2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Alabama

Salary Report for Alabama Social Workers

Alabama Rankings

Compare Alabama to U.S.

Alabama Social Workers earn an average of $45,200 which is 17% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Alabama	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.73	$26.39	-17.66%
Average Annual Salary	$45,200	$54,880	-17.64%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Alabama, 50% of Social Workers earn between $37,060 and $52,640 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $62,520, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $33,910, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	351	Under $33,910
15%	2 – 4 years	526	$33,910 – $37,060
25%	5 – 9 years	878	$37,060 – $42,280
25%	10 – 14 years	878	$42,280 – $52,640
15%	15 – 20 years	526	$42,280 – $62,520
10%	20+ years	351	Above $62,520

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Alabama psychologists earn about $50,644 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Alabama is 11% less than the national average, which means Alabama 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 $45,200, Alabama Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($96,660), Psychology Teachers ($85,170), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($84,360), School Psychologists ($62,650), Health Care Social Workers ($50,450), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($46,220).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($43,250).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$96,660
Psychology Teachers	$85,170
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$84,360
School Psychologists	$62,650
Health Care Social Workers	$50,450
Marriage and Family Therapists	$46,220
Social Workers	$45,200
Substance Abuse Counselors	$43,250

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Alabama the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (4,320), Substance Abuse Counselors (3,110) and Health Care Social Workers (2,720).

The three professions in Alabama needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (16.9%), Health Care Social Workers (9.7%) and Psychology Teachers (8.2%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	4,130	4,320	4.6%	410
Substance Abuse Counselors	2,660	3,110	16.9%	310
Health Care Social Workers	2,480	2,720	9.7%	260
Psychology Teachers	490	530	8.2%	50
Forensic Psychologists	400	400	0%	30
Marriage and Family Therapists	320	340	6.3%	30

Salaries Ranked by Alabama Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Alabama is $45,200. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Montgomery ($50,060), Northwest Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area ($47,460) and Mobile ($45,890).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Northwest Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area ($56,770), Montgomery ($55,254) and Northeast Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area ($54,234).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for 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 Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Montgomery	$50,060	$55,254	$5,194
Northwest Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area	$47,460	$56,770	$9,310
Mobile	$45,890	$51,383	$5,493
Gadsden	$45,790	$53,549	$7,759
Birmingham-Hoover	$45,380	$48,980	$3,600
Northeast Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area	$45,340	$54,234	$8,894
Huntsville	$45,170	$49,023	$3,853
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville	$45,050	$50,938	$5,888
Decatur	$44,610	$51,951	$7,341
Tuscaloosa	$44,420	$49,961	$5,541
Southeast Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,630	$52,189	$8,559
Auburn-Opelika	$43,500	$47,577	$4,077
Dothan	$43,330	$49,628	$6,298
Florence-Muscle Shoals	$43,220	$52,439	$9,219
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley	$42,760	$44,146	$1,386
Southwest Alabama Nonmetropolitan Area	$38,740	$46,340	$7,600

Salary FAQ for Alabama Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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