Best cities for a school social worker
The best cities for school social workers are Las Vegas, NV, Newark, NJ, and Reno, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for school social workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for school social workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a school social worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for school social workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for school social workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a school social worker. While the absolute best city for school social workers is Las Vegas, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for school social workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a school social worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for school social workers in 2025
1. Las Vegas, NV
Total school social worker jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $63,809 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 0.73 2. Newark, NJ
Total school social worker jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $67,555 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 1.72 3. Reno, NV
Total school social worker jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $67,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 0.76 4. Chicago, IL
Total school social worker jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $62,937 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.75 5. Raleigh, NC
Total school social worker jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $54,646 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.77 6. Jersey City, NJ
Total school social worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $67,597 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 0.43 7. Philadelphia, PA
Total school social worker jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $53,918 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.35 8. Laredo, TX
Total school social worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $56,602 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Indianapolis, IN
Total school social worker jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $53,372 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.14 10. Fort Wayne, IN
Total school social worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,595 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for school social workers
- Las Vegas, NV
- Newark, NJ
- Reno, NV
- Chicago, IL
- Raleigh, NC
- Jersey City, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Laredo, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Fort Wayne, IN
- (6 school social worker jobs)
- (7 school social worker jobs)
- (2 school social worker jobs)
- (26 school social worker jobs)
- (7 school social worker jobs)
- (5 school social worker jobs)
- (6 school social worker jobs)
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- (2 school social worker jobs)
- (0 school social worker jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a school social worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,809 | $45,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $67,555 | $50,000 | 281,764 | 7 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $67,274 | $49,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $62,937 | $46,000 | 2,704,958 | 26 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $54,646 | $39,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $67,597 | $50,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $53,918 | $39,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 8 | Laredo, TX | $56,602 | $39,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $53,372 | $39,000 | 855,164 | 2 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $53,595 | $39,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 11 | North Las Vegas, NV | $63,672 | $45,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $75,612 | $57,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $63,594 | $45,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 14 | Oakland, CA | $65,946 | $47,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $56,151 | $39,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $64,728 | $47,000 | 614,664 | 15 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $55,852 | $39,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $64,442 | $46,000 | 522,053 | 9 |
| 19 | Bakersfield, CA | $63,738 | $45,000 | 376,380 | 7 |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $66,262 | $56,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 21 | Wichita, KS | $58,200 | $42,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $54,211 | $40,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $57,220 | $40,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 24 | Detroit, MI | $49,882 | $37,000 | 672,795 | 24 |
| 25 | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,921 | $45,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 26 | Portland, OR | $61,717 | $46,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 27 | Corpus Christi, TX | $56,330 | $38,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 28 | Durham, NC | $54,636 | $39,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 29 | Fort Worth, TX | $55,234 | $39,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 30 | Arlington, TX | $55,205 | $39,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 31 | Irving, TX | $55,185 | $39,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 32 | Norfolk, VA | $62,780 | $45,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 33 | New York, NY | $59,756 | $44,000 | 8,537,673 | 89 |
| 34 | Dallas, TX | $55,166 | $39,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 35 | Washington, DC | $70,622 | $51,000 | 681,170 | 13 |
| 36 | Chesapeake, VA | $62,650 | $45,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 37 | Plano, TX | $55,159 | $39,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 38 | Garland, TX | $55,146 | $39,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 39 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,400 | $41,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $54,231 | $39,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 41 | Winston-Salem, NC | $54,073 | $39,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 42 | Houston, TX | $55,683 | $38,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $55,841 | $40,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $50,557 | $36,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $47,794 | $35,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 46 | Cincinnati, OH | $47,439 | $34,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 47 | Aurora, CO | $53,425 | $39,000 | 361,710 | 10 |
| 48 | Toledo, OH | $47,713 | $35,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 49 | Denver, CO | $53,439 | $39,000 | 693,060 | 42 |
| 50 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,680 | $38,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for school social workers
| Rank | City | Avg. school social worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $70,622 |
| 2 | Plainfield, NJ | $67,663 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $66,078 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $64,728 |
| 5 | Chicago Heights, IL | $62,988 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $59,756 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $54,336 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $53,918 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $53,439 |
| 10 | Wallingford, CT | $52,820 |
| 11 | Plymouth, MN | $50,647 |
| 12 | Santa Fe, NM | $50,526 |
| 13 | Madison Heights, MI | $49,891 |
| 14 | Dover, DE | $49,777 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,605 |
School social worker best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025