Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Healthcare social workers support people navigating health-related challenges and systems. This career combines direct interaction with individuals and families with careful information gathering, communication, and problem solving. Nationally, employment stands at 193,000, with projected growth of 7.7% and about 18,000 openings each year, indicating ongoing hiring needs across the field. The national median salary is $68,090, with higher typical pay in several states and metro areas. The role draws on strong interpersonal skills, speaking and listening, and the ability to adapt to different situations. It also benefits from critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and a foundation in science. People considering this path may also want to explore related roles such as other types of social workers, community and social service specialists, or various counseling occupations. Overall, healthcare social work offers a blend of people-focused work, structured problem solving, and steady national demand for qualified professionals with a master’s degree background.
Healthcare social workers earn a national median salary of $68,090, with significant variation across locations. Among the strongest states, California stands out with a median salary of $89,660, followed by Washington at $78,570 and Massachusetts at $76,440. New York healthcare social workers earn a median of $73,070, while Colorado’s median pay is $63,480. At the metro level, earnings can be even higher. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro reports a median salary of $107,170, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro reports $99,640. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a median of $78,610, and the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV metro offers $80,710. These figures show that while the national median provides a solid baseline, overall earning potential can rise substantially in specific states and large metro areas with strong opportunity scores.
Healthcare social work offers a sizeable and growing employment base. National employment is 193,000, with projected growth of 7.7%. This same 7.7% growth rate is reflected in the top states and top metro areas by opportunity score, suggesting consistent projected expansion across many regions. The occupation is expected to have about 18,000 annual openings, indicating regular demand for new and experienced professionals. These openings can reflect both new positions and the need to replace workers who change roles or leave the workforce. States such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all show the same 7.7% projected growth, and key metro areas—from San Jose and San Francisco to New York, Washington, DC, and Boston—share that outlook. For students and career changers, the combination of established employment, forecasted growth, and steady annual openings points to an occupation with ongoing opportunities for qualified candidates.
Location choices can significantly shape opportunities for healthcare social workers. Among the top states by opportunity score, California leads with a score of 67.38, a median salary of $89,660, and employment of 17,690. New York has the highest employment in this group at 20,440, a median salary of $73,070, and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts combines a median salary of $76,440 with 7,220 jobs and an opportunity score of 65.87. Washington offers a median salary of $78,570 and 5,180 jobs, while Colorado has 3,670 jobs with a median of $63,480. At the metro level, opportunities can be especially strong. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro posts the highest opportunity score (77.42) and highest median salary ($107,170), while the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro combines a high score (77.27) with large employment (17,250). San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Boston metros also show elevated opportunity scores with solid employment and salaries.
Healthcare social workers typically need a master’s degree, which sets a clear educational benchmark for entry into this field. This advanced education aligns with the broad skill set associated with the occupation. Strong interpersonal skills, customer service abilities, and leadership capacity support day-to-day work with people in varied and sometimes complex situations. Speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, are central to gathering information, documenting it clearly, and communicating with individuals and organizations. Problem solving and decision making, combined with critical and analytical thinking, help practitioners interpret information and choose appropriate courses of action. Adaptability is important for responding to changing circumstances, while creativity and innovation can support new approaches within professional boundaries. A grounding in science further complements the role’s focus on health-related contexts. Together, the master’s degree requirement and this mix of skills signal a profession that blends advanced education with strong people and thinking capabilities.
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