Social Woker Salary in the United States

How much does a Social Woker make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Social Woker in the United States is $64,226 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,420
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,116 to $71,656
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,642

Key Factors That Influence Social Woker Salaries

A Social Woker'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 Woker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Social Woker'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): $63,535
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,732
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,314
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $69,714
  • Expert (over 8 years): $69,956
Levels Salary
Entry Level Social Woker$63,535
Intermediate Level Social Woker$63,732
Senior Level Social Woker$66,314
Specialist Level Social Woker$69,714
Expert Level Social Woker$69,956

Top Paying Cities for Social Wokers

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: $81,009
  • San Francisco: $80,122
  • Oakland: $78,433

What Skills Can Increase a Social Woker'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%

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 Woker'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 $68,722
7%
Patient Care $68,080
6%
Community Health $66,795
4%

Social Woker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Social Woker 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, Social Woker positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Social Woker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Social Woker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$77,071$37.020%

How Education impacts a Social Woker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Social Wokers 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 Social Woker with a Bachelor's Degree is between $63,714 and $67,641).

Social Woker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Social Woker
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%

Social Woker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Social Woker'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 October 01, 2026
$57,116
Average $64,226/year
$71,656
$4,760
Average $5,352/month
$5,971
$1,098
Average $1,235/week
$1,378
$27
Average $31/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,656 $5,971 $1,378 $34
Average $64,226 $5,352 $1,235 $31
25th Percentile $57,116 $4,760 $1,098 $27

Most common benefits for Social Woker

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

Common company salaries for Social Woker

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

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FAQ about Social Woker

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Social Woker?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Social Woker 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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