Social Worker Compensation

The median annual wage of social workers was $42,480 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,710 and the top 10 percent earned more than $70,390.

The median annual wages of social workers in May 2010 were the following:

• $47,230 for healthcare social workers
• $40,210 for child, family, and schools social workers
• $38,600 for mental health and substance abuse social workers
• $51,500 for all other social workers

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In May 2010, the median annual wages of child, family and school social workers in the industries employing the most of these workers were as follows:

Elementary and secondary schools	$54,260
Local government, excluding education and hospitals	47,130
State government, excluding education and hospitals	39,750
Individual and family services	35,120

In May 2010, the median annual wages of healthcare social workers in the industries employing the most of these workers were as follows: 

Hospitals	$53,400
Home health care services	48,530
Local government, excluding education and hospitals	44,810
Nursing and residential care facilities	41,860
Individual and family services	39,310

In May 2010, the median annual wages of mental health and substance abuse social workers in the industries employing the most of these workers were as follows: 

Hospitals	$48,010
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals	47,710
Local government	45,210
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers	36,780
Individual and family services	36,740

Social workers generally work full time. They may sometimes work evenings and weekends to see clients or attend meetings.