How much does medical or hospital social worker make?
The exact figures below come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) for Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022), the category this role is reported under. The spread is wide because most jobs are government or nonprofit, so pay is driven by state budgets and cost of living.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,220 | Entry-level; lower-wage states and small nonprofits |
| 25th | $56,710 | Early-career, smaller agencies |
| 50th (median) | $67,880 | BLS OEWS May 2025 national median |
| 75th | $82,240 | Experienced workers, higher-wage states |
| 90th | $100,360 | Supervisors, managers, and high-cost metros |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, national figures, via O*NET 21-1022.00. All percentile figures are exact BLS values.
How much do Medical and Hospital Social Workers make by setting type?
The ranges below are estimates grounded in the BLS distribution for this category and vary with location and employer.
| Setting | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals and health systems | $52,000-$75,000 | Largest employer; care coordination and discharge planning at the bachelor level |
| Hospice and home health | $50,000-$70,000 | Growing fast with an aging population; travel between visits is common |
| Outpatient and specialty clinics | $48,000-$68,000 | Dialysis, oncology, and rehabilitation settings |
| Skilled nursing and rehab | $48,000-$66,000 | Discharge planning and family coordination for longer-stay patients |
Medical or Hospital Social Worker salary by state
Geographic variation is among the widest factors in this field. Per BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates, the highest median wages cluster in the Northeast and on the West Coast, while the lowest are in the rural South and Mountain West.
Highest-paying states (median)
- District of Columbia $94,100
- California $89,660
- Hawaii $85,420
- Oregon $84,350
- New Jersey $82,690
- Vermont $81,140
- Connecticut $79,900
Lowest-paying states (median)
- Alabama $60,000
- Missouri $59,870
- South Dakota $57,510
- Montana $57,090
- Oklahoma $56,120
- Arkansas $55,640
Find accredited programs in each state on our state-by-state BSW rankings.
Medical or Hospital Social Worker salary by experience
| Career stage | Typical tenure | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care coordinator (BSW) | 0-2 years | $48,000-$58,000 | Discharge planning and resource navigation under clinical supervision |
| Senior coordinator | 2-5 years | $56,000-$70,000 | Complex discharges and high-acuity units, around the BLS median |
| Clinical hospital social worker | 5-8 years | $65,000-$85,000 | Licensed clinical roles; an MSW is generally required |
| Care-management lead | 8+ years | $78,000-$100,000 | Toward the 90th percentile in high-cost metros |
What affects Medical or Hospital Social Worker pay most?
Setting and acuity
Large hospitals and high-acuity units pay more than outpatient clinics or nonprofits.
BSW vs. MSW
Hospitals reserve licensed clinical social worker titles for MSW holders, the main step up in pay within the role.
Metro area
Healthcare wages track local cost of living closely; major metros pay well above rural systems.
Shift and on-call
Emergency-department, weekend, and on-call coverage can add differentials to base pay.
Demand
An aging population and a push to prevent readmissions keep healthcare social work among the fastest-growing and best-paid in the field.
The clearest path to the top of this range runs through a master's degree. BestMSWPrograms.org can provide more information on both in-person and online MSW programs in the US.
See where bachelor-level licensure raises your pay classification on our credentials page.
How Medical or Hospital Social Worker salary compares to other BSW careers
| Career | BLS category (SOC) | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Medical or Hospital Social Worker ← you are here | 21-1022 | $67,880 |
| Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist | 21-1023 | $60,280 |
| Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| School Social Worker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Case Manager and Care Coordinator | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Community and Social-Service Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Aging, Disability, and Veterans' Services Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Social and Human-Service Assistant | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Several roles share a BLS occupation, so their reported medians match.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025)
- O*NET OnLine 21-1022.00
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Community and Social Service
Last refreshed 2026-06-08. Exact wages reflect the BLS OEWS May 2025 release; setting and experience ranges are estimates grounded in that distribution.