Social Worker Salary — 2026 Data
Support individuals and families through counseling, advocacy, community resources, and crisis intervention. Compare compensation across 50 locations, from entry-level to senior positions.
| Location | Entry-Level | Mid-Level | Senior | COL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $54K – $70K | $68K – $92K | $88K – $119K | 180 |
| New York | $51K – $67K | $64K – $87K | $83K – $113K | 170 |
| San Jose | $54K – $70K | $67K – $91K | $87K – $118K | 178 |
| Seattle | $49K – $63K | $61K – $83K | $79K – $107K | 155 |
| Los Angeles | $46K – $60K | $57K – $78K | $75K – $101K | 150 |
| Boston | $47K – $61K | $59K – $80K | $77K – $104K | 145 |
| Washington D.C. | $48K – $62K | $60K – $82K | $78K – $106K | 150 |
| San Diego | $45K – $58K | $56K – $76K | $73K – $99K | 140 |
| Chicago | $42K – $55K | $53K – $71K | $68K – $92K | 115 |
| Austin | $43K – $56K | $54K – $73K | $70K – $95K | 110 |
| Denver | $42K – $55K | $53K – $71K | $68K – $92K | 120 |
| Atlanta | $40K – $52K | $50K – $68K | $65K – $88K | 105 |
| Dallas | $40K – $52K | $50K – $68K | $65K – $88K | 105 |
| Houston | $40K – $51K | $50K – $67K | $64K – $87K | 102 |
| Miami | $42K – $55K | $53K – $71K | $68K – $92K | 125 |
| Phoenix | $38K – $49K | $48K – $65K | $62K – $84K | 100 |
| Philadelphia | $41K – $53K | $51K – $69K | $66K – $90K | 110 |
| Minneapolis | $41K – $53K | $51K – $69K | $66K – $90K | 108 |
| Portland | $43K – $56K | $54K – $73K | $70K – $95K | 130 |
| San Antonio | $37K – $48K | $46K – $63K | $60K – $81K | 95 |
| Detroit | $38K – $49K | $47K – $64K | $61K – $83K | 95 |
| Raleigh | $39K – $51K | $49K – $67K | $64K – $86K | 102 |
| Charlotte | $39K – $51K | $49K – $67K | $64K – $86K | 102 |
| Nashville | $40K – $51K | $50K – $67K | $64K – $87K | 105 |
| Orlando | $38K – $49K | $48K – $65K | $62K – $84K | 102 |
| Tampa | $38K – $50K | $48K – $65K | $62K – $84K | 100 |
| Jacksonville | $37K – $48K | $46K – $63K | $60K – $81K | 98 |
| Salt Lake City | $39K – $51K | $49K – $67K | $64K – $86K | 108 |
| Pittsburgh | $37K – $48K | $46K – $63K | $60K – $81K | 95 |
| Indianapolis | $37K – $48K | $46K – $63K | $60K – $81K | 95 |
| Columbus | $37K – $48K | $47K – $63K | $60K – $82K | 95 |
| Cleveland | $36K – $47K | $45K – $61K | $59K – $79K | 92 |
| Cincinnati | $36K – $47K | $46K – $62K | $59K – $80K | 94 |
| Kansas City | $38K – $49K | $47K – $64K | $61K – $83K | 95 |
| St. Louis | $37K – $48K | $46K – $63K | $60K – $81K | 92 |
| Milwaukee | $37K – $48K | $47K – $63K | $60K – $82K | 94 |
| Baltimore | $40K – $52K | $50K – $68K | $65K – $88K | 108 |
| Richmond | $38K – $49K | $48K – $65K | $62K – $84K | 100 |
| Virginia Beach | $38K – $49K | $47K – $64K | $61K – $83K | 98 |
| Sacramento | $42K – $55K | $53K – $71K | $68K – $92K | 125 |
| Las Vegas | $39K – $51K | $49K – $67K | $64K – $86K | 108 |
| Oklahoma City | $35K – $46K | $44K – $60K | $57K – $77K | 88 |
| Memphis | $35K – $46K | $44K – $60K | $57K – $77K | 88 |
| Louisville | $36K – $47K | $45K – $61K | $59K – $79K | 90 |
| New Orleans | $37K – $48K | $46K – $63K | $60K – $81K | 95 |
| Albuquerque | $36K – $47K | $45K – $61K | $59K – $79K | 95 |
| Tucson | $36K – $47K | $45K – $61K | $59K – $79K | 95 |
| Buffalo | $36K – $47K | $45K – $61K | $59K – $79K | 90 |
| Honolulu | $42K – $55K | $53K – $71K | $68K – $92K | 175 |
| Remote (US) | $38K – $49K | $48K – $65K | $62K – $84K | 100 |
Related Roles
Get AI-Powered Social Worker Salary Insights
Know exactly what you should earn as a Social Worker. Get negotiation scripts, offer evaluation, and personalized coaching — free for workers.