2023 Salary Report for Health Care Social Workers in Washington

Salary Report for Washington Health Care Social Workers

Washington Rankings

Compare Washington to U.S.

Washington Health Care Social Workers earn an average of $71,800 which is 15% more than the national average salary of $62,310.

Type	Washington	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$34.52	$29.96	15.22%
Average Annual Salary	$71,800	$62,310	15.23%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Washington, 50% of Health Care Social Workers earn between $58,780 and $81,040 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 $99,060, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Health Care Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn under $47,430, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Health Care Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	404	Under $47,430
15%	2 – 4 years	606	$47,430 – $58,780
25%	5 – 9 years	1,010	$58,780 – $77,240
25%	10 – 14 years	1,010	$77,240 – $81,040
15%	15 – 20 years	606	$77,240 – $99,060
10%	20+ years	404	Above $99,060

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in Washington psychologists earn about $66,878 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $62,310.

Cost-of-living in Washington is 7% higher than the national average, which means Washington residents have an overall higher 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 $71,800, Washington Health Care Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($105,640), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,190), School Psychologists ($95,780), and Psychology Teachers ($74,460).

However, Health Care Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,220), Substance Abuse Counselors ($56,500), and Social Workers ($60,230).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$105,640
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$103,190
School Psychologists	$95,780
Psychology Teachers	$74,460
Health Care Social Workers	$71,800
Social Workers	$60,230
Substance Abuse Counselors	$56,500
Marriage and Family Therapists	$49,220

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Washington the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (34,160), Social Workers (9,840) and Health Care Social Workers (5,230).

The three professions in Washington needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (26.3%), Substance Abuse Counselors (23.1%) and Psychology Teachers (15.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	27,760	34,160	23.1%	4,100
Social Workers	8,540	9,840	15.2%	1,100
Health Care Social Workers	4,550	5,230	14.9%	580
Psychology Teachers	640	740	15.6%	80
Marriage and Family Therapists	380	480	26.3%	60

Salaries Ranked by Washington Cities

The average salary for Health Care Social Workers in Washington is $71,800. The top cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the most are Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($77,660), Olympia-Tumwater ($73,960) and Mount Vernon-Anacortes ($67,970).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Olympia-Tumwater ($71,081), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($69,370) and Mount Vernon-Anacortes ($66,403).

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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	$77,660	$69,370	$-8,290
Olympia-Tumwater	$73,960	$71,081	$-2,879
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	$67,970	$66,403	$-1,567
Bremerton-Silverdale	$65,450	$62,038	$-3,412
Spokane-Spokane Valley	$64,340	$65,446	$1,106
Longview	$63,050	$64,826	$1,776
Western Washington Nonmetropolitan Area	$62,360	$64,289	$1,929
Bellingham	$60,990	$59,625	$-1,365
Wenatchee	$60,470	$60,379	$-91
Kennewick-Richland	$59,640	$58,551	$-1,089
Walla Walla	$58,970	$60,210	$1,240
Eastern Washington Nonmetropolitan Area	$57,550	$59,330	$1,780
Yakima	$55,690	$58,016	$2,326

Salary FAQ for Washington Health Care Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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