Healthcare Social Worker Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Healthcare Social Workers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$67,880
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$32.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$100,360
entry level starts ~$46,220
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 188,000 employed

How much does a Healthcare Social Worker make?

A Healthcare Social Worker earns a median annual salary of $67,880 in the United States, which works out to roughly $32.63 per hour for full-time work. Most Healthcare Social Workers earn between $46,220 at the entry level and $100,360 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $56,710 and $82,240 a year.

That is $6,490 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Healthcare Social Worker salary range by percentile

Half of all Healthcare Social Workers earn between $56,710 and $82,240 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$46,220$22.22
25th percentile (early career)$56,710$27.26
50th percentile (median)$67,880$32.63
75th percentile (experienced)$82,240$39.54
90th percentile (top earners)$100,360$48.25

Highest-paying states for Healthcare Social Worker

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Healthcare Social Worker pay at $94,100 a year, followed by California ($89,660) and Hawaii ($85,420). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $55,640 — a gap of $38,460 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$94,100$45.24+39%
2California$89,660$43.11+32%
3Hawaii$85,420$41.07+26%
4Oregon$84,350$40.55+24%
5New Jersey$82,690$39.75+22%

Workforce and education

About 188,000 people work as Healthcare Social Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $71,790 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Healthcare Social Worker make in the United States?
The median Healthcare Social Worker salary in the United States is $67,880 per year, or about $32.63 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $46,220, while the top 10% of earners make $100,360 or more.
How does Healthcare Social Worker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Healthcare Social Worker median of $67,880 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Healthcare Social Workers the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Healthcare Social Workers, with a median salary of $94,100 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Healthcare Social Worker?
Becoming a Healthcare Social Worker typically requires around 6 years of college. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
How many Healthcare Social Workers work in the United States?
About 188,000 people were employed as Healthcare Social Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other social & community service roles with similar pay.

Counselor, All Other

$50,860
median pay · 29,000 employed

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

$60,280
median pay · 133,000 employed

Health Education Specialist

$64,070
median pay · 66,000 employed

Community Health Worker

$51,850
median pay · 62,000 employed

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

$52,100
median pay · 22,000 employed

Rehabilitation Counselor

$46,850
median pay · 95,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.