Social Worker (Healthcare) Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) social worker in the US earns $32.63 an hour, or $67,880 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 187,630 jobs (May 2025, occupation: healthcare social workers). The middle half earn between $56,710 and $82,240 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $100,360.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $56,584 a year ($4,715 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in California ($66,243 a year) and lowest in Oklahoma ($45,296).
Social Worker (Healthcare) pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $22.22 | $46,220 | $39,317 |
| 25th percentile | $27.27 | $56,710 | $47,746 |
| Median (half earn more) | $32.63 | $67,880 | $56,584 |
| 75th percentile | $39.54 | $82,240 | $66,686 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $48.25 | $100,360 | $79,433 |
The average (mean) is $71,790 a year ($34.51 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 21-1022. Source
Social Worker (Healthcare) salary by state
The highest median pay for social workers is in District of Columbia ($94,100), California ($89,670), Hawaii ($85,430), Oregon ($84,340), New Jersey ($82,700). The lowest is in Arkansas ($55,640), Oklahoma ($56,120), Montana ($57,100).
The most social workers work in New York (20,440), California (17,690), Texas (10,880).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in California ($66,243), Nevada ($64,041), New Hampshire ($63,893), Hawaii ($63,574), Washington ($63,007). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28.85 | $60,010 | $47,889 | 2,850 |
| Alaska | $29.81 | $62,000 | $51,687 | 480 |
| Arizona | $30.79 | $64,040 | $52,356 | 3,100 |
| Arkansas | $26.75 | $55,640 | $45,317 | 1,250 |
| California | $43.11 | $89,670 | $66,243 | 17,690 |
| Colorado | $30.52 | $63,480 | $50,356 | 3,670 |
| Connecticut | $38.41 | $79,890 | $60,864 | 1,650 |
| Delaware | $31.07 | $64,630 | $50,927 | 780 |
| District of Columbia | $45.24 | $94,100 | $75,029* | 420 |
| Florida | $31.16 | $64,810 | $54,255 | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $30.01 | $62,420 | $49,968 | 6,970 |
| Hawaii | $41.07 | $85,430 | $63,574 | 660 |
| Idaho | $35.82 | $74,510 | $58,154 | 750 |
| Illinois | $30.90 | $64,270 | $50,784 | 4,910 |
| Indiana | $31.05 | $64,580 | $50,910 | 3,890 |
| Iowa | $30.31 | $63,040 | $50,971 | 1,550 |
| Kansas | $30.98 | $64,440 | $51,161 | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $30.81 | $64,080 | $51,543 | 1,980 |
| Louisiana | $29.37 | $61,090 | $49,776 | 1,970 |
| Maine | $34.43 | $71,610 | $55,495 | 790 |
| Maryland | $36.75 | $76,440 | $57,053 | 4,750 |
| Massachusetts | $36.75 | $76,440 | $58,944 | 7,220 |
| Michigan | $32.50 | $67,600 | $53,764 | 4,860 |
| Minnesota | $35.56 | $73,960 | $56,308 | 2,430 |
| Mississippi | $29.93 | $62,250 | $50,430 | 1,890 |
| Missouri | $28.79 | $59,880 | $48,422 | 4,430 |
| Montana | $27.45 | $57,100 | $46,136 | 840 |
| Nebraska | $30.01 | $62,420 | $50,102 | 980 |
| Nevada | $37.73 | $78,480 | $64,041 | 1,160 |
| New Hampshire | $37.63 | $78,270 | $63,893 | 590 |
| New Jersey | $39.76 | $82,700 | $62,834 | 4,310 |
| New Mexico | $31.70 | $65,940 | $52,851 | 1,200 |
| New York | $35.13 | $73,070 | $56,507 | 20,440 |
| North Carolina | $30.42 | $63,270 | $50,963 | 5,120 |
| North Dakota | $30.22 | $62,860 | $52,584 | 330 |
| Ohio | $30.58 | $63,610 | $51,770 | 8,930 |
| Oklahoma | $26.98 | $56,120 | $45,296 | 2,310 |
| Oregon | $40.55 | $84,340 | $61,796 | 2,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.76 | $61,900 | $49,973 | 9,630 |
| Rhode Island | $36.25 | $75,400 | $58,255 | 630 |
| South Carolina | $29.25 | $60,840 | $48,736 | 3,100 |
| South Dakota | $27.65 | $57,510 | $48,389 | 790 |
| Tennessee | $29.44 | $61,240 | $51,386 | 5,970 |
| Texas | $33.65 | $69,990 | $58,068 | 10,880 |
| Utah | $37.57 | $78,150 | $60,325 | 1,750 |
| Vermont | $39.01 | $81,140 | $62,733 | 250 |
| Virginia | $31.99 | $66,540 | $52,629 | 3,070 |
| Washington | $37.77 | $78,560 | $63,007 | 5,180 |
| West Virginia | $28.92 | $60,150 | $48,638 | 1,100 |
| Wisconsin | $32.17 | $66,910 | $52,726 | 3,770 |
| Wyoming | $29.93 | $62,250 | $52,198 | 180 |
Overtime and pay rules for social workers
Many social workers are salaried and exempt from overtime as professional employees, which requires both professional duties and a salary of at least $684 a week (the federal standard salary level). An exempt employee is not owed overtime for extra hours, so there is no overtime to deduct. If you are paid by the hour, overtime rules apply. Source Source At this pay, a traditional 401(k), an HSA and other pre-tax benefits are usually the biggest tax savers.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a social worker's pay
On the median $67,880, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.6% of pay for a single filer: $6,104 of income tax and $5,193 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $51,780, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,394 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $545, so it costs about $2,849 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed social workers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Surgical Tech | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,970 | — |
| Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $33 an hour is how much a year.
Social Worker (Healthcare) salary questions
How much does a social worker make?
The median pay is $32.63 an hour, or $67,880 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $46,220 and the top 10% more than $100,360.
How much does a social worker make after taxes?
About $56,584 a year, or $2,176 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Oklahoma, at that state's own median pay, it is about $45,296.
How much does a social worker make a month?
About $5,657 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,715 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays social workers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $94,100 a year ($45.24 an hour). Next are California ($89,670) and Hawaii ($85,430). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in California.
How much does a social worker make an hour?
The median is $32.63 an hour. The middle half earn $27.27 to $39.54, and the top 10% more than $48.25.
Do social workers get paid overtime?
Many social workers are salaried and exempt from overtime as professional employees, which requires both professional duties and a salary of at least $684 a week (the federal standard salary level). An exempt employee is not owed overtime for extra hours, so there is no overtime to deduct. If you are paid by the hour, overtime rules apply. At this pay, a traditional 401(k), an HSA and other pre-tax benefits are usually the biggest tax savers.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.