Social Service Worker I Salary in the United States
How much does a Social Service Worker I make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Social Service Worker I in the United States is $63,954 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Social Service Worker I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,175
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,563 to $71,922
Key Factors That Influence Social Service Worker I Salaries
A Social Service Worker I'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 Service Worker I Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Social Service Worker I'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): $61,275
Early Career (1-2 years): $61,465
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,954
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,235
Expert (over 8 years): $67,469
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Social Service Worker I
$61,275
Intermediate Level Social Service Worker I
$61,465
Senior Level Social Service Worker I
$63,954
Specialist Level Social Service Worker I
$67,235
Expert Level Social Service Worker I
$67,469
$61,2750 yr
$61,465< 2 yrs
$63,9542-4 yrs
$67,2355-8 yrs
$67,469> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Social Service Worker I 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 Service Worker Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $70,810.
California: $70,541.
Massachusetts: $69,601.
District of Columbia$70,810
California$70,541
Massachusetts$69,601
Washington$69,346
New Jersey$69,320
Alaska$69,230
Connecticut$68,348
New York$67,990
Hawaii$66,845
Rhode Island$66,308
Maryland$65,943
Minnesota$65,444
Colorado$65,252
Illinois$65,189
Oregon$64,945
Delaware$64,766
New Hampshire$64,654
Virginia$64,402
Pennsylvania$63,666
Nevada$63,295
North Dakota$63,174
Michigan$62,982
Wisconsin$62,912
Vermont$62,771
Texas$62,381
Maine$62,355
Arizona$62,317
Ohio$62,272
Georgia$61,684
Indiana$61,390
Wyoming$61,332
Utah$61,243
Iowa$61,204
Kansas$60,897
Louisiana$60,808
North Carolina$60,776
Missouri$60,763
Florida$60,513
Montana$60,379
Nebraska$60,251
Kentucky$60,181
South Carolina$59,925
Tennessee$59,765
Idaho$59,701
New Mexico$59,234
Oklahoma$59,132
Alabama$58,755
South Dakota$58,122
Arkansas$57,776
West Virginia$57,591
Mississippi$57,034
Top Paying Cities for Social Service Worker Is
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: $80,665
San Francisco: $79,782
Oakland: $78,101
San Jose, CA$80,665
San Francisco, CA$79,782
Oakland, CA$78,101
New York, NY$73,636
Paramus, NJ$72,741
Queens Village, NY$72,738
Passaic, NJ$72,677
Bergenfield, NJ$72,671
Stamford, CT$72,530
Huntington, NY$72,504
Newark, NJ$72,032
Bridgeport, CT$71,897
Vallejo, CA$71,769
New Brunswick, NJ$71,744
Petaluma, CA$71,705
Middlesex, NJ$71,584
Somerset, NJ$71,539
Santa Cruz, CA$71,456
Boston, MA$71,066
Monterey, CA$70,841
Seattle, WA$70,695
Santa Rosa, CA$70,682
Los Angeles, CA$70,663
Juneau, AK$70,497
Washington, DC$70,426
Orange, CA$70,199
Santa Ana, CA$70,030
Long Beach, CA$69,966
Anaheim, CA$69,953
Anchorage, AK$69,921
Santa Maria, CA$69,729
Everett, WA$69,716
Danbury, CT$69,491
Bremerton, WA$69,403
Tacoma, WA$69,173
New Suffolk, NY$69,172
Sacramento, CA$69,154
Santa Barbara, CA$69,083
Trenton, NJ$69,013
San Diego, CA$69,013
Brockton, MA$68,943
Fairbanks, AK$68,786
Lompoc, CA$68,623
Lowell, MA$68,571
Ventura, CA$68,559
Nashua, NH$68,546
Stockton, CA$68,540
Modesto, CA$68,073
Poughkeepsie, NY$67,932
Olympia, WA$67,811
Kennewick, WA$67,811
New Haven, CT$67,785
Lawrence, MA$67,555
Hartford, CT$67,491
Riverside, CA$67,478
New Bedford, MA$67,414
Richland, WA$67,414
Bakersfield, CA$67,325
San Bernardino, CA$67,299
New Britain, CT$67,293
Atlantic City, NJ$67,293
New London, CT$67,267
Norwich, CT$67,248
Portsmouth, NH$67,235
Boulder, CO$67,099
Portland, OR$67,011
Worcester, MA$67,005
Minneapolis, MN$66,807
Philadelphia, PA$66,717
Honolulu, HI$66,506
Saint Paul, MN$66,475
Vineland, NJ$66,461
Providence, RI$66,276
Chicago, IL$66,090
Bellingham, WA$66,014
Springfield, MA$65,962
Baltimore, MD$65,943
Chico, CA$65,783
Pittsfield, MA$65,611
Manchester, NH$65,489
Spokane, WA$65,208
Denver, CO$65,201
Albany, NY$64,901
Troy, NY$64,875
Nassau, NY$64,807
Schenectady, NY$64,741
Wilmington, DE$64,690
Burlington, VT$64,600
Salem, OR$64,575
Portland, ME$64,376
Yakima, WA$64,312
Rochester, MN$64,114
Reno, NV$64,082
Fresno, CA$64,082
Milwaukee, WI$64,025
Detroit, MI$63,961
Ann Arbor, MI$63,950
Allentown, PA$63,941
Colorado Springs, CO$63,833
Syracuse, NY$63,801
Carson City, NV$63,801
Houston, TX$63,711
Eugene, OR$63,679
Gary, IN$63,602
Springfield, OR$63,551
Bismarck, ND$63,538
Galveston, TX$63,494
Medford, OR$63,398
Fort Collins, CO$63,372
Concord, NH$63,340
Austin, TX$63,321
Mesa, AZ$63,187
Reading, PA$63,180
Phoenix, AZ$63,174
Dallas, TX$63,155
Saint Cloud, MN$63,093
Madison, WI$63,008
Utica, NY$62,835
Rochester, NY$62,733
Des Moines, IA$62,726
Raleigh, NC$62,720
Atlanta, GA$62,624
Battle Creek, MI$62,605
Salt Lake City, UT$62,586
Lancaster, PA$62,490
Harrisburg, PA$62,400
Kansas City, MO$62,336
Champaign, IL$62,323
Kansas City, KS$62,323
Fort Worth, TX$62,317
Columbus, OH$62,306
Boca Raton, FL$62,291
Pittsburgh, PA$62,266
Richmond, VA$62,240
Indianapolis, IN$62,227
Cleveland, OH$62,221
Las Vegas, NV$62,144
Cincinnati, OH$62,144
Petersburg, VA$62,048
Huntsville, AL$61,952
Lansing, MI$61,910
Lebanon, PA$61,901
Pueblo, CO$61,895
Appleton, WI$61,876
Buffalo, NY$61,850
Dayton, OH$61,831
Racine, WI$61,818
Charlotte, NC$61,812
Saint Louis, MO$61,793
York, PA$61,754
Elkhart, IN$61,754
Gastonia, NC$61,742
Billings, MT$61,727
Beaumont, TX$61,709
Lorain, OH$61,697
Benton Harbor, MI$61,684
Toledo, OH$61,671
Binghamton, NY$61,639
Rock Hill, SC$61,633
Rockford, IL$61,601
Springfield, IL$61,575
Elyria, OH$61,569
Fargo, ND$61,569
Flagstaff, AZ$61,524
Fort Lauderdale, FL$61,486
Duluth, MN$61,447
Miami, FL$61,447
Cheyenne, WY$61,402
Grand Forks, ND$61,402
Bangor, ME$61,262
Cedar Rapids, IA$61,191
Durham, NC$61,165
Louisville, KY$61,159
Grand Rapids, MI$61,147
Hialeah, FL$61,140
Casper, WY$61,051
Scranton, PA$60,974
New Orleans, LA$60,955
Virginia Beach, VA$60,948
Akron, OH$60,916
Peoria, IL$60,833
Sarasota, FL$60,820
Nashville, TN$60,776
Omaha, NE$60,776
Green Bay, WI$60,776
Baton Rouge, LA$60,744
Charleston, SC$60,731
Jamestown, NY$60,699
Davenport, IA$60,699
Tucson, AZ$60,667
Saint Petersburg, FL$60,629
Tampa, FL$60,616
Evansville, IN$60,577
Port Arthur, TX$60,577
Bradenton, FL$60,552
Santa Fe, NM$60,437
Orlando, FL$60,322
Clearwater, FL$60,302
Canton, OH$60,168
La Crosse, WI$60,168
Albuquerque, NM$60,130
Newport News, VA$60,123
High Point, NC$60,104
Ogden, UT$60,079
Corpus Christi, TX$60,027
Norfolk, VA$59,989
Laramie, WY$59,989
Rock Island, IL$59,951
Saginaw, MI$59,938
Jacksonville, FL$59,931
Salisbury, NC$59,919
Boise, ID$59,906
Moline, IL$59,874
Fort Myers, FL$59,855
Memphis, TN$59,842
Tulsa, OK$59,810
Waterloo, IA$59,772
Spartanburg, SC$59,708
Lincoln, NE$59,676
Fort Wayne, IN$59,663
Provo, UT$59,656
Cedar Falls, IA$59,580
San Antonio, TX$59,554
Greensboro, NC$59,529
South Bend, IN$59,522
Savannah, GA$59,452
Muskegon, MI$59,426
Birmingham, AL$59,420
Winston Salem, NC$59,389
Lake Charles, LA$59,234
Anderson, IN$59,222
Lexington, KY$59,202
Augusta, GA$59,183
Greenville, SC$59,183
Lima, OH$59,132
Wichita, KS$59,126
Tuscaloosa, AL$59,126
Columbia, SC$59,068
Springfield, OH$59,055
Asheville, NC$58,953
Bloomington, IN$58,908
Knoxville, TN$58,678
Shreveport, LA$58,672
Wilmington, NC$58,588
Roanoke, VA$58,588
Topeka, KS$58,473
Frankfort, KY$58,466
Oklahoma City, OK$58,422
Chillicothe, OH$58,397
Longview, TX$58,390
Melbourne, FL$58,384
Sioux Falls, SD$58,281
Mobile, AL$58,275
Terre Haute, IN$58,249
Altoona, PA$58,211
Amarillo, TX$58,166
Killeen, TX$58,147
Fayetteville, AR$58,096
Chattanooga, TN$58,077
Sioux City, IA$58,019
Idaho Falls, ID$58,006
Lynchburg, VA$57,955
Gainesville, FL$57,872
Portsmouth, OH$57,840
Little Rock, AR$57,827
Lafayette, LA$57,802
Youngstown, OH$57,802
Daytona Beach, FL$57,763
Clarksville, TN$57,757
Pensacola, FL$57,751
Temple, TX$57,746
Hopkinsville, KY$57,559
Erie, PA$57,546
Florence, SC$57,520
Charleston, WV$57,418
Great Falls, MT$57,386
Macon, GA$57,297
Tallahassee, FL$57,290
Fayetteville, NC$57,277
Waco, TX$57,265
Helena, MT$57,220
Pine Bluff, AR$57,196
Vincennes, IN$57,117
Lubbock, TX$57,092
Alamogordo, NM$57,054
Twin Falls, ID$56,996
Rapid City, SD$56,977
Jackson, MS$56,862
Huntington, WV$56,857
Greenville, MS$56,855
Parkersburg, WV$56,790
Montgomery, AL$56,779
Wichita Falls, TX$56,715
Springfield, MO$56,715
Biloxi, MS$56,683
Monroe, LA$56,619
Johnstown, PA$56,574
Sumter, SC$56,548
Columbus, GA$56,542
Pascagoula, MS$56,420
Abilene, TX$56,420
Kingsport, TN$56,254
Albany, GA$56,254
Gulfport, MS$56,235
Alexandria, LA$56,024
Fort Smith, AR$55,864
El Paso, TX$55,691
Las Cruces, NM$55,404
Harlingen, TX$55,241
Pocatello, ID$55,231
Florence, AL$55,148
Brownsville, TX$55,135
Mcallen, TX$55,001
Dothan, AL$54,911
Columbus, MS$54,531
Altus, OK$54,233
Lawton, OK$54,112
Pierre, SD$53,881
What Skills Can Increase a Social Service Worker I'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.
See More Skills
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 Service Worker I'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
$68,431
7%
Patient Care
$67,791
6%
Community Health
$66,512
4%
Leadership
$66,512
4%
Organizing
$66,512
4%
Collaboration
$65,873
3%
Get Latest Data
Social Service Worker I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Social Service Worker I 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 Service Worker positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Social Service Worker I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Social Service Worker I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Insurance
$76,745
$37.0
20%
How Education impacts a Social Service Worker I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Social Service Worker Is 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 Service Worker I with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$63,714
and $67,641).
Social Service Worker I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Social Service Worker I
No Diploma0.2%
High School2.3%
Associates3.7%
Bachelors82.5%
Masters10.9%
Doctorate0.5%
view as table
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
Social Service Worker I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Social Service Worker I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$57,563
Average$63,954/year
$71,922
$4,797
Average$5,330/month
$5,993
$1,107
Average$1,230/week
$1,383
$28
Average$31/hour
$35
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$71,922
$5,993
$1,383
$35
Average
$63,954
$5,330
$1,230
$31
25th Percentile
$57,563
$4,797
$1,107
$28
Salaries of jobs related to Social Service Worker I
Salaries for a Social Service Worker I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $74,775 in 2023
to around $71,152 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Social Service Worker I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Social Service Worker I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$74,775
2024
$72,594
2025
$71,152
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$74,775
2024
$72,594
2025
$71,152
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Social Service Worker I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Social Service Worker I
Here are companies hiring for Social Service Worker I 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
Find Your Next Social Service Worker I Job
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Browse thousands of current Social Service Worker I job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Pre-Licensed Social Worker/Therapist/Counselor. Affirmations Psychological Services, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Pre-Licensed Soci...
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Job Description. Job Description. Bella Terrace. is seeking a. Social Service Director. The. Social Services Director. provides planning, assessing, coordi...
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OhioHealth - - Responsibilities: Prepares hot and cold foods for patients and retail customers according to production sheets. Follows safe food handling p...
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Food Service Worker Lead. Requisition #: 665165 Location: Columbus, OH, US, 43240 Career Area: Food Service. Job Description As a Food Service Worker, you'...
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Aramark - - Responsibilities: Prepare quality food and baked goods according to a planned menu. Maintain cash receipts and meal records. Adhere to all food...
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Salary: $24.26 - $31.18 HourlyLocation : Gahanna, OHJob Type: Full TimeJob Number: 20260220Department: Public Service DepartmentOpening Date: 02/20/2026Clo...
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FAQ about Social Service Worker I
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Social Service Worker I?
The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Social Service Worker I 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.
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