What are the main factors that influence a Social Worker (MSW)'s salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Social Worker (MSW)'s salary?

A Social Worker (MSW)'s salary grows with experience: starting around $54,050 for beginners, reaching about $57,133 at mid-level, and approach $60,572 for experts.

What are the highest paying cities for a Social Worker (MSW)?

Social Worker (MSW) salary varies significantly by city. The top 3 highest paying cities in Virginia for Social Worker (MSW) roles are San Jose $79,497, San Francisco $78,716, Oakland $76,970.

How much do different types of Social Worker (MSW) roles make?

Salaries for Social Worker (MSW) level roles vary by specialization: Geriatric Social Worker: $89,661; Licensed Clinical Social Worker: $83,564; Dialysis Social Worker: $78,999; Medical Social Worker (MSW): $65,900; Medical Social Worker (BSW): $65,900.

What specialized skills increase a Social Worker (MSW)'s salary?

Skills with high demand and low supply, such as Coaching (up to 4% premium), Psychiatric (up to 3% premium), Verbal Communication (up to 3% premium), directly translate to higher compensation. Employers pay more for these capabilities to gain a competitive edge.

Social Worker (MSW) Salary in Java, VA

How much does a Social Worker (MSW) make in Java, VA?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Social Worker (MSW) in Java, VA is $56,612 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Social Worker (MSW)'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,952
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,890 to $63,594
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,681

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Social Worker (MSW) Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$63,594	$5,300	$1,223	$31
Average	$56,612	$4,718	$1,089	$27
25th Percentile	$50,890	$4,241	$979	$24

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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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, skills 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): $54,050
Early Career (1-2 years): $54,477
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,133
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $60,051
Expert (over 8 years): $60,572

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Social Worker (MSW)	$54,050
Intermediate Level Social Worker (MSW)	$54,477
Senior Level Social Worker (MSW)	$57,133
Specialist Level Social Worker (MSW)	$60,051
Expert Level Social Worker (MSW)	$60,572

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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Social Worker (MSW)s

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: $78,716
Oakland: $76,970

San Jose, CA $79,497

San Francisco, CA $78,716

Oakland, CA $76,970

New York, NY $73,043

Queens Village, NY $72,570

Paramus, NJ $72,066

Passaic, NJ $72,003

Bergenfield, NJ $71,940

Stamford, CT $71,846

Huntington, NY $71,783

Newark, NJ $71,373

Bridgeport, CT $71,247

New Brunswick, NJ $71,039

Vallejo, CA $70,907

Middlesex, NJ $70,869

Somerset, NJ $70,812

Petaluma, CA $70,667

Santa Cruz, CA $70,421

Boston, MA $70,295

Monterey, CA $69,980

Fairbanks, AK $69,936

Los Angeles, CA $69,816

Washington, DC $69,785

Seattle, WA $69,671

Santa Rosa, CA $69,659

Juneau, AK $69,476

Orange, CA $69,268

Anchorage, AK $69,154

Anaheim, CA $69,110

Santa Ana, CA $69,016

Nassau, NY $68,978

Long Beach, CA $68,953

Danbury, CT $68,934

Santa Maria, CA $68,719

Everett, WA $68,707

Bremerton, WA $68,398

Trenton, NJ $68,278

Sacramento, CA $68,253

San Diego, CA $68,222

Brockton, MA $68,196

Tacoma, WA $68,171

Santa Barbara, CA $68,083

Lowell, MA $67,831

New Suffolk, NY $67,806

Nashua, NH $67,730

Lompoc, CA $67,629

Ventura, CA $67,566

Stockton, CA $67,547

New Haven, CT $67,421

Atlantic City, NJ $67,257

Hartford, CT $67,119

Modesto, CA $67,087

Poughkeepsie, NY $66,948

New Britain, CT $66,917

Olympia, WA $66,829

Kennewick, WA $66,829

New London, CT $66,816

Norwich, CT $66,797

Lawrence, MA $66,766

Bakersfield, CA $66,589

Riverside, CA $66,501

New Bedford, MA $66,501

Richland, WA $66,438

Portsmouth, NH $66,387

Vineland, NJ $66,375

San Bernardino, CA $66,324

Boulder, CO $66,148

Worcester, MA $66,097

Portland, OR $66,041

Saint Paul, MN $65,965

Minneapolis, MN $65,965

Philadelphia, PA $65,877

Honolulu, HI $65,543

Springfield, MA $65,322

Providence, RI $65,316

Chicago, IL $65,133

Bellingham, WA $65,058

Baltimore, MD $64,988

Chico, CA $64,831

Wilmington, DE $64,723

Pittsfield, MA $64,660

Manchester, NH $64,541

Spokane, WA $64,263

Denver, CO $64,257

Albany, NY $63,961

Troy, NY $63,936

Schenectady, NY $63,803

Burlington, VT $63,665

Portland, ME $63,444

Salem, OR $63,394

Yakima, WA $63,381

Ann Arbor, MI $63,362

Rochester, MN $63,186

Fresno, CA $63,154

Reno, NV $63,154

Milwaukee, WI $63,097

Detroit, MI $63,034

Allentown, PA $63,015

Carson City, NV $63,009

Houston, TX $62,915

Colorado Springs, CO $62,908

Syracuse, NY $62,877

Eugene, OR $62,757

Bismarck, ND $62,681

Gary, IN $62,681

Galveston, TX $62,681

Springfield, OR $62,631

Medford, OR $62,480

Fort Collins, CO $62,454

Austin, TX $62,404

Mesa, AZ $62,272

Phoenix, AZ $62,259

Dallas, TX $62,240

Reading, PA $62,202

Saint Cloud, MN $62,177

Concord, NH $62,120

Madison, WI $62,095

Utica, NY $61,925

Raleigh, NC $61,875

Las Vegas, NV $61,868

Rochester, NY $61,824

Des Moines, IA $61,818

Atlanta, GA $61,717

Battle Creek, MI $61,698

Salt Lake City, UT $61,679

Lancaster, PA $61,585

Champaign, IL $61,572

Harrisburg, PA $61,496

Durham, NC $61,440

Kansas City, MO $61,433

Kansas City, KS $61,421

Fort Worth, TX $61,414

Boca Raton, FL $61,389

Cleveland, OH $61,383

Columbus, OH $61,370

Pittsburgh, PA $61,364

Richmond, VA $61,339

Indianapolis, IN $61,326

Cincinnati, OH $61,244

Petersburg, VA $61,150

Billings, MT $61,011

Lansing, MI $61,011

Huntsville, AL $61,011

Lebanon, PA $61,005

Dayton, OH $60,998

Pueblo, CO $60,998

Appleton, WI $60,980

Buffalo, NY $60,954

Racine, WI $60,923

Charlotte, NC $60,917

Saint Louis, MO $60,898

Springfield, IL $60,872

Elkhart, IN $60,860

York, PA $60,860

Gastonia, NC $60,854

Benton Harbor, MI $60,854

Beaumont, TX $60,816

Lorain, OH $60,803

Toledo, OH $60,778

Binghamton, NY $60,746

Rock Hill, SC $60,740

Rockford, IL $60,709

Fargo, ND $60,677

Elyria, OH $60,677

Flagstaff, AZ $60,633

Fort Lauderdale, FL $60,595

Miami, FL $60,557

Duluth, MN $60,456

Bangor, ME $60,375

Cedar Rapids, IA $60,305

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

Green Bay, WI $59,896

Baton Rouge, LA $59,864

Charleston, SC $59,851

Nashville, TN $59,832

Jamestown, NY $59,820

Davenport, IA $59,820

Tucson, AZ $59,788

Cheyenne, WY $59,769

Saint Petersburg, FL $59,751

Tampa, FL $59,738

Omaha, NE $59,725

Port Arthur, TX $59,700

Evansville, IN $59,700

Bradenton, FL $59,675

Santa Fe, NM $59,561

Orlando, FL $59,498

Clearwater, FL $59,429

Canton, OH $59,297

La Crosse, WI $59,297

Grand Forks, ND $59,278

Albuquerque, NM $59,259

Tulsa, OK $59,259

Newport News, VA $59,253

High Point, NC $59,234

Ogden, UT $59,209

Corpus Christi, TX $59,158

Laramie, WY $59,120

Norfolk, VA $59,120

Rock Island, IL $59,082

Saginaw, MI $59,070

Jacksonville, FL $59,064

Salisbury, NC $59,051

Memphis, TN $59,038

Moline, IL $59,007

Fort Myers, FL $58,988

Waterloo, IA $58,906

Spartanburg, SC $58,843

Lincoln, NE $58,811

Fort Wayne, IN $58,799

Birmingham, AL $58,729

Cedar Falls, IA $58,717

Provo, UT $58,711

Springfield, OH $58,704

San Antonio, TX $58,692

Greensboro, NC $58,666

South Bend, IN $58,660

Winston Salem, NC $58,654

Boise, ID $58,635

Savannah, GA $58,591

Muskegon, MI $58,477

Lima, OH $58,402

Lake Charles, LA $58,377

Anderson, IN $58,364

Lexington, KY $58,345

Augusta, GA $58,326

Greenville, SC $58,326

Wichita, KS $58,269

Tuscaloosa, AL $58,269

Columbia, SC $58,213

Bloomington, IN $58,055

Roanoke, VA $58,017

Asheville, NC $57,935

Knoxville, TN $57,828

Shreveport, LA $57,822

Wilmington, NC $57,740

Frankfort, KY $57,620

Oklahoma City, OK $57,576

Chillicothe, OH $57,551

Longview, TX $57,545

Topeka, KS $57,526

Mobile, AL $57,431

Terre Haute, IN $57,406

Erie, PA $57,400

Altoona, PA $57,368

Melbourne, FL $57,349

Amarillo, TX $57,324

Killeen, TX $57,305

Fayetteville, AR $57,255

Sioux Falls, SD $57,211

Chattanooga, TN $57,173

Idaho Falls, ID $57,166

Gainesville, FL $57,034

Portsmouth, OH $57,003

Little Rock, AR $56,990

Lynchburg, VA $56,990

Lafayette, LA $56,965

Youngstown, OH $56,965

Temple, TX $56,939

Daytona Beach, FL $56,927

Clarksville, TN $56,921

Pensacola, FL $56,914

Hopkinsville, KY $56,725

Charleston, WV $56,719

Florence, SC $56,687

Sioux City, IA $56,650

Macon, GA $56,467

Tallahassee, FL $56,460

Fayetteville, NC $56,448

Waco, TX $56,435

Wichita Falls, TX $56,435

Pine Bluff, AR $56,410

Vincennes, IN $56,290

Lubbock, TX $56,265

Great Falls, MT $56,227

Alamogordo, NM $56,221

Abilene, TX $56,171

Rapid City, SD $56,089

Monroe, LA $56,089

Albany, GA $56,051

Huntington, WV $56,044

Jackson, MS $56,038

Greenville, MS $56,032

Parkersburg, WV $55,969

Montgomery, AL $55,956

Johnstown, PA $55,944

Springfield, MO $55,893

Biloxi, MS $55,862

Sumter, SC $55,729

Columbus, GA $55,723

Twin Falls, ID $55,685

Pascagoula, MS $55,603

Kingsport, TN $55,439

Gulfport, MS $55,421

Alexandria, LA $55,213

Fort Smith, AR $55,055

El Paso, TX $54,885

Helena, MT $54,803

Las Cruces, NM $54,601

Harlingen, TX $54,425

Pocatello, ID $54,368

Florence, AL $54,349

Brownsville, TX $54,336

Dothan, AL $54,236

Mcallen, TX $54,204

Columbus, MS $53,738

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	$58,876	4%
Psychiatric	$58,310	3%
Verbal Communication	$58,310	3%
Collaboration	$58,310	3%
Commitment	$57,744	2%
Patient Care	$57,744	2%

Get Latest Data

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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

$50,890

Average $56,612/year

$63,594

$4,241

Average $4,718/month

$5,300

$979

Average $1,089/week

$1,223

$24

Average $27/hour

$31

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$63,594	$5,300	$1,223	$31
Average	$56,612	$4,718	$1,089	$27
25th Percentile	$50,890	$4,241	$979	$24

Salaries of jobs related to Social Worker (MSW)

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