2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Indiana

Salary Report for Indiana Social Workers

Indiana Rankings

Compare Indiana to U.S.

Indiana Social Workers earn an average of $45,520 which is 17% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Indiana	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.89	$26.39	-17.05%
Average Annual Salary	$45,520	$54,880	-17.06%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Indiana, 50% of Social Workers earn between $37,580 and $48,490 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $60,510, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $32,850, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	766	Under $32,850
15%	2 – 4 years	1,149	$32,850 – $37,580
25%	5 – 9 years	1,915	$37,580 – $41,170
25%	10 – 14 years	1,915	$41,170 – $48,490
15%	15 – 20 years	1,149	$41,170 – $60,510
10%	20+ years	766	Above $60,510

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Indiana psychologists earn about $49,211 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Indiana is 8% less than the national average, which means Indiana 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 $45,520, Indiana Social Workers tend to earn less than Psychology Teachers ($92,690), Forensic Psychologists ($86,730), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($79,250), School Psychologists ($67,320), Health Care Social Workers ($56,460), Marriage and Family Therapists ($52,340), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($48,760).

Title	Annual Salary
Psychology Teachers	$92,690
Forensic Psychologists	$86,730
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$79,250
School Psychologists	$67,320
Health Care Social Workers	$56,460
Marriage and Family Therapists	$52,340
Substance Abuse Counselors	$48,760
Social Workers	$45,520

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Indiana the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (8,600), Substance Abuse Counselors (8,500) and Health Care Social Workers (4,520).

The three professions in Indiana needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (21.4%), Marriage and Family Therapists (18.1%) and Health Care Social Workers (12.4%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	7,790	8,600	10.4%	830
Substance Abuse Counselors	7,000	8,500	21.4%	860
Health Care Social Workers	4,020	4,520	12.4%	440
Marriage and Family Therapists	1,160	1,370	18.1%	140
Forensic Psychologists	970	1,020	5.2%	70
Psychology Teachers	500	550	10%	50

Salaries Ranked by Indiana Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Indiana is $45,520. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are South Bend-Mishawaka ($48,820), Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson ($48,730) and Bloomington ($46,420).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are South Bend-Mishawaka ($53,221), Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson ($51,452) and Michigan City-La Porte ($51,051).

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
South Bend-Mishawaka	$48,820	$53,221	$4,401
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson	$48,730	$51,452	$2,722
Bloomington	$46,420	$49,215	$2,795
Michigan City-La Porte	$45,920	$51,051	$5,131
Fort Wayne	$45,190	$49,339	$4,149
Elkhart-Goshen	$44,940	$49,077	$4,137
Evansville	$44,710	$49,667	$4,957
Muncie	$43,700	$49,637	$5,937
Columbus	$42,800	$46,366	$3,566
Southern Indiana Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,800	$48,614	$5,814
Lafayette-West Lafayette	$42,760	$46,362	$3,602
Terre Haute	$42,560	$48,524	$5,964
Central Indiana Nonmetropolitan Area	$41,900	$47,592	$5,692
Kokomo	$41,450	$46,235	$4,785
Northern Indiana Nonmetropolitan Area	$41,410	$47,035	$5,625

Salary FAQ for Indiana Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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