- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
10 best states for social workers in 2024
1. Oregon
Total Social Worker Jobs:
897 Average Annual Salary: $67,057 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $44,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.32Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Oregon
2. Washington
Total Social Worker Jobs:
1,716 Average Annual Salary: $59,863 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $40,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.43Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Washington
3. California
Total Social Worker Jobs:
6,366 Average Annual Salary: $60,592 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $40,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.33Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in California
4. Idaho
Total Social Worker Jobs:
365 Average Annual Salary: $53,676 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.35Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Idaho
5. Connecticut
Total Social Worker Jobs:
678 Average Annual Salary: $56,958 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $40,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.24Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Connecticut
6. New Hampshire
Total Social Worker Jobs:
368 Average Annual Salary: $53,534 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $38,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.28Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in New Hampshire
7. Alaska
Total Social Worker Jobs:
133 Average Annual Salary: $64,923 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $56,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.97Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Alaska
8. Utah
Total Social Worker Jobs:
647 Average Annual Salary: $53,356 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.23Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Utah
9. New Mexico
Total Social Worker Jobs:
408 Average Annual Salary: $53,253 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.27Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in New Mexico
10. Rhode Island
Total Social Worker Jobs:
161 Average Annual Salary: $55,730 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $39,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.81Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Social Worker Jobs in Rhode Island
How Zippia determines the best states to be a social worker
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated
here.
Detailed list of the best states for a social worker
| Rank | State | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $67,057 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 897 |
| 2 | Washington | $59,863 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,716 |
| 3 | California | $60,592 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,366 |
| 4 | Idaho | $53,676 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 365 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,958 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 678 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,534 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 368 |
| 7 | Alaska | $64,923 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 133 |
| 8 | Utah | $53,356 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 647 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $53,253 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 408 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $55,730 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 161 |
| 11 | Nevada | $57,212 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 239 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $49,219 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 319 |
| 13 | Vermont | $56,220 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 91 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,788 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 206 |
| 15 | Arizona | $53,588 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 697 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $52,520 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,780 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $49,845 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 84 |
| 18 | Texas | $49,561 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,628 |
| 19 | Maine | $48,772 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 271 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $51,676 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 660 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $48,509 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 645 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $47,915 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 891 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $49,816 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 99 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $53,256 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 864 |
| 25 | Colorado | $49,541 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,144 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $47,712 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,679 |
| 27 | New York | $51,304 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,055 |
| 28 | Delaware | $49,348 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 215 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $48,746 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 211 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $47,835 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,385 |
| 31 | Michigan | $47,563 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 998 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $48,160 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 451 |
| 33 | Ohio | $48,035 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 856 |
| 34 | Maryland | $48,815 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,078 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $43,700 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,239 |
| 36 | Florida | $44,733 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,305 |
| 37 | Illinois | $48,072 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,401 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $49,983 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 130 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $44,745 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 572 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $42,906 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 230 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $43,648 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 463 |
| 42 | Montana | $46,145 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 164 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,141 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 262 |
| 44 | Alabama | $44,051 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 673 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,104 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,939 |
| 46 | Iowa | $45,893 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 336 |
| 47 | Missouri | $43,758 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,089 |
| 48 | Virginia | $44,452 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,642 |
| 49 | Indiana | $44,259 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 649 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $44,118 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 323 |
| 51 | Kansas | $44,637 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 239 |
Highest paying states for social workers
| Rank | State | Avg. Social Worker Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $67,057 |
| 2 | Washington | $59,863 |
| 3 | California | $60,592 |
| 4 | Idaho | $53,676 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,958 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,534 |
| 7 | Alaska | $64,923 |
| 8 | Utah | $53,356 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $53,253 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $55,730 |
| 11 | Nevada | $57,212 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $49,219 |
| 13 | Vermont | $56,220 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,788 |
| 15 | Arizona | $53,588 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $52,520 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $49,845 |
| 18 | Texas | $49,561 |
| 19 | Maine | $48,772 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $51,676 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $48,509 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $47,915 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $49,816 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $53,256 |
| 25 | Colorado | $49,541 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $47,712 |
| 27 | New York | $51,304 |
| 28 | Delaware | $49,348 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $48,746 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $47,835 |
| 31 | Michigan | $47,563 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $48,160 |
| 33 | Ohio | $48,035 |
| 34 | Maryland | $48,815 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $43,700 |
| 36 | Florida | $44,733 |
| 37 | Illinois | $48,072 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $49,983 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $44,745 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $42,906 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $43,648 |
| 42 | Montana | $46,145 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,141 |
| 44 | Alabama | $44,051 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,104 |
| 46 | Iowa | $45,893 |
| 47 | Missouri | $43,758 |
| 48 | Virginia | $44,452 |
| 49 | Indiana | $44,259 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $44,118 |
| 51 | Kansas | $44,637 |
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Expert opinions on the best states for social workers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Social Workers to find work opportunities?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Oberlin College
One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
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Updated July 21, 2023
