, OR$63,639
Portland, ME$63,444
Yakima, WA$63,381
Rochester, MN$63,186
Reno, NV$63,154
Fresno, CA$63,154
Milwaukee, WI$63,097
Detroit, MI$63,034
Ann Arbor, MI$63,024
Allentown, PA$63,015
Colorado Springs, CO$62,908
Syracuse, NY$62,877
Carson City, NV$62,877
Houston, TX$62,788
Eugene, OR$62,757
Gary, IN$62,681
Springfield, OR$62,631
Bismarck, ND$62,618
Galveston, TX$62,574
Medford, OR$62,480
Fort Collins, CO$62,454
Concord, NH$62,423
Austin, TX$62,404
Mesa, AZ$62,272
Reading, PA$62,265
Phoenix, AZ$62,259
Dallas, TX$62,240
Saint Cloud, MN$62,180
Madison, WI$62,095
Utica, NY$61,925
Rochester, NY$61,824
Des Moines, IA$61,818
Raleigh, NC$61,812
Atlanta, GA$61,717
Battle Creek, MI$61,698
Salt Lake City, UT$61,679
Lancaster, PA$61,585
Harrisburg, PA$61,496
Kansas City, MO$61,433
Champaign, IL$61,421
Kansas City, KS$61,421
Fort Worth, TX$61,414
Columbus, OH$61,404
Boca Raton, FL$61,389
Pittsburgh, PA$61,364
Richmond, VA$61,339
Indianapolis, IN$61,326
Cleveland, OH$61,320
Las Vegas, NV$61,244
Cincinnati, OH$61,244
Petersburg, VA$61,150
Huntsville, AL$61,055
Lansing, MI$61,013
Lebanon, PA$61,005
Pueblo, CO$60,998
Appleton, WI$60,980
Buffalo, NY$60,954
Dayton, OH$60,935
Racine, WI$60,923
Charlotte, NC$60,917
Saint Louis, MO$60,898
York, PA$60,860
Elkhart, IN$60,860
Gastonia, NC$60,848
Billings, MT$60,833
Beaumont, TX$60,816
Lorain, OH$60,803
Benton Harbor, MI$60,791
Toledo, OH$60,778
Binghamton, NY$60,746
Rock Hill, SC$60,740
Rockford, IL$60,709
Springfield, IL$60,683
Elyria, OH$60,677
Fargo, ND$60,677
Flagstaff, AZ$60,633
Fort Lauderdale, FL$60,595
Duluth, MN$60,557
Miami, FL$60,557
Cheyenne, WY$60,513
Grand Forks, ND$60,513
Bangor, ME$60,375
Cedar Rapids, IA$60,305
Durham, NC$60,279
Louisville, KY$60,274
Grand Rapids, MI$60,261
Hialeah, FL$60,255
Casper, WY$60,167
Scranton, PA$60,091
New Orleans, LA$60,072
Virginia Beach, VA$60,066
Akron, OH$60,034
Peoria, IL$59,952
Sarasota, FL$59,940
Nashville, TN$59,896
Omaha, NE$59,896
Green Bay, WI$59,896
Baton Rouge, LA$59,864
Charleston, SC$59,851
Jamestown, NY$59,820
Davenport, IA$59,820
Tucson, AZ$59,788
Saint Petersburg, FL$59,751
Tampa, FL$59,738
Evansville, IN$59,700
Port Arthur, TX$59,700
Bradenton, FL$59,675
Santa Fe, NM$59,561
Orlando, FL$59,448
Clearwater, FL$59,429
Canton, OH$59,297
La Crosse, WI$59,297
Albuquerque, NM$59,259
Newport News, VA$59,253
High Point, NC$59,234
Ogden, UT$59,209
Corpus Christi, TX$59,158
Norfolk, VA$59,120
Laramie, WY$59,120
Rock Island, IL$59,082
Saginaw, MI$59,070
Jacksonville, FL$59,064
Salisbury, NC$59,051
Boise, ID$59,038
Moline, IL$59,007
Fort Myers, FL$58,988
Memphis, TN$58,975
Tulsa, OK$58,944
Waterloo, IA$58,906
Spartanburg, SC$58,843
Lincoln, NE$58,811
Fort Wayne, IN$58,799
Provo, UT$58,793
Cedar Falls, IA$58,717
San Antonio, TX$58,692
Greensboro, NC$58,666
South Bend, IN$58,660
Savannah, GA$58,591
Muskegon, MI$58,566
Birmingham, AL$58,559
Winston Salem, NC$58,528
Lake Charles, LA$58,377
Anderson, IN$58,364
Lexington, KY$58,345
Augusta, GA$58,326
Greenville, SC$58,326
Lima, OH$58,276
Wichita, KS$58,269
Tuscaloosa, AL$58,269
Columbia, SC$58,213
Springfield, OH$58,200
Asheville, NC$58,099
Bloomington, IN$58,055
Knoxville, TN$57,828
Shreveport, LA$57,822
Wilmington, NC$57,740
Roanoke, VA$57,740
Topeka, KS$57,627
Frankfort, KY$57,620
Oklahoma City, OK$57,576
Chillicothe, OH$57,551
Longview, TX$57,545
Melbourne, FL$57,538
Sioux Falls, SD$57,437
Mobile, AL$57,431
Terre Haute, IN$57,406
Altoona, PA$57,368
Amarillo, TX$57,324
Killeen, TX$57,305
Fayetteville, AR$57,255
Chattanooga, TN$57,236
Sioux City, IA$57,179
Idaho Falls, ID$57,166
Lynchburg, VA$57,116
Gainesville, FL$57,034
Portsmouth, OH$57,003
Little Rock, AR$56,990
Lafayette, LA$56,965
Youngstown, OH$56,965
Daytona Beach, FL$56,927
Clarksville, TN$56,921
Pensacola, FL$56,914
Temple, TX$56,910
Hopkinsville, KY$56,725
Erie, PA$56,713
Florence, SC$56,687
Charleston, WV$56,587
Great Falls, MT$56,555
Macon, GA$56,467
Tallahassee, FL$56,460
Fayetteville, NC$56,448
Waco, TX$56,435
Helena, MT$56,391
Pine Bluff, AR$56,367
Vincennes, IN$56,290
Lubbock, TX$56,265
Alamogordo, NM$56,227
Twin Falls, ID$56,171
Rapid City, SD$56,152
Jackson, MS$56,038
Huntington, WV$56,034
Greenville, MS$56,032
Parkersburg, WV$55,968
Montgomery, AL$55,956
Wichita Falls, TX$55,893
Springfield, MO$55,893
Biloxi, MS$55,862
Monroe, LA$55,799
Johnstown, PA$55,755
Sumter, SC$55,729
Columbus, GA$55,723
Pascagoula, MS$55,603
Abilene, TX$55,603
Kingsport, TN$55,439
Albany, GA$55,439
Gulfport, MS$55,421
Alexandria, LA$55,213
Fort Smith, AR$55,055
El Paso, TX$54,885
Las Cruces, NM$54,601
Harlingen, TX$54,441
Pocatello, ID$54,431
Florence, AL$54,349
Brownsville, TX$54,336
Mcallen, TX$54,204
Dothan, AL$54,116
Columbus, MS$53,741
Altus, OK$53,448
Lawton, OK$53,328
Pierre, SD$53,101
What Skills Can Increase a Social Worker (MSW)'s Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Planning (Mentioned in 8.84% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.49% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 1.28% Job Postings): 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".
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Planning
8.84%
Patient Care
2.49%
Geriatrics
1.28%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Social Worker (MSW)'s salary.
Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Coaching
$65,549
4%
Psychiatric
$64,919
3%
Verbal Communication
$64,919
3%
Collaboration
$64,919
3%
Commitment
$64,289
2%
Patient Care
$64,289
2%
Get Latest Data
Social Worker (MSW) Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Social Worker (MSW) salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $66,941.
While startup companies pay approximate $57,015.
Social Worker (MSW) Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$57,015
Growth Stage
51~500
$60,193
Established
501~5000
$64,755
Enterprise
5000+
$66,941
Social Worker (MSW) Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Social Worker (MSW) roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare.,
offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely,
Social Worker (MSW) positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Social Worker (MSW) as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Social Worker (MSW)
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare.
$66,179
$32.0
5%
How Education impacts a Social Worker (MSW)'s Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Social Worker (MSW)s enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Social Worker (MSW) with a Master's Degree or MBA is between
$71,017
and $74,969).
Social Worker (MSW) Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Social Worker (MSW)
No Diploma0.1%
High School0.8%
Associates1.5%
Bachelors5.1%
Masters91.4%
Doctorate1.1%
view as table
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%
view as graph
Social Worker (MSW) Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Social Worker (MSW)'s annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for a Social Worker (MSW) can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $74,373 in 2023
to around $70,770 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Social Worker (MSW) salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Social Worker (MSW) Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$74,373
2024
$72,204
2025
$70,770
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$74,373
2024
$72,204
2025
$70,770
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Social Worker (MSW)
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Social Worker (MSW)
Here are companies hiring for Social Worker (MSW) and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Social Worker (MSW)
1. Where can a Social Worker (MSW) earn the most?
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 $79,497.
2. What is the highest pay for Social Worker (MSW)?
The highest pay for Social Worker (MSW) is $77,943.
3. What is the lowest pay for Social Worker (MSW)?
The lowest pay for Social Worker (MSW) is $50,910.
4. What are the responsibilities of 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. 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. Requires a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Social Worker (MSW)?
The Healthcare. industry offers the highest average compensation for Social Worker (MSW) roles,
with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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