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The role of a domestic violence advocate is crucial in helping individuals navigate the complexities of abuse and trauma. As of October 2025, the average domestic violence advocate salary is approximately $47,440 annually. Factors influencing this figure include geographic location, level of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Entry-level advocates typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can command higher salaries. For instance, a seasoned advocate may earn upwards of $60,000 depending on their role and location.
Advocates seeking higher salaries may consider positions in urban areas or states with a higher cost of living, such as California or New York. Additionally, specialized roles within non-profits or government organizations often offer competitive compensation packages.
As awareness of domestic violence issues increases, the demand for advocates continues to grow. Job seekers can find a variety of opportunities across non-profit organizations, government agencies, and community outreach programs. Exploring these avenues can lead to fulfilling careers dedicated to making a difference.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level domestic violence advocate | $32,900 | $15.83 |
| Mid-level domestic violence advocate | $46,700 | $22.47 |
| Senior-level domestic violence advocate | $53,600 | $25.79 |
The average domestic violence advocate salary in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average domestic violence advocate salary states are Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $64,910 | $31.21 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $69,097 | $33.22 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $63,414 | $30.49 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $67,054 | $32.24 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $63,201 | $30.39 |
| 6 | New York | $59,311 | $28.51 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $65,254 | $31.37 |
| 8 | Maryland | $57,984 | $27.88 |
| 9 | Florida | $56,873 | $27.34 |
| 10 | Virginia | $66,094 | $31.78 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $77,433 | $37.23 |
| 12 | Maine | $50,249 | $24.16 |
| 13 | Illinois | $55,939 | $26.89 |
| 14 | Ohio | $58,246 | $28.00 |
| 15 | California | $54,756 | $26.32 |
| 16 | Delaware | $64,945 | $31.22 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $49,743 | $23.91 |
| 18 | Nevada | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $51,917 | $24.96 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $49,419 | $23.76 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| 22 | Michigan | $43,949 | $21.13 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $47,861 | $23.01 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $44,302 | $21.30 |
| 25 | Vermont | $49,766 | $23.93 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $44,495 | $21.39 |
| 27 | Texas | $44,115 | $21.21 |
| 28 | Indiana | $43,486 | $20.91 |
| 29 | Washington | $40,672 | $19.55 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $47,374 | $22.78 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $44,201 | $21.25 |
| 32 | Alaska | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| 34 | Arizona | $39,449 | $18.97 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $43,944 | $21.13 |
| 36 | Iowa | $41,081 | $19.75 |
| 37 | Oregon | $40,423 | $19.43 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $40,221 | $19.34 |
| 39 | Colorado | $39,860 | $19.16 |
| 40 | Idaho | $37,787 | $18.17 |
| 41 | Missouri | $39,605 | $19.04 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $39,161 | $18.83 |
| 43 | Montana | $33,572 | $16.14 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $35,480 | $17.06 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $35,103 | $16.88 |
| 46 | Alabama | $37,759 | $18.15 |
| 47 | Georgia | $36,675 | $17.63 |
| 48 | Kansas | $37,526 | $18.04 |
| 49 | Utah | $34,134 | $16.41 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $34,905 | $16.78 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $32,379 | $15.57 |
The highest-paying cities for domestic violence advocates are Jersey City, NJ, Richmond, VA, and Worcester, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $67,167 | $32.29 |
| 2 | Richmond, VA | $65,728 | $31.60 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $63,695 | $30.62 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $59,745 | $28.72 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $58,274 | $28.02 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $58,232 | $28.00 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $56,698 | $27.26 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $56,554 | $27.19 |
| 9 | Charleston, SC | $49,966 | $24.02 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $48,297 | $23.22 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $44,596 | $21.44 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $40,997 | $19.71 |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | $40,974 | $19.70 |
| 14 | Saint Charles, MO | $40,613 | $19.53 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,494 | $18.99 |
A domestic violence advocate's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $47,440 | $3,953 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of domestic violence advocates are licensed social worker, crisis counselor, and child welfare specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Support Worker | $38,207 | $3,184 | $18.37 | 159,875 |
| Outreach Worker | $37,639 | $3,137 | $18.10 | 65,822 |
| Family Worker | $36,992 | $3,083 | $17.78 | 101,552 |
| Crisis Counselor | $51,142 | $4,262 | $24.59 | 76,255 |
| Social Worker | $50,102 | $4,175 | $24.09 | 77,340 |
| Case Worker | $41,459 | $3,455 | $19.93 | 107,329 |
Top companies hiring domestic violence advocates now:
Domestic violence advocate salaries at Sinai Chicago and City Of Toledo are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average domestic violence advocate salary at companies like Medical University of South Carolina and United International Holdings Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinai Chicago | $59,458 | $28.59 |
| 2 | City Of Toledo | $49,673 | $23.88 |
| 3 | Medical University of South Carolina | $45,934 | $22.08 |
| 4 | United International Holdings Inc | $42,369 | $20.37 |
| 5 | WomenRising | $42,364 | $20.37 |
| 6 | Americorps | $41,474 | $19.94 |
| 7 | Child and Family Services of NH | $41,390 | $19.90 |
| 8 | Safe Horizon | $41,186 | $19.80 |
| 9 | Premier Inc. | $41,132 | $19.77 |
| 10 | CHI Mercy Health | $40,162 | $19.31 |
| 11 | INTER-TRIBAL COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN | $40,094 | $19.28 |
| 12 | Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program | $40,071 | $19.26 |
| 13 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $39,843 | $19.16 |
| 14 | Good Shepherd Services | $39,769 | $19.12 |
| 15 | Sheltering Arms | $39,146 | $18.82 |
| 16 | CONSEJO COUNSELING & REFERRAL SERVICE | $38,607 | $18.56 |
| 17 | GBMC Healthcare | $38,334 | $18.43 |
| 18 | ywcacentralmass | $38,073 | $18.30 |
| 19 | Preferred Family Healthcare | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| 20 | Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany | $35,883 | $17.25 |
The average domestic violence advocate salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $43,373 | $20.85 |
| 2 | Health Care | $40,722 | $19.58 |
| 3 | Professional | $40,462 | $19.45 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $38,592 | $18.55 |
| 5 | Retail | $37,494 | $18.03 |
The average domestic violence advocate salary has risen by $9,525 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average domestic violence advocate earned $37,915 annually, but today, they earn $47,440 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for domestic violence advocates over the last decade.
Compare domestic violence advocate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare domestic violence advocate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,400 | $22.81 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $46,300 | $22.24 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $44,500 | $21.41 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $43,700 | $21.01 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $42,000 | $20.18 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities | Dvsa Program Domestic Abuse Advocate | Council Bluffs, IA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Family Pathways | Domestic Violence Community Advocate ~ Cloquet Office | Cloquet, MN | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| City of Seattle, Wa | Domestic Violence Felony Victim Advocate | Seattle, WA | 06/25/2025 | $82,750 |
| Crisis Services | Campus Advocate-Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence | Buffalo, NY | 06/21/2025 | $45,100 |
| Metropolitan Family Services | Senior Domestic Violence Advocate (Shelter & Hotline) | Wheaton, IL | 06/20/2025 | $44,000 |
| Health Care of S.E. Mass., Inc. | Domestic Violence Shelter Advocate | Rowe, MA | 06/19/2025 | $38,776 |
| Westchester Jewish Community Services | Domestic Violence Victim Advocate | Mount Vernon, NY | 06/16/2025 | $53,000 |
| County of Lancaster | Domestic Violence Victim Advocate (Bilingual-Spanish) | Lancaster, PA | 06/13/2025 | $44,090 |
| Family Resources | Advocate-Illinois Domestic Abuse Criminal Legal | Moline, IL | 06/13/2025 | $58,165 |
| Good Shepherd | Violence Interrupter: Brag Northwest | New York, NY | 06/11/2025 | $41,600 |
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