Social Work salary by state and agency

How median pay for full-time federal employees in the Social Work series (series 0185) differs by where they work and who employs them. Nationally the median is $111,219. Full social work salary profile →

Highest state median

$133,812

California

Lowest state median

$89,618

North Dakota

Agency spread

$11,820

highest vs. lowest agency median

National median

$111,219

20,449 full-time employees

State differences come largely from locality pay, which raises federal salaries in high-cost labor markets, and from differences in the grade mix of the jobs located there. Agency differences often reflect different pay plans and grade structures. Only states and agencies with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay are listed.

By state, highest to lowest median

Social Work median pay by state
State	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
California	1,967	$133,812	$114,695–$149,106
Nevada	364	$130,060	$119,436–$155,104
Maryland	297	$129,396	$121,373–$140,488
District of Columbia	186	$129,396	$118,304–$136,791
Alaska	64	$124,615	$106,811–$131,736
Texas	1,533	$122,281	$104,809–$138,184
Hawaii	135	$120,886	$113,977–$125,537
Wyoming	77	$119,436	$101,270–$132,751
Utah	183	$119,156	$99,417–$126,166
Georgia	707	$118,763	$102,616–$131,698
Oregon	324	$116,871	$99,987–$127,559
Delaware	86	$116,331	$102,770–$126,596
Massachusetts	472	$115,735	$99,320–$126,258
Rhode Island	98	$114,331	$101,173–$124,725
Washington	489	$113,774	$96,267–$127,104
Colorado	410	$113,411	$98,078–$127,725
Tennessee	625	$113,402	$98,033–$125,080
Kentucky	338	$113,073	$102,881–$120,848
New Mexico	145	$112,707	$96,698–$119,539
New Hampshire	90	$111,513	$101,375–$121,651
Arkansas	285	$111,469	$94,317–$119,896
Missouri	457	$110,830	$100,474–$122,674
Arizona	608	$110,617	$95,866–$122,598
North Carolina	761	$110,285	$95,897–$121,706
Louisiana	304	$110,108	$98,331–$122,322
New Jersey	197	$109,487	$96,808–$119,753
Florida	1,584	$109,461	$96,864–$120,260
Oklahoma	300	$109,128	$97,354–$120,321
Vermont	57	$109,046	$92,334–$118,525
Illinois	688	$109,031	$93,811–$119,253
Kansas	217	$108,556	$98,372–$120,965
Connecticut	160	$108,136	$96,808–$119,546
Virginia	539	$107,787	$92,302–$121,002
Michigan	647	$107,417	$93,776–$115,802
Minnesota	309	$106,307	$96,871–$120,482
South Carolina	387	$105,331	$94,457–$116,643
Pennsylvania	793	$104,838	$91,384–$118,526
Ohio	858	$104,829	$95,297–$118,308
Mississippi	201	$103,455	$97,087–$112,861
Montana	83	$102,892	$88,448–$111,229
West Virginia	286	$102,883	$93,530–$115,375
Wisconsin	362	$102,457	$90,562–$111,498
Idaho	139	$101,443	$89,508–$110,395
New York	901	$100,804	$92,458–$114,413
Alabama	374	$99,945	$91,615–$113,133
Maine	119	$99,131	$88,694–$112,558
Iowa	215	$98,636	$89,117–$111,651
South Dakota	133	$97,873	$82,602–$107,050
Nebraska	134	$97,106	$84,007–$107,916
Indiana	381	$96,190	$82,913–$108,124
North Dakota	92	$89,618	$82,148–$101,443

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

By agency, highest to lowest median

Social Work median pay by agency
Agency	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs	21,120	$111,370	$97,124–$126,068
Department of Health and Human Services	95	$107,676	$99,142–$123,768
Department of the Interior	49	$107,411	$95,993–$124,177
Department of Justice	48	$99,550	$87,960–$105,845

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)