Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Social Workers currently employed in Fort Smith is 140.
  • Social Workers in Fort Smith earn an average of $41,860 per year or $20.12 per hour.
  • The percentage of Arkansas Social Workers who work in Fort Smith is 11%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Social Workers who work in Fort Smith is less than 1%.

Rankings for Fort Smith

  • Ranks #3 in Arkansas for salary and #3 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #4 in Arkansas for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #454 in the nation for salary and #372 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #373 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Arkansas

Fort Smith Social Workers earn an average of $41,860 or $20.12 per hour which is 1% more than the Arkansas average salary of $41,110.

AverageFort SmithArkansas% Difference
Hourly Wage$20.12$19.761.82%
Annual Salary$41,860$41,1101.82%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Fort Smith Social Workers earn an average of $41,860 or $20.12 per hour which is 23% less than the U.S. average salary of $54,880.

AverageFort SmithU.S.%
Hourly Wage$20.12$26.39-23.76%
Annual Salary$41,860$54,880-23.72%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Fort Smith earns an average annual salary of $46,886 which compares to the Arkansas average annual salary of $41,110. per year.

Cost-of-living in Fort Smith is 11% less than the Arkansas average, which means Fort Smith residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Arkansas average.

  • Arkansas average salary is $41,110.
  • Arkansas cost-of-living adjusted salary is $46,098.
  • Fort Smith average salary is $41,860.
  • Fort Smith cost-of-living adjusted salary is $46,886.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Fort Smith$41,86089.28%$46,886
Arkansas$41,11089.18%$46,098
U.S.$54,880$54,880
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Fort Smith, 50% of Social Workers earn between $37,200 and $46,640 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $49,990, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $34,170, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year14Under $34,170
15%2 – 4 years21$34,170 – $37,200
25%5 – 9 years35$37,200 – $37,200
25%10 – 14 years35$37,200 – $46,640
15%15 – 20 years21$37,200 – $49,990
10%20+ years14Above $49,990
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $41,860, Fort Smith Social Workers tend to earn less than Substance Abuse Counselors ($51,410), and Health Care Social Workers ($51,010).

TitleAnnual Salary
Substance Abuse Counselors$51,410
Health Care Social Workers$51,010
Social Workers$41,860
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Fort Smith Social Workers

The number of Social Workers currently employed in Fort Smith is 140.

Social Workers earn an average of $41,860 per year or $20.12 per hour in Fort Smith.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Fort Smith Social Workers earn an average of $46,886 per year or $23 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Fort Smith are Substance Abuse Counselors($51,410), Health Care Social Workers($51,010), Social Workers($41,860).


Additional Salary Reports for Social Workers in Arkansas cities and Metros and U.S. States.

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