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Healthcare social worker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$67,880median pay per year, or $32.63 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,220lowest 10% earn less
  2. $56,71025th percentile
  3. $67,880median
  4. $82,24075th percentile
  5. $100,360top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Healthcare social workers earned a median of $67,880 a year in May 2025, well above the typical pay for all jobs[1][2]. BLS expects jobs to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035, and the usual way in is a master's degree plus internship training[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+8.5%[3]
Openings per year
16,900[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[4]

How much do healthcare social workers make?

The median pay for healthcare social workers was $67,880 a year, or $32.63 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more than that and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was a bit higher, at $71,790 a year or $34.51 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median across all US occupations was $50,980[2]. So a social worker in health care at the midpoint earns clearly more than the midpoint worker overall[1][2].

Pay varies a lot from person to person. BLS percentiles show the spread[5][8]:

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th $46,220 $22.22
25th $56,710 $27.27
50th (median) $67,880 $32.63
75th $82,240 $39.54
90th $100,360 $48.25

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,220, and the top 10% earned more than $100,360[5]. A percentile is a boundary, not a starting salary, and BLS does not publish starting pay[9].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary, full time or part time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions[10]. Very few people in this job work for themselves anyway: 0.9% were self-employed in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Where you work changes pay a lot. Among states, the District of Columbia had the highest median at $94,100, followed by California ($89,660), Hawaii ($85,420), Oregon ($84,350) and New Jersey ($82,690)[12]. At the other end, Arkansas had the lowest median of the states listed, at $55,640[12].

New York has the most jobs at 20,440[13]. California follows with 17,690, then Texas with 10,880, Florida with 10,520 and Pennsylvania with 9,630[13]. New York has many jobs but a median of $73,070, which is below 15 states and the District of Columbia[12].

Every metro area on the BLS top-pay list is in California[14]. Napa led with a median of $142,940, then San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles ($133,340) and Vallejo ($122,450)[14].

For sheer number of jobs, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area is far ahead with 17,250, at a median of $78,610[15]. Next come Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with 6,340 jobs ($79,830) and Boston-Cambridge-Newton with 4,950 ($78,410)[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$94,100420
California$89,66017,690
Hawaii$85,420660
Oregon$84,3502,320
New Jersey$82,6904,310
Vermont$81,140250
Connecticut$79,9001,650
Washington$78,5705,180
Nevada$78,4701,160
New Hampshire$78,260590
Utah$78,1501,750
Maryland$76,4404,750
Massachusetts$76,4407,220
Rhode Island$75,390630
Idaho$74,500750
Minnesota$73,9702,430
New York$73,07020,440
Maine$71,610790
Texas$69,99010,880
Michigan$67,6004,860
Wisconsin$66,9103,770
Virginia$66,5503,070
New Mexico$65,9301,200
Florida$64,82010,520
Delaware$64,620780
Indiana$64,5803,890
Kansas$64,4401,360
Illinois$64,2704,910
Kentucky$64,0801,980
Arizona$64,0303,100
Ohio$63,6108,930
Colorado$63,4803,670
North Carolina$63,2805,120
Iowa$63,0501,550
North Dakota$62,860330
Georgia$62,4206,970
Nebraska$62,420980
Wyoming$62,260180
Mississippi$62,2501,890
Alaska$62,000480
Pennsylvania$61,9009,630
Tennessee$61,2405,970
Louisiana$61,0801,970
South Carolina$60,8403,100
West Virginia$60,1401,100
Alabama$60,0002,850
Missouri$59,8704,430
South Dakota$57,510790
Montana$57,090840
Oklahoma$56,1202,310
Arkansas$55,6401,250

How to become a healthcare social worker

BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education for healthcare social workers, with no work experience in a related occupation needed and an internship or residency as the usual training[4]. ONET rates the job as needing extensive preparation[16]. In an ONET survey of 27 workers, 70% said the job requires a master's degree, 15% said a bachelor's and 11% said a post-master's certificate[17].

The training details below come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for social workers, which covers a wider group than healthcare social workers alone[18].

1) Earn a bachelor's degree. You do not need a social work bachelor's to get into a master's program, and BLS says almost any major is accepted[19]. Psychology, social science and public policy are common choices[19]. A bachelor's in social work (BSW) includes supervised fieldwork or an internship[20]. 2) Complete a master's in social work (MSW). These programs usually last 2 years and include a supervised practicum or internship[21]. Some programs let BSW graduates finish in under 2 years[19]. 3) Check your state's rules. A license may be needed, and the rules differ from state to state[22]. BLS suggests contacting your state licensure board[23]. 4) For clinical work, gain supervised experience. After the MSW, clinical social workers complete supervised training, and how long it takes depends on the state but may run several years[24]. 5) Pass the clinical exam and get licensed. Once that experience is done, they need to pass a clinical exam before they can be licensed[25].

Every state requires clinical social workers to hold a license, and some states also require one for nonclinical roles[26]. A clinical license calls for an MSW from an accredited program[25].

BLS also points to two personal qualities. Good listening and communication help you understand what clients need[27]. Patience and empathy matter because clients are often dealing with stress and hardship[28].

What healthcare social workers do

Healthcare social workers help patients and families cope with chronic, acute or terminal illness[29]. They counsel, share information, connect people with other services and may handle case or care management[29]. Job titles reported to O*NET include medical, hospice, oncology, nephrology and renal social worker[30].

Typical tasks include[31]:

Where they work

Like the training details, this part describes social workers in general. BLS says most social workers work in an office and may also visit clients and meet with colleagues and community specialists[32]. Understaffing and large caseloads can make the job stressful[32].

Most social workers have full-time jobs[33]. Some evening, weekend and holiday work comes up, and some workers are on call[33]. Across all social workers, state and local government (outside education and hospitals) was the largest employer, with 27% of jobs in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects 8.5% growth in healthcare social worker jobs between 2025 and 2035, rising from about 194,800 to 211,300[3]. That is faster than the 3.5% growth projected for all occupations[35].

About 16,900 job openings are expected each year, on average[6]. Openings count jobs freed up when workers retire or switch careers, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.2% of workers are expected to leave the labor force and 4.4% to move to another occupation[36].

The projection counts include self-employed workers[3]. The May 2025 wage survey is a separate count that covers only wage and salary workers, and it counted about 187,630 jobs[37][10].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that pays above the national median, at $67,880 versus $50,980[1][2]. Getting in takes real time, usually a master's degree plus internship training, and clinical roles add supervised experience, an exam and a license[4][24][25]. Demand looks steady, with growth projected well above the all-jobs rate[3][35]. Pay depends heavily on location, so it helps to check your own state before you commit[12]. People who listen well and can stay patient with clients under stress may find the work suits them[27][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a healthcare social worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $32.63 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22.22 an hour and the top 10% earned more than $48.25[8].
How long does it take to become a social worker?
An MSW usually takes 2 years, and some BSW graduates finish in under 2 years[21][19]. Clinical social workers then need supervised experience that varies by state and may take several years[24].
What degree do you need to be a healthcare social worker?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[4]. In an O*NET survey of 27 workers, 70% said a master's degree is required[17].
What is the highest paying state for healthcare social workers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $94,100, followed by California at $89,660[12]. All of the top-paying metro areas were in California, led by Napa at $142,940[14].
Are healthcare social workers in demand?
BLS projects 8.5% job growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][35]. About 16,900 openings are expected each year[6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in the US was $67,880 per year and $32.63 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Healthcare Social Workers is projected to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 194,800 to 211,300 jobs (a change of +16,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Healthcare Social Workers: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers: 10th percentile $46,220, 25th percentile $56,710, 75th percentile $82,240, 90th percentile $100,360. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 16,900 openings for Healthcare Social Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Healthcare Social Workers was $71,790 per year and $34.51 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers: 10th percentile $22.22, 25th percentile $27.27, 75th percentile $39.54, 90th percentile $48.25. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 0.9% of Healthcare Social Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Healthcare Social Workers jobs: New York 20,440; California 17,690; Texas 10,880; Florida 10,520; Pennsylvania 9,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Napa, CA $142,940; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $133,340; Vallejo, CA $122,450; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $108,530; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $107,170; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $99,640; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $97,070; Visalia, CA $96,790. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Healthcare Social Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 17,250 (median $78,610); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,340 (median $79,830); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 4,950 (median $78,410); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,190 (median $65,990); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 4,130 (median $65,280); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,770 (median $71,430). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 21-1022.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 21-1022.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 70%, Bachelor's Degree 15%, Post-Master's Certificate 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Social Workers" covers Healthcare Social Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Healthcare Social Workers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 21-1022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Clinical Social Worker, Hospice Social Worker, LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), Medical Social Worker, Nephrology Social Worker, Oncology Social Worker, Psychosocial Coordinator, Renal Social Worker. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET task list for Healthcare Social Workers. O*NET OnLine
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of social workers in 2025: State and local government, excluding education and hospitals 27%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Healthcare Social Workers: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 187,630 people were employed as Healthcare Social Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.