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Best states for a social worker
Quoted expert
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for social workers in the United States. Social worker positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for social workers.Our research found that Oregon is the best state for social workers, while Oregon and Alaska are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Oregon has a median salary of $67,057 and Oregon has the highest median salary among all 50 states for social workers.
The median salary for social workers in Oregon is $67,057. Compare that to the median salary in Kansas of $44,637, which ranked worst for social workers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Oregon is the best state for social worker jobs, whereas Kansas is the worst.
10 best states for social workers in 2025
1. Oregon
Total social worker jobs: 897 Average annual salary: $67,057 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.322. Washington
Total social worker jobs: 1,716 Average annual salary: $59,863 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.433. California
Total social worker jobs: 6,366 Average annual salary: $60,592 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.334. Idaho
Total social worker jobs: 365 Average annual salary: $53,676 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.355. Connecticut
Total social worker jobs: 678 Average annual salary: $56,958 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.246. New Hampshire
Total social worker jobs: 368 Average annual salary: $53,534 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.287. Alaska
Total social worker jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $64,923 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.978. Utah
Total social worker jobs: 647 Average annual salary: $53,356 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.239. New Mexico
Total social worker jobs: 408 Average annual salary: $53,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.2710. Rhode Island
Total social worker jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $55,730 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
Social worker jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a social worker
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a social worker
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $67,057 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 897 |
| 2 | Washington | $59,863 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,716 |
| 3 | California | $60,592 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,366 |
| 4 | Idaho | $53,676 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 365 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,958 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 678 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,534 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 368 |
| 7 | Alaska | $64,923 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 133 |
| 8 | Utah | $53,356 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 647 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $53,253 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 408 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $55,730 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 161 |
| 11 | Nevada | $57,212 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 239 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $49,219 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 319 |
| 13 | Vermont | $56,220 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 91 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,788 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 206 |
| 15 | Arizona | $53,588 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 697 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $52,520 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,780 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $49,845 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 84 |
| 18 | Texas | $49,561 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,628 |
| 19 | Maine | $48,772 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 271 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $51,676 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 660 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $48,509 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 645 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $47,915 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 891 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $49,816 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 99 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $53,256 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 864 |
| 25 | Colorado | $49,541 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,144 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $47,712 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,679 |
| 27 | New York | $51,304 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,055 |
| 28 | Delaware | $49,348 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 215 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $48,746 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 211 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $47,835 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,385 |
| 31 | Michigan | $47,563 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 998 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $48,160 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 451 |
| 33 | Ohio | $48,035 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 856 |
| 34 | Maryland | $48,815 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,078 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $43,700 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,239 |
| 36 | Florida | $44,733 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,305 |
| 37 | Illinois | $48,072 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,401 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $49,983 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 130 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $44,745 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 572 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $42,906 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 230 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $43,648 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 463 |
| 42 | Montana | $46,145 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 164 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,141 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 262 |
| 44 | Alabama | $44,051 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 673 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,104 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,939 |
| 46 | Iowa | $45,893 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 336 |
| 47 | Missouri | $43,758 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,089 |
| 48 | Virginia | $44,452 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,642 |
| 49 | Indiana | $44,259 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 649 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $44,118 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 323 |
| 51 | Kansas | $44,637 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 239 |
Highest paying states for social workers
| Rank | State | Avg. Social Worker Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $67,057 |
| 2 | Washington | $59,863 |
| 3 | California | $60,592 |
| 4 | Idaho | $53,676 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,958 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,534 |
| 7 | Alaska | $64,923 |
| 8 | Utah | $53,356 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $53,253 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $55,730 |
| 11 | Nevada | $57,212 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $49,219 |
| 13 | Vermont | $56,220 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,788 |
| 15 | Arizona | $53,588 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $52,520 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $49,845 |
| 18 | Texas | $49,561 |
| 19 | Maine | $48,772 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $51,676 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $48,509 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $47,915 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $49,816 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $53,256 |
| 25 | Colorado | $49,541 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $47,712 |
| 27 | New York | $51,304 |
| 28 | Delaware | $49,348 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $48,746 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $47,835 |
| 31 | Michigan | $47,563 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $48,160 |
| 33 | Ohio | $48,035 |
| 34 | Maryland | $48,815 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $43,700 |
| 36 | Florida | $44,733 |
| 37 | Illinois | $48,072 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $49,983 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $44,745 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $42,906 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $43,648 |
| 42 | Montana | $46,145 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,141 |
| 44 | Alabama | $44,051 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,104 |
| 46 | Iowa | $45,893 |
| 47 | Missouri | $43,758 |
| 48 | Virginia | $44,452 |
| 49 | Indiana | $44,259 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $44,118 |
| 51 | Kansas | $44,637 |
Expert opinions on the best states for social workers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 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