Medical Social Worker (MSW, Hospital, Dialysis, Home Health or Hospice Social Worker) salary, United States
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The median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in the United States was $67,880 in BLS OEWS May 2025, and the middle half of workers earned between $56,710 and $82,240.
What does the published band tell you about a Medical Social Worker offer?
The published annual P25 to P75 band for Medical Social Worker in the United States is $56,710 to $82,240. That Medical Social Worker band spans $25,530 in the United States; it is a spread of reported wages, not a suggested offer. For this Medical Social Worker opening, compare regular pay with the duties you need covered in the United States. Neither end of the Medical Social Worker band labels a worker's experience or promises what a candidate will accept.
How does Medical Social Worker pay in the United States compare with the nation?
BLS reports $67,880 as the annual median for SOC 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers, in the United States. Medical Social Worker in the United States has a annual median $0 away from the national median of $67,880. Medical Social Worker may cover different duties within that published occupation. We ask what this Medical Social Worker must handle before you use the the United States median in an offer.
What does New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ add to this Medical Social Worker comparison?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $78,610 for Healthcare Social Workers in BLS OEWS May 2025. The Medical Social Worker median gap between the United States and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is
What does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA add to this Medical Social Worker comparison?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports $79,830 for Healthcare Social Workers in BLS OEWS May 2025. The Medical Social Worker median gap between the United States and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is
Which published industries help you read Medical Social Worker pay?
For Medical Social Worker, Hospitals, NAICS 622000, reports a national median of $78,420. For Medical Social Worker, Outpatient Care Centers, NAICS 621400, reports a national median of $74,530. These Healthcare Social Workers estimates are national, not industry pay rates for the United States. Top-coded industry medians are not placed in this numeric Medical Social Worker ranking. Use the Medical Social Worker setting and duties to decide whether that industry comparison belongs in your brief.
What changed between releases for Medical Social Worker in the United States?
Medical Social Worker in the United States had a annual median of $68,090 in BLS OEWS May 2024. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median for the same Medical Social Worker mapping is $67,880. Subtracting those two the United States medians gives $210 less in reported pay. That Medical Social Worker comparison is not a forecast, an inflation adjustment or a promised raise.
What belongs beside base pay in your Medical Social Worker offer?
Medical Social Worker wages in the United States include base rates and guaranteed or production pay under the BLS definition. Price the Medical Social Worker shift separately when you discuss differentials or extra cover. For this Medical Social Worker brief, overtime, shift differentials and on-call pay sit outside the OEWS wage. A non-production sign-on payment for Medical Social Worker is also outside that the United States figure. We discuss those Medical Social Worker terms without inventing an amount to add.
What else should you ask about this pay table?
Medical Social Worker maps to SOC 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers. The the United States annual median is $67,880. For Medical Social Worker in the United States, the occupation is a direct match to this title.
Does the United States publish a separate wage for Medical Social Worker?
Medical Social Worker maps to SOC 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers. The the United States annual median is $67,880. For Medical Social Worker in the United States, the occupation is a direct match to this title.
Where should you place a Medical Social Worker offer inside the the United States band?
The published annual P25 to P75 band for Medical Social Worker in the United States is $56,710 to $82,240. That Medical Social Worker band spans $25,530 in the United States; it is a spread of reported wages, not a suggested offer. For Medical Social Worker in the United States, we do not assign a percentile between the published points or call a point an experience level.
Can the Medical Social Worker figure in the United States stand in for the whole package?
Medical Social Worker pay in this the United States table is not total compensation. For Medical Social Worker in the United States, shift differential, on-call pay and non-production sign-on payments are excluded by the OEWS definition. For Medical Social Worker in the United States, write those terms separately before comparing offers.
Which markets can you compare with the United States for Medical Social Worker?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA have published rows for Healthcare Social Workers. For Medical Social Worker in the United States, they are employment-based comparison markets, not a claim about nearest locations. Each linked Medical Social Worker table names its own area and SOC.
Is the Medical Social Worker change in the United States a forecast?
Medical Social Worker in the United States had a annual median of $68,090 in BLS OEWS May 2024. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median for the same Medical Social Worker mapping is $67,880. Subtracting those two the United States medians gives $210 less in reported pay. That Medical Social Worker comparison is not a forecast, an inflation adjustment or a promised raise.
The Medical Social Worker national comparison markets use published employment, not geographic proximity. Read the geography and wage definitions.
BLS occupation: Healthcare Social Workers.
The published occupation matches Medical Social Worker (MSW, Hospital, Dialysis, Home Health or Hospice Social Worker). BLS wages are not a specific employer offer.
What does this occupation pay nationally?
BLS publishes five national pay points for Healthcare Social Workers, SOC 21-1022, in BLS OEWS May 2025: the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles. The range bar and table below show each published point. Percentiles describe the spread of pay across workers, not experience levels. Read the median as a midpoint, not an offer for your vacancy.
- P10 to P90 published range
- P25 to P75 middle range
- P50 median
| Point | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,220 |
| 25th percentile | $56,710 |
| Median | $67,880 |
| 75th percentile | $82,240 |
| 90th percentile | $100,360 |
| Mean (average) | $71,790 |
For Healthcare Social Workers in the United States, BLS reports a median of $67,880; the middle half of workers earned between $56,710 and $82,240 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
- P10 to P90 published range
- P25 to P75 middle range
- P50 median
| Point | Hourly wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.22 |
| 25th percentile | $27.27 |
| Median | $32.63 |
| 75th percentile | $39.54 |
| 90th percentile | $48.25 |
| Mean (average) | $34.51 |
For Healthcare Social Workers in the United States, BLS reports a median of $32.63; the middle half of workers earned between $27.27 and $39.54 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What BLS wages include and exclude
Included
- Base rates
- Commissions
- Cost-of-living allowances
- Deadheading pay
- Guaranteed pay
- Hazard pay
- Incentive pay
- Longevity pay
- Over-the-road pay (Mileage)
- Piece rates
- Portal-to-portal rates
- Production bonuses
- Tips
Excluded
- Attendance bonuses
- Back pay
- Clothing allowances
- Discount
- Draw
- Holiday bonus
- Holiday premium pay
- Jury duty pay
- Meal and lodging payments
- Merchandise discounts
- Non-production bonuses
- On-call pay
- Overtime pay
- Perquisites
- Profit-sharing payments
- Relocation allowances
- Severance pay
- Shift differentials
- Stock bonuses
- Tool/equipment allowances
- Tuition repayment
- Uniform allowance
- Weekend premium pay
- Year-end bonuses
Employment: 187,630 jobs nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. SOC 21-1022 Healthcare Social Workers, United States. BLS page for this occupation. CSV
How has published pay changed since the last BLS release?
These are separate BLS estimates, not a wage growth forecast. Survey coverage and area boundaries can change. The table places the published median for Healthcare Social Workers in United States from BLS OEWS May 2024 next to BLS OEWS May 2025. A top-coded value is a floor, not an exact median.
| Pay basis | BLS OEWS May 2024 | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| annual | $68,090 | $67,880 |
| hourly | $32.74 | $32.63 |
Prior release: 2024-05, published 2025-04-02. Current release: 2025-05, published 2026-05-15. A top-coded value is a floor, not an exact median.
What does this pay include, and what does it leave out?
OEWS counts base rates, guaranteed pay and production incentives. It describes pay reported for employees, not an offer for this vacancy. Benefits and self-employed earnings are outside these wage estimates. Compare the regular pay for the duties you need covered.
A BLS occupation can include different settings, shifts and levels; it does not price your exact schedule.
Overtime, shift differentials and on-call pay are excluded. If this job has a call rota or extra shifts, spell out those payments rather than treating the BLS median as the whole package.
Meal and lodging payments and relocation allowances are excluded. A travel per diem for those costs is not part of this wage. Keep it separate from the pay comparison.
Non-production bonuses are excluded. A sign-on or retention payment that is not tied to production should be discussed separately. BLS does not publish an amount to add for that payment.
BLS pay definitions. These notes do not add an estimated bonus or premium.
Which metro areas publish pay for this occupation?
This table lists every metro area where BLS published a median for Healthcare Social Workers in BLS OEWS May 2025. Each row shows the median, the middle half of pay from the 25th to the 75th percentile, employment and the location quotient. Metros without a published median are left out rather than estimated.
| Metro area | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,640 | $78,370 to $128,230 | 2,740 | 0.96 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $83,550 | $60,290 to $101,030 | 3,060 | 1.22 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $80,710 | $64,370 to $93,930 | 2,210 | 0.58 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,830 | $63,020 to $103,470 | 6,340 | 0.84 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,610 | $59,820 to $99,060 | 17,250 | 1.51 |
| Northern New Jersey market: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Shared metro, not New Jersey-only. | $78,610 | $59,820 to $99,060 | 17,250 | 1.51 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,410 | $61,270 to $93,950 | 4,950 | 1.52 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $75,930 | $61,360 to $84,020 | 2,630 | 0.54 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $75,720 | $53,580 to $83,990 | 2,950 | 1.80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $73,970 | $61,180 to $84,260 | 1,630 | 0.69 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $73,600 | $61,660 to $80,640 | 1,860 | 0.81 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $71,900 | $52,950 to $81,600 | 2,660 | 0.67 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $71,430 | $58,830 to $80,370 | 3,770 | 0.69 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $70,670 | $59,920 to $81,300 | 1,600 | 1.20 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $69,090 | $60,340 to $81,110 | 660 | 0.74 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,090 | $55,840 to $82,180 | 2,240 | 0.78 |
| Cleveland, OH | $66,230 | $57,010 to $77,420 | 1,790 | 1.44 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,990 | $57,200 to $79,470 | 4,190 | 1.20 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65,280 | $54,600 to $79,010 | 4,130 | 1.19 |
| Columbus, OH | $65,280 | $53,510 to $78,070 | 1,680 | 1.26 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $65,090 | $59,310 to $79,700 | 1,760 | 1.32 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $65,040 | $51,140 to $77,570 | 2,210 | 1.67 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,790 | $59,230 to $75,820 | 1,500 | 0.86 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,510 | $60,370 to $77,050 | 3,440 | 1.01 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $64,070 | $56,160 to $76,170 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $63,480 | $49,590 to $82,260 | 2,300 | 1.18 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,200 | $48,530 to $75,440 | 1,860 | 1.15 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60,430 | $55,160 to $75,770 | 2,810 | 2.09 |
How do you find pay for a state or nonmetro area?
Choose a state, metro or nonmetropolitan area below to open the published figures for Healthcare Social Workers. If BLS did not publish a median, the guide shows the state or national estimate with a clear fallback label. It does not create a salary page for that missing combination. Every area page names its source row.
Does this pay differ by healthcare industry?
National industry estimates for Healthcare Social Workers, SOC 21-1022. Industry names are the names published by BLS. These are not local industry wages. Each row uses the pay basis BLS published for that industry, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with employment. Cells BLS did not publish stay blank rather than estimated.
| Industry / NAICS | Basis | P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | annual | $44,750 | $49,640 | $64,040 | $80,540 | $96,180 | 10,410 |
| Offices of Dentists NAICS 621200 | annual | $34,230 | $35,140 | $35,150 | $45,630 | $54,980 | Not published by BLS |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | annual | $38,220 | $44,560 | $61,550 | $94,740 | $122,190 | 1,650 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | annual | $47,000 | $59,200 | $74,530 | $90,830 | $123,470 | 12,320 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories NAICS 621500 | annual | $51,210 | $59,480 | $70,860 | $77,530 | $94,380 | 240 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | annual | $49,270 | $60,580 | $70,680 | $80,830 | $97,320 | 26,430 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services NAICS 621900 | annual | $44,560 | $59,480 | $68,170 | $83,020 | $95,960 | 2,580 |
| Hospitals NAICS 622000 | annual | $58,290 | $64,960 | $78,420 | $95,590 | $106,610 | 55,770 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities NAICS 623000 | annual | $40,910 | $48,770 | $59,940 | $72,180 | $80,420 | 21,690 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | annual | $44,890 | $50,610 | $60,630 | $73,490 | $81,760 | 13,920 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities NAICS 623200 | annual | $38,640 | $43,220 | $51,700 | $64,800 | $76,320 | 2,970 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly NAICS 623300 | annual | $38,790 | $46,960 | $59,300 | $70,780 | $79,320 | 4,140 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. National industry-specific estimates. A value marked “or more” is top-coded.
Where is published pay highest and lowest for this occupation?
Highest and lowest published numeric medians for Healthcare Social Workers, SOC 21-1022. Top-coded medians cannot be ranked exactly and are not placed in this list. The table shows up to ten metros at each end, with employment and location quotient. Location quotient describes employment concentration, not pay. A metro missing here may still publish a capped value.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $142,940 | 160 | 1.68 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $133,340 | 170 | 1.14 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,450 | 160 | 0.93 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $108,530 | 280 | 1.12 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $107,170 | 770 | 0.56 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,640 | 2,740 | 0.96 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,070 | 1,030 | 0.79 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,790 | 190 | 0.91 |
| Modesto, CA | $95,250 | 220 | 0.95 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $93,200 | 150 | 0.63 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,570 | 190 | 1.30 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $49,490 | 110 | 2.02 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $49,130 | 40 | 0.86 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $49,070 | 40 | 0.68 |
| Elmira, NY | $48,970 | 60 | 1.45 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $36,670 | 870 | 1.04 |
| Arecibo, PR | $30,320 | 50 | 1.17 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $28,700 | 60 | 1.02 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $28,660 | 90 | 1.37 |
| Ponce, PR | $27,840 | 90 | 1.11 |
How does this pay compare with all wages in each metro?
We divide this occupation's median by the all-occupations median for the same area and pay basis. This is simple arithmetic on BLS rows. It is not a cost-of-living adjustment or a percentile. Location quotient is shown separately. A ratio above one means this occupation's median is higher than the area's all-occupations median.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Median ratio | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $133,340 | $50,770 | 2.63 times | 1.14 |
| Napa, CA | $142,940 | $55,210 | 2.59 times | 1.68 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,790 | $45,130 | 2.14 times | 0.91 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,450 | $58,620 | 2.09 times | 0.93 |
| Salinas, CA | $92,540 | $47,380 | 1.95 times | 0.61 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $108,530 | $56,850 | 1.91 times | 1.12 |
| Modesto, CA | $95,250 | $50,610 | 1.88 times | 0.95 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $91,820 | $48,990 | 1.87 times | 0.57 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $68,920 | $37,930 | 1.82 times | 0.89 |
| Fresno, CA | $84,860 | $46,910 | 1.81 times | 1.06 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. SOC 21-1022 Healthcare Social Workers, metropolitan areas listed above. BLS page for this occupation. CSV
What do we see when recruiting for this role?
Read the Medical Social Worker (MSW, Hospital, Dialysis, Home Health or Hospice Social Worker) brief alongside the occupation mapping. Required credentials, current duties and the work setting can differ within Healthcare Social Workers. A BLS wage is a description of surveyed workers, not an offer recommendation. This is a qualitative view from our search work, not BLS data.
Compare the actual responsibilities and the candidate's preferences before changing the brief.
What is the median pay for Healthcare Social Workers?
$67,880 nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025). 50% of workers in this occupation earned less than this and 50% earned more. The median covers every setting BLS surveyed, so it is a midpoint of reported pay, not an offer benchmark for your vacancy. Read the mapping note and the percentile range before you set pay.
How much do the best-paid workers earn?
10% of workers in this occupation earned more than $100,360, and 10% earned less than $46,220.
Is this the pay for Medical Social Worker (MSW, Hospital, Dialysis, Home Health or Hospice Social Worker) exactly?
BLS publishes Healthcare Social Workers as its own occupation, so this is a direct match. The published occupation matches Medical Social Worker (MSW, Hospital, Dialysis, Home Health or Hospice Social Worker). BLS wages are not a specific employer offer.
What is the hourly equivalent?
The BLS median hourly wage is $32.63. BLS converts hourly to annual with 2,080 hours a year, so the annual median is $67,880.
Where is the median highest?
Among the metro areas listed on this page, Napa, CA has the highest published median at $142,940.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimates 187,630 jobs nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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