Social Work Salary Comparisons Social worker salary is largely tied to the time spent in the job and the experience a social worker has under his or her belt. Other factors that influence a social worker salary are location and, more importantly, education. Social workers may generally earn a higher salary as they gain experience, but a solid education will play an equally important role. For example, social worker salary, according to Payscale.com, is highest with a Master of Social Work degree. Just how much does your social work education translate into dollars and cents? Below, we've broken down social worker salaries by education, specialization and employer. It's not a crystal ball by any means, but these tables should help give you an idea of your projected income at specific degree levels and allow you to better prepare for a bright future helping others. Social Worker Salary by Degree | Degree Held | Job Title/Specialty | Median Salary | | BSW | Substance Abuse Counselor | $39,380 | | BSW | Child Welfare Worker | $38,620 | | BSW | Medical Social Worker | $46,320 | | BSW | Aging/Gerontology Specialist | $42,780 | | MSW | Psychotherapy Social Worker | $39,240 | | MSW | School Social Worker | $55,670 | | MSW | Medical/Clinical Social Worker | $55,740 | | MSW | Development Disabilities Specialist | $61,900 |  Social Worker Salary by Employer | Degree(s) Held | Employer/Organization | Median Salary | | BSW/MSW | Residential Care Facilities | $38,540 | | BSW/MSW | Psychiatric Centers | $43,530 | | BSW/MSW | Nursing Homes/Hospice Care | $40,708 | | BSW/MSW | Mental Health Outpatient Centers | $38,610 | | BSW/MSW | Social Service Agencies | $39,990 | | BSW/MSW | Government Agencies | $50,660 | | BSW/MSW | Child Welfare Agencies | $55,670 | | MSW/DSW | Elementary and Secondary Schools | $54,750 | | MSW/DSW | Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $53,620 | | MSW/DSW | Colleges and Universities | $55,340 | | MSW/DSW | Private Practice/Solo | $62,500 |  Salary Sources: Payscale.com, Salary.com, SalaryWizard.com, Speedyceus.com, bls.gov, socialworkschool.tripod.com, socialworkers.org |
Social Work Resource Guide Social Work Salary FactsWomen vs. Men. Seventy one percent of all social workers are women, with the average annual salary for licensed female social workers resting at $36,378. Conversely, men in the field earn an average of $40,920 per year. Bottom Line. The median income for all social workers is approximately $44,000. Social workers in the private sector are the highest earners, with a median income of $56,000. Workers in the nonprofit sector tend to be at the lower end of the scale, with an income of about $41,000. |
