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Social worker salary in Georgia

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$62,420median pay per year in Georgia, or $30.01 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $43,260lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,79025th percentile
  3. $62,420median
  4. $76,45075th percentile
  5. $86,990top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $67,880[3]

The median pay for social workers in Georgia was $62,420 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $5,460 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in GA
6,970[4]
Rank by median pay
36 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−8.0%[6]

How much do social workers make in Georgia?

Half of social workers in Georgia earned more than $62,420 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $30.01 an hour[1]. The average was a little higher, at $64,910 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for this job was $67,880[3]. Georgia was 8.0% lower[6]. Georgia had the 36th highest median out of the 50 states and DC[5]. For all jobs in Georgia, the median was $48,170[8], so social workers earned $14,250 more than that[9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,260[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $86,990[2]. Among metro areas with a published median, Gainesville had the highest, at $67,180[10]. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell had the largest job count listed, with a median of $65,280[11].

OEWS counts people paid a wage or salary. It leaves out self-employed workers and business owners, and the wages do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

Georgia vs US pay

Pay for social workers in Georgia next to the national figures[1][3].

GAUS
Median per year$62,420[1]$67,880[3]
Median per hour$30.01[1]$32.63[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$43,260[2]$46,220[13]
Top 10% earn more than$86,990[2]$100,360[13]
Jobs6,970[4]187,630[3]

Pay by metro area in Georgia

Metro areas in Georgia with the most jobs for social workers, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA[11]$65,2804,130
Chattanooga, TN-GA$59,950610
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC$66,360320
Savannah, GA$60,200280
Columbus, GA-AL$59,650220
Macon-Bibb County, GA$59,270210
Athens-Clarke County, GA$59,280190
Gainesville, GA$67,180160

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for social workers in the states that border Georgia, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Florida[14]$64,82010,520
North Carolina$63,2805,120
Tennessee$61,2405,970
South Carolina$60,8403,100
Alabama$60,0002,850

Median pay for social workers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for social workers are projected to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: master's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a social worker make in Georgia?
The median was $62,420 a year, and the average was $64,910[1][7].
How much does a social worker make an hour in Georgia?
The median was $30.01 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $20.80 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $41.82[17].
Which city in Georgia pays social workers the most?
Gainesville had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $67,180 a year[10].
Is Georgia a good state for social workers?
Georgia had the 36th highest median out of 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 8.0% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a social worker in Georgia?
This is a US figure, not a Georgia one. Across the US, the typical path starts with a master's degree, no related work experience, and an internship or residency[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia was $62,420 per year and $30.01 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia: 10th percentile $43,260, 25th percentile $51,790, 75th percentile $76,450, 90th percentile $86,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in the US as a whole was $67,880 per year and $32.63 per hour, with about 187,630 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 6,970 people worked as Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Georgia had the 36th highest median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia ($62,420) was $5,460 (8.0%) lower than the US median ($67,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia was $64,910 per year and $31.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Georgia was $48,170. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia was $14,250 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($48,170). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 14 metro areas in or partly in Georgia with a published median for Healthcare Social Workers, Gainesville, GA had the highest median annual wage, $67,180. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in the US: 10th percentile $46,220, 25th percentile $56,710, 75th percentile $82,240, 90th percentile $100,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in states that border Georgia (highest first): Florida $64,820; North Carolina $63,280; Tennessee $61,240; South Carolina $60,840; Alabama $60,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Healthcare Social Workers is projected to grow 8.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,900 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in Georgia: 10th percentile $20.80, 25th percentile $24.90, 75th percentile $36.75, 90th percentile $41.82. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Georgia. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.