Research Summary. Extensive research by the Zippia data science team has revealed key insights into social worker salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Oregon boasts the highest average salary for social workers at $67,057
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South Dakota has the lowest average salary at $42,906
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The national average salary for social workers is $50,102
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The national hourly wage for social workers stands at $24.09
For more details on our methodology, click here.
Background
For many individuals, salary remains a top priority when considering job opportunities. A common question arises: how much do social workers earn in my area?
While numerous factors influence individual salaries, comprehensive data on average salaries for social workers by state, segmented by seniority level, is available. These averages provide a useful benchmark, even if your specific location may vary slightly.
The state offering the highest compensation for social workers in 2026 is Oregon.
Below is a quick overview of the top ten states for social worker salaries:
Let’s explore how these salaries are structured with a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Social Workers By State
| Rank | State | Average Social Worker Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $67,057 | $44,000 | $101,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $64,923 | $56,000 | $75,000 |
| 3 | California | $60,592 | $40,000 | $91,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $59,863 | $40,000 | $89,000 |
| 5 | Nevada | $57,212 | $37,000 | $86,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $56,958 | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| 7 | Vermont | $56,220 | $41,000 | $76,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $55,730 | $39,000 | $77,000 |
| 9 | Idaho | $53,676 | $35,000 | $80,000 |
| 10 | Arizona | $53,588 | $36,000 | $79,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $53,534 | $38,000 | $73,000 |
| 12 | Utah | $53,356 | $35,000 | $80,000 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $53,256 | $37,000 | $75,000 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $53,253 | $35,000 | $79,000 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $52,520 | $37,000 | $72,000 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $51,676 | $37,000 | $71,000 |
| 17 | New York | $51,304 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $49,983 | $42,000 | $58,000 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $49,845 | $34,000 | $73,000 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $49,816 | $36,000 | $67,000 |
| 21 | Texas | $49,561 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 22 | Colorado | $49,541 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 23 | Delaware | $49,348 | $34,000 | $70,000 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $49,219 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 25 | Maryland | $48,815 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 26 | Maine | $48,772 | $36,000 | $65,000 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $48,746 | $33,000 | $71,000 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $48,509 | $32,000 | $71,000 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $48,160 | $34,000 | $67,000 |
| 30 | Illinois | $48,072 | $34,000 | $67,000 |
| 31 | Ohio | $48,035 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $47,915 | $33,000 | $69,000 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $47,835 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $47,712 | $33,000 | $68,000 |
| 35 | Michigan | $47,563 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 36 | Montana | $46,145 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 37 | Iowa | $45,893 | $32,000 | $64,000 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $45,141 | $31,000 | $65,000 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $44,745 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Florida | $44,733 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 41 | Kansas | $44,637 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 42 | Virginia | $44,452 | $31,000 | $63,000 |
| 43 | Indiana | $44,259 | $31,000 | $62,000 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $44,118 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,104 | $30,000 | $63,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $44,051 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 47 | Missouri | $43,758 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $43,700 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $43,648 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $42,906 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
Methodology: Social Worker Salary By State
To gain a comprehensive understanding of social worker salaries by state, Zippia aggregated data from various reliable sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This is complemented by actual salary listings from job postings. A weighted average of these inputs yields an accurate representation of social worker salaries across states.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary for social workers, with the highest salary reflecting the top ranking.
Social Worker Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for social workers?
The highest-paid state for social workers is Oregon, with an average salary of $67,057 per year.
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What city pays social workers the most?
Portland, OR offers the highest pay for social workers, averaging $67,065 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for social workers?
The state with the lowest average salary for social workers is South Dakota, at $42,906 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
