Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Director of social work salary
Average director of social work salary
$65,174
Understanding Director of Social Work Salaries
The Director of Social Work is responsible for overseeing social work departments, developing programs, and managing staff. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $65,174 per year, which amounts to about $31 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific work sector.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level directors may start with lower compensation, while those with extensive experience can command higher salaries. Typically, salaries increase with years of service and additional responsibilities.
Top-Paying States
Directors of Social Work in states like California and New York often earn more due to the higher cost of living and demand for services. Understanding regional salary trends can aid in job negotiations and career planning.
Job Opportunities
Career opportunities for Directors of Social Work are diverse, ranging from healthcare facilities to non-profit organizations. By being aware of salary expectations and job prospects, candidates can make informed decisions about their career paths.
Let Zippia find your next director of social work job
Let Zippia find your next director of social work job
Where can a Director Of Social Work earn more?
Director of social work salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of social work | $57,100 | $27.47 |
| Mid-level director of social work | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| Senior-level director of social work | $73,500 | $35.35 |
Director of social work salary estimates from across the web
Average director of social work salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of social work are California, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average director of social work salary states are North Carolina, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of social work
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $78,829 | $37.90 |
| 2 | Michigan | $71,635 | $34.44 |
| 3 | California | $82,991 | $39.90 |
| 4 | Utah | $76,430 | $36.75 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $81,869 | $39.36 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $73,238 | $35.21 |
| 7 | Washington | $66,811 | $32.12 |
| 8 | Florida | $72,523 | $34.87 |
| 9 | Texas | $71,471 | $34.36 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $62,574 | $30.08 |
| 11 | Virginia | $76,537 | $36.80 |
| 12 | Arizona | $68,208 | $32.79 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $63,250 | $30.41 |
| 14 | Vermont | $62,515 | $30.06 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $64,716 | $31.11 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $61,077 | $29.36 |
| 17 | Nevada | $60,662 | $29.16 |
| 18 | Georgia | $63,413 | $30.49 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $60,640 | $29.15 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $69,354 | $33.34 |
| 21 | Maine | $57,889 | $27.83 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $56,834 | $27.32 |
| 23 | Maryland | $61,679 | $29.65 |
| 24 | Delaware | $59,787 | $28.74 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $59,112 | $28.42 |
| 26 | Oregon | $60,929 | $29.29 |
| 27 | Illinois | $60,451 | $29.06 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $59,125 | $28.43 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $59,378 | $28.55 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $55,396 | $26.63 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $52,328 | $25.16 |
| 32 | Iowa | $52,079 | $25.04 |
| 33 | Colorado | $57,982 | $27.88 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $56,532 | $27.18 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $58,473 | $28.11 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $52,087 | $25.04 |
| 37 | Indiana | $56,483 | $27.16 |
| 38 | Alabama | $51,448 | $24.73 |
| 39 | Idaho | $53,984 | $25.95 |
| 40 | Ohio | $55,353 | $26.61 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $55,099 | $26.49 |
| 42 | Montana | $51,548 | $24.78 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $50,142 | $24.11 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $53,851 | $25.89 |
| 45 | Alaska | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $51,626 | $24.82 |
| 47 | Missouri | $52,411 | $25.20 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $51,195 | $24.61 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $51,178 | $24.60 |
| 51 | Kansas | $49,426 | $23.76 |
Highest paying cities for directors of social work
The highest-paying cities for directors of social work are San Francisco, CA, Newark, NJ, and Brentwood, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $87,725 | $42.18 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $81,935 | $39.39 |
| 3 | Brentwood, NY | $79,594 | $38.27 |
| 4 | Richmond, VA | $75,839 | $36.46 |
| 5 | Boca Raton, FL | $72,956 | $35.08 |
| 6 | Corpus Christi, TX | $72,066 | $34.65 |
| 7 | Tucson, AZ | $67,483 | $32.44 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| 9 | Bridgeport, CT | $64,754 | $31.13 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $61,969 | $29.79 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,259 | $28.97 |
| 12 | Dover, DE | $59,887 | $28.79 |
| 13 | Knoxville, TN | $59,037 | $28.38 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $57,725 | $27.75 |
| 15 | Columbia, SC | $53,685 | $25.81 |
| 16 | Missoula, MT | $53,016 | $25.49 |
Director of social work salary details
A director of social work's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of social work's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| Average | $65,174 | $5,431 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying director of social work jobs
The highest paying types of directors of social work are director of case management, communications lead, and clinical director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Manager | $50,950 | $4,246 | $24.50 | 14,721 |
| House Manager | $37,235 | $3,103 | $17.90 | 28,706 |
| Youth Leader | $29,481 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 31,851 |
| Home Manager | $75,914 | $6,326 | $36.50 | 49,494 |
| Communications Lead | $96,988 | $8,082 | $46.63 | 20,413 |
| Youth Coordinator | $37,761 | $3,147 | $18.15 | 23,062 |
Top companies hiring directors of social work now:
Which companies pay directors of social work the most?
Director of social work salaries at Stanford Health Care and New York University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of social work salary at companies like Maria Regna Residence and Northwell Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford Health Care | $104,948 | $50.46 |
| 2 | New York University | $90,870 | $43.69 |
| 3 | Maria Regna Residence | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| 4 | Northwell Health | $82,453 | $39.64 |
| 5 | Schuyler Hospital | $79,906 | $38.42 |
| 6 | ProMedica Toledo Hospital | $78,100 | $37.55 |
| 7 | The Brooklyn Hospital Center | $77,098 | $37.07 |
| 8 | Geisinger Medical Center | $76,764 | $36.91 |
| 9 | Bridgeport Hospital | $76,003 | $36.54 |
| 10 | Mount Sinai Health System | $75,218 | $36.16 |
| 11 | HCR ManorCare | $69,220 | $33.28 |
| 12 | Central State University | $67,811 | $32.60 |
| 13 | Beacon Health Options | $66,745 | $32.09 |
| 14 | Oswego Health | $61,855 | $29.74 |
| 15 | FutureCare Health | $61,754 | $29.69 |
| 16 | Brattleboro Memorial Hospital | $61,343 | $29.49 |
| 17 | New York Edge Music | $60,935 | $29.30 |
| 18 | University of Tennessee | $60,887 | $29.27 |
| 19 | Nexion Health | $60,884 | $29.27 |
| 20 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $57,890 | $27.83 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director of social work salary trends
The average director of social work salary has risen by $10,245 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of social work earned $54,929 annually, but today, they earn $65,174 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for directors of social work over the last decade.
Compare director of social work salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of social work salary over time
Compare director of social work salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of social work salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $65,200 | $31.33 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $62,900 | $30.23 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $61,200 | $29.41 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $60,000 | $28.86 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | $60,600 | $29.12 | +1.8% |
Recently added director of social work salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Futurecare | Licensed Director of Social Work | Landover, MD | 06/26/2025 | $85,000 |
| Ruf | Director of Development, School of Social Work | New Brunswick, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $100,000 |
| Dentsu | Director, Paid Social-Temporary Worker | Ione, CA | 06/25/2025 | $113,387 |
| Suncrest Health Services | Director of Social Work-Licsw-Hospice | Saint Louis Park, MN | 06/22/2025 | $85,000 |
| Bellevue University | Program Director, Master of Social Work | Nora, NE | 06/16/2025 | $65,000 |
| Partnership With Children | Social Work Director | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $70,000 |
| Preble Street | Senior Director of Social Work | Portland, ME | 06/05/2025 | $90,000 |
| Join Our Team of Difference Makers | MSW Program Director, Faculty-Department of Social Work | Azusa, CA | 06/05/2025 | $68,640 |
| Wecare Centers | Social Work Director | Pittsburgh, PA | 05/25/2025 | $60,000 |
| State of Kansas | Sptp Social Worker Director | Pawnee Rock, KS | 05/23/2025 | $77,219 |
Director of social work salary FAQs
Search for director of social work jobs