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Social Counselor Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Social Counselor in the United States is $65,493 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,067
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,943 to $73,645
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,980
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Social Counselor Salaries

A Social Counselor'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 Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Social Counselor'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): $62,748
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $62,943
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,493
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,850
  • Expert (over 8 years): $69,089
Levels Salary
Entry Level Social Counselor$62,748
Intermediate Level Social Counselor$62,943
Senior Level Social Counselor$65,493
Specialist Level Social Counselor$68,850
Expert Level Social Counselor$69,089
View as Graph

How Do Social Counselor 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 Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $72,514.
  • California: $72,239.
  • Massachusetts: $71,276.

Top Paying Cities for Social Counselors

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: $82,606
  • San Francisco: $81,702
  • Oakland: $79,980

What Skills Can Increase a Social Counselor'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 Social Counselor'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 $70,078
7%
Patient Care $69,423
6%
Community Health $68,113
4%
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Social Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industry for a Social Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$78,592$38.020%

How Education impacts a Social Counselor's Salary?

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

Social Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Social Counselor
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 Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Social Counselor'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
$58,943
Average $65,493/year
$73,645
$4,912
Average $5,458/month
$6,137
$1,134
Average $1,259/week
$1,416
$28
Average $31/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,645 $6,137 $1,416 $35
Average $65,493 $5,458 $1,259 $31
25th Percentile $58,943 $4,912 $1,134 $28

Most common benefits for Social Counselor

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

Common company salaries for Social Counselor

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

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FAQ about Social Counselor

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

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Social Counselor 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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