2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Illinois

Salary Report for Illinois Social Workers

Illinois Rankings

Compare Illinois to U.S.

Illinois Social Workers earn an average of $55,930 which is 1% more than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Illinois	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$26.89	$26.39	1.89%
Average Annual Salary	$55,930	$54,880	1.91%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Illinois, 50% of Social Workers earn between $38,830 and $65,330 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $81,830, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $30,910, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	1,758	Under $30,910
15%	2 – 4 years	2,637	$30,910 – $38,830
25%	5 – 9 years	4,395	$38,830 – $49,360
25%	10 – 14 years	4,395	$49,360 – $65,330
15%	15 – 20 years	2,637	$49,360 – $81,830
10%	20+ years	1,758	Above $81,830

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Illinois psychologists earn about $55,663 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Illinois is 0% higher than the national average, which means Illinois 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 $55,930, Illinois Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($101,090), Forensic Psychologists ($99,740), Psychology Teachers ($85,420), School Psychologists ($75,240), and Health Care Social Workers ($59,090).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($52,480), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($53,560).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$101,090
Forensic Psychologists	$99,740
Psychology Teachers	$85,420
School Psychologists	$75,240
Health Care Social Workers	$59,090
Social Workers	$55,930
Marriage and Family Therapists	$53,560
Substance Abuse Counselors	$52,480

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Illinois the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (17,500), Substance Abuse Counselors (14,790) and Health Care Social Workers (5,330).

The three professions in Illinois needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (17.8%), Social Workers (7.5%) and Marriage and Family Therapists (7.2%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	16,280	17,500	7.5%	1,660
Substance Abuse Counselors	12,550	14,790	17.8%	1,480
Health Care Social Workers	5,020	5,330	6.2%	500
Marriage and Family Therapists	2,070	2,220	7.2%	210
Psychology Teachers	1,760	1,860	5.7%	180
Forensic Psychologists	1,440	1,390	-3.5%	90

Salaries Ranked by Illinois Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Illinois is $55,930. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Springfield ($58,590), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ($57,170) and South Illinois Nonmetropolitan Area ($56,530).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are South Illinois Nonmetropolitan Area ($65,413), Springfield ($64,569) and Carbondale-Marion ($63,234).

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
Springfield	$58,590	$64,569	$5,979
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	$57,170	$54,526	$-2,644
South Illinois Nonmetropolitan Area	$56,530	$65,413	$8,883
Champaign-Urbana	$55,690	$59,940	$4,250
Carbondale-Marion	$54,590	$63,234	$8,644
Northwest Illinois Nonmetropolitan Area	$53,660	$62,092	$8,432
East Central Illinois Nonmetropolitan Area	$52,830	$61,132	$8,302
Rockford	$52,570	$57,397	$4,827
Danville	$50,100	$59,094	$8,994
Kankakee	$50,000	$53,158	$3,158
Bloomington	$48,880	$51,890	$3,010
West Central Illinois Nonmetropolitan Area	$48,380	$55,982	$7,602
Decatur	$48,080	$54,686	$6,606
Peoria	$46,450	$51,807	$5,357

Salary FAQ for Illinois Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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