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Best states for a senior social worker
Quoted expert
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like senior social workers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for senior social workers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Connecticut is the best state in the country for senior social workers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for senior social workers.We found that Connecticut is the best state for senior social worker jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.
10 best states for senior social workers in 2025
1. Connecticut
Total senior social worker jobs: 706 Average annual salary: $72,148 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. New Hampshire
Total senior social worker jobs: 373 Average annual salary: $62,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
3. Idaho
Total senior social worker jobs: 371 Average annual salary: $60,296 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
4. New Jersey
Total senior social worker jobs: 970 Average annual salary: $89,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
5. Maryland
Total senior social worker jobs: 959 Average annual salary: $73,747 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
6. West Virginia
Total senior social worker jobs: 320 Average annual salary: $59,553 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
7. New Mexico
Total senior social worker jobs: 443 Average annual salary: $57,751 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
8. Washington
Total senior social worker jobs: 1,831 Average annual salary: $60,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
9. Maine
Total senior social worker jobs: 332 Average annual salary: $56,906 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
10. Massachusetts
Total senior social worker jobs: 2,152 Average annual salary: $59,915 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
Senior social worker jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior social worker
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior social worker
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $72,148 | $48,000 | 3,588,184 | 706 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $62,160 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 373 |
| 3 | Idaho | $60,296 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 371 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $89,645 | $60,000 | 9,005,644 | 970 |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,747 | $48,000 | 6,052,177 | 959 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $59,553 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 320 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $57,751 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 443 |
| 8 | Washington | $60,253 | $44,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,831 |
| 9 | Maine | $56,906 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 332 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $59,915 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,152 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $61,997 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,664 |
| 12 | Alaska | $61,678 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 204 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $72,631 | $47,000 | 693,972 | 229 |
| 14 | California | $63,849 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,143 |
| 15 | Oregon | $59,180 | $43,000 | 4,142,776 | 916 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $63,657 | $48,000 | 755,393 | 91 |
| 17 | Virginia | $62,844 | $40,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,588 |
| 18 | Nevada | $61,850 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 229 |
| 19 | Texas | $57,460 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,648 |
| 20 | Colorado | $59,083 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,153 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $53,006 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 237 |
| 22 | New York | $59,459 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,085 |
| 23 | Kansas | $58,194 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 246 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $64,797 | $56,000 | 1,427,538 | 122 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $50,812 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,191 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $52,074 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 913 |
| 27 | Ohio | $56,072 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 823 |
| 28 | Illinois | $56,542 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,295 |
| 29 | Utah | $52,433 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 599 |
| 30 | Iowa | $54,033 | $39,000 | 3,145,711 | 315 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $52,439 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,551 |
| 32 | Arizona | $53,916 | $38,000 | 7,016,270 | 759 |
| 33 | Vermont | $54,601 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 92 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $52,330 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 76 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $48,932 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 475 |
| 36 | Montana | $52,574 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 157 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $51,511 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 179 |
| 38 | Delaware | $51,857 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 209 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $53,357 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 422 |
| 40 | Missouri | $48,145 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,144 |
| 41 | Georgia | $47,224 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,004 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $44,819 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 651 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $51,113 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 769 |
| 44 | Alabama | $45,443 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 671 |
| 45 | Michigan | $47,835 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,001 |
| 46 | Florida | $38,750 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,302 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $41,465 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 531 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $43,889 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 268 |
| 49 | Indiana | $43,864 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 693 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $43,538 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 319 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $38,138 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 201 |
Highest paying states for senior social workers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Social Worker Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $72,148 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $62,160 |
| 3 | Idaho | $60,296 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $89,645 |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,747 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $59,553 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $57,751 |
| 8 | Washington | $60,253 |
| 9 | Maine | $56,906 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $59,915 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $61,997 |
| 12 | Alaska | $61,678 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $72,631 |
| 14 | California | $63,849 |
| 15 | Oregon | $59,180 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $63,657 |
| 17 | Virginia | $62,844 |
| 18 | Nevada | $61,850 |
| 19 | Texas | $57,460 |
| 20 | Colorado | $59,083 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $53,006 |
| 22 | New York | $59,459 |
| 23 | Kansas | $58,194 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $64,797 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $50,812 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $52,074 |
| 27 | Ohio | $56,072 |
| 28 | Illinois | $56,542 |
| 29 | Utah | $52,433 |
| 30 | Iowa | $54,033 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $52,439 |
| 32 | Arizona | $53,916 |
| 33 | Vermont | $54,601 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $52,330 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $48,932 |
| 36 | Montana | $52,574 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $51,511 |
| 38 | Delaware | $51,857 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $53,357 |
| 40 | Missouri | $48,145 |
| 41 | Georgia | $47,224 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $44,819 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $51,113 |
| 44 | Alabama | $45,443 |
| 45 | Michigan | $47,835 |
| 46 | Florida | $38,750 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $41,465 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $43,889 |
| 49 | Indiana | $43,864 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $43,538 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $38,138 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior social workers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior social workers to find work opportunities?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Oberlin College
One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
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Updated January 8, 2025