Salary Outlook for Healthcare Social Workers

A healthcare social worker helps people access vital services and education related to health problems. The goal of these social work professionals is to help clients obtain the best possible health so they can function better in their lives.

Healthcare social workers usually help people do things such as find quality medical care, pay for medical care, and recover from an injury or illness. This work can involve providing advice, being a patient advocate, or referring patients to programs or healthcare facilities.

These social workers also coordinate services, including:

  • Home healthcare
  • Transportation for doctor visits
  • Medical equipment rentals

They also help clients gain admission to healthcare services, find funding sources, complete paperwork, and locate support for families. They may help educate patients on childcare, dementia, living with HIV or cancer, and more.

If you want to be a healthcare social worker, it is vital to understand the salary potential before you get your social work degree. This page has detailed salary information for healthcare workers to make the best choice for your future career.

Salary Outlook for Healthcare Social Workers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks detailed salary data for healthcare social workers. Their salary breakdown nationally is as follows:

  • Bottom 25% salary – $50,190 and lower
  • Median salary – $62,940
  • Average salary – $67,430
  • Top 25% salary – $78,710 and above
  • Top 10% salary – $97,790 and above

As a general rule, more education and experience means higher salaries. The sectors offering the highest average salaries for healthcare social workers are:

  • Specialty hospitals, except for psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals – $79,160
  • Childcare services – $77,390
  • General medical and surgical hospitals – $76,520
  • Outpatient care centers – $74,240
  • Scientific research and development services – $73,830

The sectors employing the largest numbers of healthcare social workers are listed here along with their average salaries:

  • General medical and surgical hospitals – $76,520
  • Home health care services – $72,990
  • Individual and family services – $55,590
  • Nursing care/skilled nursing facilities – $58,230
  • Outpatient care centers – $74,240

The BLS also tracks healthcare social workers’ average salaries by state:

 HourlyAnnual
California$44.81$93,200
District of Columbia$42.24$87,860
New Jersey$39.43$82,010
Oregon$39.13$81,390
Connecticut$38.16$79,360
Rhode Island$36.52$75,950
New Hampshire$35.94$74,750
Hawaii$35.20$73,210
Vermont$34.87$72,520
Nevada$33.90$70,500
Washington$33.84$70,390
Utah$33.60$69,880
Alaska$33.57$69,820
Massachusetts$33.54$69,770
Minnesota$33.29$69,250
Idaho$32.51$67,620
Maine$31.79$66,130
Arizona$31.78$66,110
Maryland$31.26$65,030
Ohio$31.08$64,650
North Carolina$31.05$64,590
Texas$30.83$64,120
New York$30.79$64,050
Delaware$30.73$63,920
Pennsylvania$30.71$63,870
Michigan$30.70$63,860
Illinois$30.67$63,790
Indiana$30.55$63,540
Wyoming$30.52$63,480
Colorado$30.36$63,160
Florida$30.29$62,990
Wisconsin$30.22$62,860
Louisiana$30.06$62,520
Virginia$29.91$62,200
New Mexico$29.89$62,160
Kentucky$29.83$62,040
South Carolina$29.40$61,150
Kansas$29.33$61,010
North Dakota$29.11$60,540
Iowa$28.90$60,100
Georgia$28.89$60,080
Montana$28.47$59,210
Arkansas$28.36$58,990
West Virginia$28.15$58,560
Nebraska$27.81$57,840
Tennessee$27.79$57,810
Mississippi$26.86$55,860
Oklahoma$26.50$55,130
Alabama$26.27$54,650
Missouri$25.51$53,060
South Dakota$24.82$51,630

Healthcare Social Worker Job Outlook

The BLS reports jobs for healthcare social workers will rise by 9.7% between 2023 and 2033. That’s more than double the average general rate of 4% for all jobs nationally, and higher than the rate for all social workers in general of 7%.

At the state level, healthcare social worker jobs are forecast to increase at the following rates between 2022 and 2032:

Utah26.9%
Arizona26.2%
New York25.3%
Tennessee22.3%
Idaho22.2%
New Mexico22.1%
South Carolina21.5%
Montana19.4%
Colorado18.2%
California17.9%
North Carolina16.6%
Iowa16.3%
Wyoming16%
Florida15.5%
Georgia15%
Texas14.7%
Oregon14.1%
Alaska12.5%
Delaware12.5%
Washington12.5%
Maryland11.9%
Virginia11.9%
Arkansas11.8%
Nevada11.8%
Mississippi11.3%
Indiana11.2%
West Virginia11.1%
Vermont10.9%
Rhode Island10.8%
Missouri10.6%
Louisiana10.2%
Nebraska10.2%
Massachusetts9.7%
Connecticut9.5%
Kentucky9.3%
New Jersey9.1%
South Dakota9.1%
Kansas8.7%
Oklahoma8.7%
North Dakota8.6%
Michigan8.2%
Pennsylvania7.4%
Alabama7%
New Hampshire6.7%
Ohio6.1%
Minnesota5.8%
Illinois4.7%
Maine4.2%
Wisconsin3.7%

Rising demand for healthcare and social services will increase demand for all social workers. These social workers are needed to assist older populations, and their loved ones adjust to new healthcare treatments, lifestyles, and medications.

Summary

The salary and job outlook for healthcare social workers are healthy, so getting your social work degree could be a real benefit for your future career. For the best average salaries, the data shows that states on the West Coast and in New England offer the highest wages.

May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Healthcare Social Workers. National labor market information and state labor market information also sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor. Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.