Best cities for a licensed social worker
The best cities for licensed social workers are Stockton, CA, Toledo, OH, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for licensed social workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for licensed social workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a licensed social worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for licensed social workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for licensed social workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a licensed social worker. While the absolute best city for licensed social workers is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for licensed social workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a licensed social worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for licensed social workers in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Licensed social worker jobs in StocktonTotal licensed social worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $81,531 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 2.19 2. Toledo, OH
Licensed social worker jobs in ToledoTotal licensed social worker jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $53,755 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 5.25 3. Cleveland, OH
Licensed social worker jobs in ClevelandTotal licensed social worker jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $54,156 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 1.47 4. Reno, NV
Licensed social worker jobs in RenoTotal licensed social worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $63,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 1.03 5. North Las Vegas, NV
Licensed social worker jobs in North Las VegasTotal licensed social worker jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $57,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 1.42 6. Henderson, NV
Licensed social worker jobs in HendersonTotal licensed social worker jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $57,016 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 3.93 7. Philadelphia, PA
Licensed social worker jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal licensed social worker jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $57,049 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.87 8. Columbus, OH
Licensed social worker jobs in ColumbusTotal licensed social worker jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $53,423 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 1.57 9. Albuquerque, NM
Licensed social worker jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal licensed social worker jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $57,356 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.93 10. Bakersfield, CA
Licensed social worker jobs in BakersfieldTotal licensed social worker jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $73,541 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 0.69
Choose from 10+ customizable licensed social worker resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use licensed social worker resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your licensed social worker resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for licensed social workers
- Stockton, CA
- Toledo, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Reno, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- Columbus, OH
- Albuquerque, NM
- Bakersfield, CA
- (5 licensed social worker jobs)
- (15 licensed social worker jobs)
- (15 licensed social worker jobs)
- (5 licensed social worker jobs)
- (1 licensed social worker jobs)
- (7 licensed social worker jobs)
- (27 licensed social worker jobs)
- (45 licensed social worker jobs)
- (8 licensed social worker jobs)
- (2 licensed social worker jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a licensed social worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $81,531 | $53,000 | 307,072 | 5 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $53,755 | $37,000 | 278,508 | 15 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $54,156 | $37,000 | 385,809 | 15 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $63,349 | $41,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 5 | North Las Vegas, NV | $57,324 | $37,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 6 | Henderson, NV | $57,016 | $37,000 | 292,969 | 7 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,049 | $38,000 | 1,567,872 | 27 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $53,423 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 45 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $57,356 | $37,000 | 559,277 | 8 |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $73,541 | $48,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,359 | $37,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 12 | Chula Vista, CA | $69,582 | $46,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $81,976 | $53,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $70,904 | $47,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $70,073 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,796 | $34,000 | 638,367 | 9 |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $70,720 | $46,000 | 324,722 | 3 |
| 18 | Corpus Christi, TX | $52,303 | $33,000 | 325,733 | 7 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $52,175 | $35,000 | 298,800 | 11 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,523 | $40,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $77,753 | $50,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 22 | New Orleans, LA | $50,594 | $32,000 | 391,495 | 9 |
| 23 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,756 | $41,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $82,017 | $53,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $69,715 | $46,000 | 1,406,630 | 17 |
| 26 | Newark, NJ | $57,804 | $39,000 | 281,764 | 12 |
| 27 | Phoenix, AZ | $52,680 | $34,000 | 1,615,017 | 22 |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $51,132 | $34,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 29 | Arlington, TX | $53,416 | $34,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $54,479 | $35,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 31 | San Antonio, TX | $53,165 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 7 |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $48,027 | $34,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,292 | $47,000 | 3,976,322 | 13 |
| 34 | Seattle, WA | $66,092 | $50,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,475 | $37,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 36 | San Francisco, CA | $82,169 | $53,000 | 870,887 | 1 |
| 37 | Boston, MA | $62,280 | $44,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 38 | Anchorage, AK | $75,407 | $67,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 39 | Houston, TX | $52,844 | $33,000 | 2,303,482 | 27 |
| 40 | Fremont, CA | $81,424 | $53,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $55,321 | $36,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $53,461 | $34,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 43 | Austin, TX | $53,342 | $34,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 44 | New York, NY | $55,671 | $38,000 | 8,537,673 | 188 |
| 45 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,301 | $34,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 46 | Aurora, CO | $52,852 | $36,000 | 361,710 | 11 |
| 47 | Memphis, TN | $50,517 | $33,000 | 652,717 | 3 |
| 48 | San Jose, CA | $80,842 | $52,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 49 | Saint Paul, MN | $49,913 | $37,000 | 302,398 | 8 |
| 50 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,906 | $37,000 | 413,651 | 15 |
Highest paying cities for licensed social workers
| Rank | City | Avg. licensed social worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $81,976 |
| 2 | Albany, OR | $70,125 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $62,667 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,523 |
| 5 | Camden, NJ | $58,016 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,049 |
| 7 | Newark, DE | $56,837 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $55,671 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $54,156 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $53,342 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $52,885 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $52,680 |
| 13 | Greenville, MS | $51,676 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $51,488 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $50,594 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $49,960 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,906 |
| 18 | Greenville, NC | $49,585 |
| 19 | Greenville, SC | $49,415 |
| 20 | Ann Arbor, MI | $47,940 |
Licensed social worker best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
Search for licensed social worker jobs
Updated January 8, 2025