Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. The national median salary is $51,760/year. Highest paying state: Hawaii at $101,450. Lowest: Mississippi at $40,350.
The table below shows median social worker salaries across all 50 US states, ranked from highest to lowest. Click any state to see a full breakdown by city, experience level, job outlook and take-home pay calculator.
Data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 release. All figures are median annual wages, with regional adjustments where applicable for 2026.
| # | State | Annual Median | Hourly | vs National | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Hawaii | $101,450 | $48.77 | +96.0% | 11.0% |
| 02 | California | $78,150 | $37.57 | +51.0% | 13.3% |
| 03 | New York | $71,950 | $34.59 | +39.0% | 10.9% |
| 04 | Connecticut | $70,400 | $33.85 | +36.0% | 6.99% |
| 05 | Massachusetts | $69,900 | $33.61 | +35.0% | 5.0% |
| 06 | Alaska | $67,300 | $32.36 | +30.0% | No tax |
| 07 | New Jersey | $66,250 | $31.85 | +28.0% | 10.75% |
| 08 | Washington | $62,100 | $29.86 | +20.0% | No tax |
| 09 | Maryland | $61,100 | $29.38 | +18.0% | 5.75% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $60,050 | $28.87 | +16.0% | No tax |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $58,500 | $28.12 | +13.0% | 5.99% |
| 12 | Delaware | $57,950 | $27.86 | +12.0% | 6.6% |
| 13 | Oregon | $56,400 | $27.12 | +9.0% | 9.9% |
| 14 | Illinois | $55,900 | $26.88 | +8.0% | 4.95% |
| 15 | Colorado | $54,350 | $26.13 | +5.0% | 4.4% |
| 16 | Minnesota | $53,850 | $25.89 | +4.0% | 9.85% |
| 17 | Vermont | $53,850 | $25.89 | +4.0% | 8.75% |
| 18 | Nevada | $53,300 | $25.62 | +3.0% | No tax |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $52,800 | $25.38 | +2.0% | 3.07% |
| 20 | Maine | $51,750 | $24.88 | -0.0% | 7.15% |
| 21 | Virginia | $51,750 | $24.88 | -0.0% | 5.75% |
| 22 | Florida | $50,700 | $24.38 | -2.0% | No tax |
| 23 | Arizona | $49,700 | $23.89 | -4.0% | 2.5% |
| 24 | Michigan | $49,700 | $23.89 | -4.0% | 4.25% |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $49,150 | $23.63 | -5.0% | 7.65% |
| 26 | Texas | $48,650 | $23.39 | -6.0% | No tax |
| 27 | Utah | $48,150 | $23.15 | -7.0% | 4.65% |
| 28 | Ohio | $47,600 | $22.88 | -8.0% | 3.75% |
| 29 | Indiana | $47,100 | $22.64 | -9.0% | 3.15% |
| 30 | North Carolina | $47,100 | $22.64 | -9.0% | 4.5% |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,600 | $22.40 | -10.0% | 5.49% |
| 32 | Iowa | $46,050 | $22.14 | -11.0% | 6.0% |
| 33 | Montana | $46,050 | $22.14 | -11.0% | 6.75% |
| 34 | North Dakota | $46,050 | $22.14 | -11.0% | 2.5% |
| 35 | Idaho | $45,550 | $21.90 | -12.0% | 5.8% |
| 36 | Kansas | $45,550 | $21.90 | -12.0% | 5.7% |
| 37 | Louisiana | $45,550 | $21.90 | -12.0% | 4.25% |
| 38 | Missouri | $45,550 | $21.90 | -12.0% | 4.8% |
| 39 | Nebraska | $45,550 | $21.90 | -12.0% | 5.84% |
| 40 | Tennessee | $45,550 | $21.90 | -12.0% | No tax |
| 41 | Alabama | $45,050 | $21.66 | -13.0% | 5.0% |
| 42 | New Mexico | $44,500 | $21.39 | -14.0% | 5.9% |
| 43 | South Carolina | $44,500 | $21.39 | -14.0% | 6.4% |
| 44 | Wyoming | $44,500 | $21.39 | -14.0% | No tax |
| 45 | Kentucky | $43,500 | $20.91 | -16.0% | 4.0% |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $43,500 | $20.91 | -16.0% | 4.75% |
| 47 | South Dakota | $43,500 | $20.91 | -16.0% | No tax |
| 48 | West Virginia | $42,950 | $20.65 | -17.0% | 6.5% |
| 49 | Arkansas | $42,450 | $20.41 | -18.0% | 4.4% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,350 | $19.40 | -22.0% | 5.0% |
Hawaii pays the highest social worker salaries at $101,450/year — 96.0% above the national average.
At the other end, Mississippi pays $40,350/year. However, salary alone doesn't tell the full story — states with no income tax like Texas, Florida and Washington significantly increase effective take-home pay even when gross salaries appear lower.