If you’re considering obtaining your Masters in Social Work degree, you’re likely curious about the average MSW salary.
After all, it’s no secret that social workers are notoriously underpaid. In fact, a 2023 study from the University of Washington School of Social Work suggests they make about 30% less than workers in other industries.
Add to this the ever-increasing cost of education, and you might be wondering if an MSW degree is worth it.
However, we’re here to tell you that earning your graduate degree can definitely be worth the investment, both in terms of money and personal and professional satisfaction.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to increase your earning potential as an MSW, like advanced licensure and travel social work, which we discuss in this article.
Additionally, we’ll provide lots of MSW salary data and statistics to help you understand just how much you can earn as a Master of Social Work.
Table of Contents
- How Much Does An MSW Make?
- What Is The Highest Salary For An MSW?
- MSW Salary by State
- How Can You Increase Your MSW Salary?
- Start Earning A Higher MSW Salary
Explore Social Work Degrees
How Much Does An MSW Make?
According to Salary.com, the average annual MSW salary is $72,037, which is equivalent to $35 an hour. Additionally, annual salaries typically range between $59,062 to $86,159, which equates to between $28 and $41 an hour.
This is significantly higher than the average BSW salary, which Salary.com reports is $65,231, and ranges from $52,326 to $79,650.
It’s also worth noting that a Master in Social Work degree is the prerequisite for advanced licensure, like LCSW. These social workers have the potential to make even more money.
In fact, Salary.com reports that the average annual LCSW salary is $80,050, with salaries typically ranging from $67,225 to $96,263.
Of course, there are several factors that can affect your earning potential as an MSW-educated social worker. We discuss these factors later on in this article.
What Is The Highest Salary For An MSW?
While the high end of the salary range for MSWs with no advanced licensure is $79,650, travel social workers can make significantly more money.
In fact, according to Vivian, the average travel social worker salary for MSWs is $2,349 per week. This translates to $122,148 a year, which is nearly 70% higher than the average staff MSW salary.
Additionally, travel MSW salaries typically range anywhere from $1,922 to $3,014 a week. This is equivalent to an annual salary of between $99,944 and $156,728.
Furthermore, if you utilize your graduate degree to obtain your LCSW license, you can expect to make an average of $96,263 per year.
Meanwhile, the average weekly travel LCSW salary is $2,342, which is the equivalent of $121,784. While the low end of travel LCSW weekly salaries is $1,400, the high end is an impressive $3,600. This is equal to a salary of between $72,800 and $187,200 per year.
MSW Salary by State
One of the factors that can make a significant impact on your salary as an MSW is your location. As you can see in the table below, average salaries can vary quite a bit from state to state.
The states with the highest-paying salaries for MSWs are:
- Washington, D.C. ($80,192)
- California ($79,457)
- New Jersey ($79,306)
- Alaska ($78,592)
- Massachusetts ($78,398)
Meanwhile, the lowest-paying states for MSWs are:
- South Dakota ($63,479)
- Mississippi ($64,243)
- West Virginia ($64,868)
- Arkansas ($65,647)
- Montana ($65,856)
The table below provides the average MSW salary by state. We collected all of this data from Salary.com.
| State | Average Annual MSW Salary |
| Alabama | $66,180 |
| Alaska | $78,592 |
| Arizona | $70,553 |
| Arkansas | $65,647 |
| California | $79,457 |
| Colorado | $72,779 |
| Connecticut | $77,642 |
| D.C. | $80,192 |
| Delaware | $73,586 |
| Florida | $68,435 |
| Georgia | $69,900 |
| Hawaii | $75,581 |
| Idaho | $66,883 |
| Illinois | $74,018 |
| Indiana | $70,251 |
| Iowa | $68,939 |
| Kansas | $68,594 |
| Kentucky | $67,787 |
| Louisiana | $68,493 |
| Maine | $69,444 |
| Maryland | $74,274 |
| Massachusetts | $78,398 |
| Michigan | $71,445 |
| Minnesota | $73,824 |
| Mississippi | $64,243 |
| Missouri | $68,640 |
| Montana | $65,856 |
| Nebraska | $67,592 |
| Nevada | $72,815 |
| New Hampshire | $72,988 |
| New Jersey | $79,306 |
| New Mexico | $66,447 |
| New York | $76,871 |
| North Carolina | $69,156 |
| North Dakota | $69,170 |
| Ohio | $70,652 |
| Oklahoma | $66,606 |
| Oregon | $72,426 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,893 |
| Rhode Island | $75,495 |
| South Carolina | $68,011 |
| South Dakota | $63,479 |
| Tennessee | $66,224 |
| Texas | $70,812 |
| Utah | $68,162 |
| Vermont | $69,372 |
| Virginia | $71,605 |
| Washington | $77,289 |
| West Virginia | $64,868 |
| Wisconsin | $70,956 |
| Wyoming | $66,260 |
How Can You Increase Your MSW Salary?
We discussed earlier how travel social work is the best way to make the highest MSW salary possible. However, there are other ways to increase your salary potential as well.
Below, we discuss how you can make more money as a social worker, from obtaining advanced licensure to getting work experience under your belt.
1. Obtain LCSW Licensure
Perhaps the best way to earn a higher salary after earning your MSW degree is by obtaining your LCSW license.
Not only does this licensure give you the ability to practice independently, but it also opens up a lot more travel social work opportunities.
As we mentioned earlier, the average annual staff LCSW salary is $96,263, which is nearly 20% higher than the average MSW salary of $72,037.
Additionally, while travel LCSWs and MSWs have similar average salaries, LCSWs have a much higher earning potential. In fact, they have the potential to make upwards of $187,200 per year. This is nearly 20% higher than the high-end of travel MSW salaries, which typically max out around $156,728 per year.
2. Select The Right Location
Another key factor affecting MSW salary is the location you work in. As we discussed in a previous section, the average salary per state can vary quite a bit.
For example, the average salary for a Master in Social Work in Washington, D.C. is $80,192, while in South Dakota it is only $63,479.
Additionally, the type of geographic area you live in can also have a big impact on your earning potential. For instance, urban areas with a high cost of living tend to pay a lot more than rural areas with a lower cost of living.
To showcase this, let’s take a look at MSW salary differences within the same state. While the average annual MSW salary in New York City, NY is $84,644, the average annual salary in Albany, NY is only $73,103.
This means the average annual MSW salary in NYC is over 15% higher than Albany, even though they’re in the same state. However, because of NYC’s higher cost of living, the salary potential is also higher.
Just keep in mind that working in a higher cost of living area often means more expensive rent and other necessities. It’s important to keep all of these factors in mind when deciding where you want to live and work.
3. Pursue A Specialization
Another thing to keep in mind when determining your salary potential as an MSW is your social work specialization. Some specialities, especially leadership roles, will pay significantly more than others.
For example, the average annual Clinical Mental Health Social Worker salary in the United States is $66,000. Additionally, salaries tend to range between $59,700 and $73,100 per year.
Meanwhile, the average annual salary for a Social Work Supervisor is $92,566, with salaries usually ranging from $83,009 and $105,265. This means that, on average, Social Work Supervisors make over 40% more than Clinical Mental Health Social Workers.
We should also note that salaries can vary greatly for all kinds of MSW social work jobs. For example, School Social Workers earn an average yearly salary of $71,893, typically ranging from $65,115 to $79,270.
Additionally, medical MSWs make an average annual salary of $71,322, with salaries usually ranging between $64,236 and $77,724.
4. Gain Experience
One more way to increase your MSW salary is to simply gain more experience. After all, the more you work, the more knowledge and skills you’ll gain. This means you can provide more value to your employer and make a bigger impact on the lives of those you work with.
According to Salary.com, MSWs with less than one year of experience earn an average annual salary of $69,503. Additionally, those with one to two years of experience can expect to make about $70,314 per year.
Meanwhile, an MSW with three to four years of experience tends to make an average annual salary of $72,809. MSWs with five to six years of experience make an average yearly salary of $74,464.
Finally, Salary.com reports that the average MSW salary caps at seven or more years of experience. These highly-experienced social workers can expect to make an average annual salary of $74,795.
However, we should note that just because average MSW salaries max out at this level of experience, it doesn’t mean you can’t leverage additional experience to increase your salary.
At this level of experience, though, it might make sense to obtain advanced licensure, like LCSW, to further increase your earning potential.
Start Earning A Higher MSW Salary
Explore Social Work Degrees
As we’ve seen, your MSW salary can vary depending on several factors, including licensure, location, specialization, and experience.
However, the best way to maximize your earning potential is through travel social work. So, to find travel social work opportunities, consider filling out this form and we’ll help you get started. You might also want to check out our rankings of the best travel social work agencies.
Alternatively, if you haven’t earned your degree yet, you can fill out this form and we’ll help you discover a program suited to your preferences and goals. Remember, not only can you make more money as a Master of Social Work than a BSW, but you can also take on more responsibilities.
Ultimately, an MSW degree is a step toward a fulfilling career where you can assist those who need your support. Earning a higher salary is great, but don’t forget the personal satisfaction that comes with the services you can provide individuals, families, and communities.
