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Social worker salary in Texas

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$69,990median pay per year in Texas, or $33.65 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $40,210lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,95025th percentile
  3. $69,990median
  4. $80,91075th percentile
  5. $98,150top 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 Texas was $69,990 a year in May 2025[1]. That was higher than the US median of $67,880[3].

Jobs in TX
10,880[4]
Rank by median pay
19 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+3.1%[6]

How much do social workers make in Texas?

Social workers in Texas had a median wage of $69,990 a year, or $33.65 an hour[1]. That means half of them earned more than this and half earned less. Texas had the 19th highest median for this job out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. The US median was $67,880[3], so Texas sat $2,110 (3.1%) above it[6]. Across all jobs in Texas the median was $48,620[7], and social workers earned $21,370 more than that[8].

The lowest-paid 10% of social workers in Texas earned less than $40,210, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $98,150[2]. The middle of the range is wide too. The 25th percentile was $52,950 and the 75th percentile was $80,910[2].

Pay differs across the state. Among the larger metro areas listed, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos had a median of $76,020 and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington had $75,930[9]. El Paso was at $55,680[9]. Odessa had the highest median of the 25 Texas metro areas with a published figure, at $81,310[10]. These numbers cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].

Texas vs US pay

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

TXUS
Median per year$69,990[1]$67,880[3]
Median per hour$33.65[1]$32.63[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$40,210[2]$46,220[12]
Top 10% earn more than$98,150[2]$100,360[12]
Jobs10,880[4]187,630[3]

Pay by metro area in Texas

Metro areas in Texas with the most jobs for social workers, and the median pay in each[9].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX[9]$71,9002,660
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$75,9302,630
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX$67,8601,130
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$76,0201,010
El Paso, TX$55,680450
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX$60,070330
Corpus Christi, TX$67,260170
Killeen-Temple, TX$64,500160

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for social workers in the states that border Texas, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
New Mexico[13]$65,9301,200
Louisiana$61,0801,970
Oklahoma$56,1202,310
Arkansas$55,6401,250

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[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: master's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a social worker make in Texas?
The median was $69,990 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,210 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $98,150[2].
How much does a social worker make an hour in Texas?
The median was $33.65 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $19.33 an hour and the 90th percentile was $47.19[16].
Which city in Texas pays social workers the most?
Odessa had the highest median among the 25 Texas metro areas with a published figure, at $81,310 a year[10]. Among the larger metro areas listed, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos led at $76,020[9].
Is Texas a good state for social workers?
Texas had the 19th highest median for this job out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $69,990 was $2,110 (3.1%) above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a social worker in Texas?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a master's degree, with no work experience in a related job and internship or residency training[15]. This is a US figure and not specific to Texas.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Texas was $69,990 per year and $33.65 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 Texas: 10th percentile $40,210, 25th percentile $52,950, 75th percentile $80,910, 90th percentile $98,150. 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 10,880 people worked as Healthcare Social Workers in Texas (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Texas had the 19th 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 Texas ($69,990) was $2,110 (3.1%) higher than the US median ($67,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Texas was $48,620. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Texas was $21,370 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($48,620). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in Texas with a published median for Healthcare Social Workers, Odessa, TX had the highest median annual wage, $81,310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in states that border Texas (highest first): New Mexico $65,930; Louisiana $61,080; Oklahoma $56,120; Arkansas $55,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in Texas: 10th percentile $19.33, 25th percentile $25.46, 75th percentile $38.90, 90th percentile $47.19. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Texas. 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.