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Licensed Social Worker Salary in the United States

How much does a Licensed Social Worker make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Social Worker in the United States is $61,946 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,635
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,086 to $69,111
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,841
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Social Worker Salaries

A Licensed Social Worker'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 Licensed Social Worker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Social Worker'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): $61,279
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $61,469
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,960
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,238
  • Expert (over 8 years): $67,472
Levels Salary
Entry Level Licensed Social Worker$61,279
Intermediate Level Licensed Social Worker$61,469
Senior Level Licensed Social Worker$63,960
Specialist Level Licensed Social Worker$67,238
Expert Level Licensed Social Worker$67,472
View as Graph

How Do Licensed Social Worker 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 Licensed Social Workers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $68,586.
  • California: $68,326.
  • Massachusetts: $67,415.

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Social Workers

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: $78,132
  • San Francisco: $77,277
  • Oakland: $75,648

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Social Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.82% 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.
  • Discharge Planning (Mentioned in 3.73% Job Postings): Developing a personalized plan to ensure the smooth transition of a patient from a health organization to the patient's home or residential care.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 2.13% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.82%
Discharge Planning 3.73%
Patient Care 2.13%
See More Skills

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 Licensed Social Worker's salary.

  • Care Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Community Health: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Care Management $66,282
7%
Patient Care $65,662
6%
Community Health $64,423
4%
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Licensed Social Worker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Social Worker roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Licensed Social Worker positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Licensed Social Worker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Licensed Social Worker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$74,335$36.020%

How Education impacts a Licensed Social Worker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed Social Workers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Licensed Social Worker with a Bachelor's Degree is between $63,714 and $67,641).

Licensed Social Worker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Social Worker
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.3%
Associates 3.7%
Bachelors 82.5%
Masters 10.9%
Doctorate 0.5%
View as Graph

Licensed Social Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Social Worker'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 September 01, 2026
$55,086
Average $61,946/year
$69,111
$4,591
Average $5,162/month
$5,759
$1,059
Average $1,191/week
$1,329
$26
Average $30/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $69,111 $5,759 $1,329 $33
Average $61,946 $5,162 $1,191 $30
25th Percentile $55,086 $4,591 $1,059 $26

Most common benefits for Licensed Social Worker

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Licensed Social Worker

Here are companies hiring for Licensed Social Worker and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Licensed Social Worker

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Licensed Social Worker?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed Social Worker roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

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.

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