Many factors can determine a social worker salary. The salary can be determined through various means such as the specific area of social work as well as the region in which you live.
It can also depend upon your employer as well as the type of education you have. You will need to figure all these when you try to determine your potential salary as well as any bonuses and benefits that may come with your job.
Average Social Worker Salary According to Industry:
The social worker salary tends to start off in the same range no matter which industry you work in. For instance, if you start off in the adoption and foster care services sector, on average you will start off with a salary of a little more than $25,000 a year.
Social services workers start off with a little less than that but still in the $25,000 salary range.
If you start off in the community mental health or nursing home sector, your salary usually begins at more than $26,000 per year. However, social workers in the healthcare sector usually start at a little more than $27,000 a year.
Not surprisingly, the average highest salary for healthcare social workers is also higher than other industries at more than $60,000 a year and a nursing home worker comes close to this high average as well.
While the adoption and foster care services industry usually plateaus around $53,000, the salary for those who work in social services and community mental health both average close to $56,000 a year as its highest salaries.
Within all these industries, the average salary is more than the national average for all social workers even after bonuses have been factored into the salary. However, you will also want to consider other elements such as your degree or certification.
Average Social Worker Salary According to Education:
The lowest averaging social worker salary belongs to the one who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. These workers can start out close to $20,000 a year.
A regular bachelor’s degree can merit more than $24,000 as a starting salary while a Bachelor of Social Work degree is worth a slightly larger starting salary at more than $25,000. Interestingly, a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology can get a salary of more than $25,000.
Of course, a master of social work degree can get a worker a higher average starting salary of more than $31,000 a year. Not surprisingly, the highest average salary is also in this area with more than $61,000 a year.
What may be surprising is that the other degrees plateau at much lower yearly salaries. The BSW usually peaks at more than $47,000 and the bachelor’s degree can net nearly $49,000 per year.
The B.A. in psychology averages closer to $48,000 a year. However, what you may not know is that the B.S in psychology starts lower but ends higher than the B.A. with more than $51,000 a year.
Another factor to consider that may shock some is that although women make up more than 80% of all social workers, they tend to make less than their male counterparts in all areas of social work.
Average Social Worker Salary According to Region:
The city in which you work can also have a huge effect on the average social worker salary. The highest paid social workers are typically found in Columbia, South Carolina.Those who live in Los Angeles and St. Paul also enjoy relatively higher salaries than other social workers. Boston and Phoenix are also ideal locations if you are looking for an area that pays social workers rather well.
If you are fortunate, you can find an industry and city that can get you much a higher than average salary if you have the right degree. For instance, social workers in Chicago on average start off at less than $25,000 a year, but there are some who average nearly $83,000 a year.Those in Charlotte and Philadelphia may begin at nearly $30,000 and usually end up around $65,000 per year. However, New York still remains a popular place to work.
Of course, there are many other factors that will determine an individual’s social worker salary. For instance, you will probably make more as you gain more experience. You may also find a better salary opportunity if you are in an industry in which social workers are in demand. However, the primary factor that will determine whether or not you get the salary you desire is your own sense of fulfillment with the job.
