Best cities for a medical social worker
The best cities for medical social workers are Oakland, CA, Anchorage, AK, and Portland, OR, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for medical social workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for medical social workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a medical social worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for medical social workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for medical social workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a medical social worker. While the absolute best city for medical social workers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for medical social workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a medical social worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for medical social workers in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Medical social worker jobs in OaklandTotal medical social worker jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $77,610 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 2.52 2. Anchorage, AK
Medical social worker jobs in AnchorageTotal medical social worker jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $75,484 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.02 3. Portland, OR
Medical social worker jobs in PortlandTotal medical social worker jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $70,587 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 1.01 4. Reno, NV
Medical social worker jobs in RenoTotal medical social worker jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $64,145 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.91 5. Las Vegas, NV
Medical social worker jobs in Las VegasTotal medical social worker jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $60,911 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 1.97 6. Toledo, OH
Medical social worker jobs in ToledoTotal medical social worker jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $59,122 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.77 7. Fremont, CA
Medical social worker jobs in FremontTotal medical social worker jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $77,466 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.68 8. San Jose, CA
Medical social worker jobs in San JoseTotal medical social worker jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $77,337 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.53 9. Fresno, CA
Medical social worker jobs in FresnoTotal medical social worker jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $75,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.92 10. Riverside, CA
Medical social worker jobs in RiversideTotal medical social worker jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $70,218 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 2.30
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Best cities for medical social workers
- Oakland, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Portland, OR
- Reno, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- Toledo, OH
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Riverside, CA
- (14 medical social worker jobs)
- (3 medical social worker jobs)
- (20 medical social worker jobs)
- (4 medical social worker jobs)
- (27 medical social worker jobs)
- (2 medical social worker jobs)
- (8 medical social worker jobs)
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- (8 medical social worker jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a medical social worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $77,610 | $55,000 | 420,005 | 14 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $75,484 | $68,000 | 298,192 | 3 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $70,587 | $56,000 | 639,863 | 20 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $64,145 | $47,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,911 | $43,000 | 632,912 | 27 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $59,122 | $45,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $77,466 | $55,000 | 233,136 | 8 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $77,337 | $55,000 | 1,025,350 | 22 |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $75,876 | $54,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 10 | Riverside, CA | $70,218 | $51,000 | 324,722 | 8 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $77,028 | $55,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $77,711 | $55,000 | 870,887 | 25 |
| 13 | Chula Vista, CA | $68,407 | $50,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $57,931 | $43,000 | 860,090 | 12 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,049 | $42,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $59,601 | $44,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $47,962 | $38,000 | 446,970 | 22 |
| 18 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,163 | $45,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $48,076 | $38,000 | 252,551 | 12 |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $73,239 | $52,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 21 | Indianapolis, IN | $57,993 | $43,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $68,631 | $50,000 | 1,406,630 | 18 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $55,978 | $42,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $48,172 | $33,000 | 257,156 | 1 |
| 25 | Cincinnati, OH | $56,786 | $42,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 26 | Lubbock, TX | $48,865 | $34,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 27 | Scottsdale, AZ | $54,414 | $39,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 28 | Los Angeles, CA | $70,950 | $51,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 29 | Aurora, CO | $51,224 | $39,000 | 361,710 | 13 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,518 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 31 | Lincoln, NE | $47,924 | $38,000 | 280,364 | 3 |
| 32 | Stockton, CA | $77,150 | $55,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $53,188 | $38,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 34 | San Antonio, TX | $48,269 | $33,000 | 1,492,510 | 8 |
| 35 | Seattle, WA | $65,202 | $53,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,033 | $43,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 37 | Austin, TX | $48,204 | $33,000 | 947,890 | 17 |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $60,829 | $43,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $60,524 | $43,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 40 | Denver, CO | $51,273 | $39,000 | 693,060 | 26 |
| 41 | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,968 | $38,000 | 465,101 | 10 |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $47,875 | $39,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $45,686 | $33,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $49,786 | $35,000 | 652,717 | 1 |
| 45 | New Orleans, LA | $51,981 | $35,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 46 | Washington, DC | $71,128 | $51,000 | 681,170 | 2 |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $70,490 | $51,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 48 | Phoenix, AZ | $54,472 | $39,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $47,563 | $33,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 50 | Anaheim, CA | $70,411 | $51,000 | 351,043 | - |
Highest paying cities for medical social workers
| Rank | City | Avg. medical social worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $77,711 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $70,587 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $65,703 |
| 4 | Reading, PA | $61,174 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,911 |
| 6 | Marion, IN | $58,667 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,049 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $57,931 |
| 9 | Waterford, MI | $56,073 |
| 10 | Springfield, MA | $55,448 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $52,880 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $51,273 |
| 13 | Jackson, MS | $50,941 |
| 14 | Skokie, IL | $50,832 |
| 15 | Portland, ME | $48,832 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $48,204 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $48,153 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $47,962 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,881 |
| 20 | Summerville, SC | $46,928 |
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Updated January 8, 2025