2023 Salary Report for Health Care Social Workers in Tennessee

Salary Report for Tennessee Health Care Social Workers

Tennessee Rankings

Compare Tennessee to U.S.

Tennessee Health Care Social Workers earn an average of $52,920 which is 15% less than the national average salary of $62,310.

Type	Tennessee	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$25.44	$29.96	-15.09%
Average Annual Salary	$52,920	$62,310	-15.07%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Tennessee, 50% of Health Care Social Workers earn between $38,550 and $63,550 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn more than $78,950, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Health Care Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn under $31,170, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Health Care Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	744	Under $31,170
15%	2 – 4 years	1,116	$31,170 – $38,550
25%	5 – 9 years	1,860	$38,550 – $49,350
25%	10 – 14 years	1,860	$49,350 – $63,550
15%	15 – 20 years	1,116	$49,350 – $78,950
10%	20+ years	744	Above $78,950

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in Tennessee psychologists earn about $57,428 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $62,310.

Cost-of-living in Tennessee is 8% less than the national average, which means Tennessee residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $52,920, Tennessee Health Care Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($108,560), Psychology Teachers ($78,840), and School Psychologists ($67,420).

However, Health Care Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($42,210), Marriage and Family Therapists ($43,560), and Social Workers ($46,280).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$108,560
Psychology Teachers	$78,840
School Psychologists	$67,420
Health Care Social Workers	$52,920
Social Workers	$46,280
Marriage and Family Therapists	$43,560
Substance Abuse Counselors	$42,210

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Tennessee the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Health Care Social Workers (6,640), Social Workers (6,520) and Substance Abuse Counselors (4,940).

The three professions in Tennessee needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (35%), Psychology Teachers (29.5%) and Marriage and Family Therapists (25.2%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	5,930	6,520	9.9%	630
Health Care Social Workers	5,400	6,640	23%	670
Substance Abuse Counselors	3,660	4,940	35%	520
Marriage and Family Therapists	1,190	1,490	25.2%	150
Psychology Teachers	950	1,230	29.5%	130
Forensic Psychologists	940	960	2.1%	70
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	60	60	0%	0

Salaries Ranked by Tennessee Cities

The average salary for Health Care Social Workers in Tennessee is $52,920. The top cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the most are Chattanooga ($59,250), Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin ($55,910) and Memphis ($55,480).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Chattanooga ($64,381), Memphis ($59,836) and Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin ($57,651).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Health Care Social Workers in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Health Care Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Chattanooga	$59,250	$64,381	$5,131
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	$55,910	$57,651	$1,741
Memphis	$55,480	$59,836	$4,356
Knoxville	$47,410	$51,724	$4,314
Morristown	$47,300	$53,768	$6,468
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	$47,080	$54,071	$6,991
West Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$47,020	$54,674	$7,654
North Central Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,700	$54,302	$7,602
Jackson	$46,690	$55,517	$8,827
Johnson City	$44,870	$50,489	$5,619
East Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,650	$51,919	$7,269
Clarksville	$44,030	$48,518	$4,488
South Central Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,500	$50,581	$7,081
Cleveland	$40,630	$46,008	$5,378

Salary FAQ for Tennessee Health Care Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Health Care Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data