2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Maryland

Salary Report for Maryland Social Workers

Maryland Rankings

Compare Maryland to U.S.

Maryland Social Workers earn an average of $62,440 which is 13% more than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Maryland	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$30.02	$26.39	13.76%
Average Annual Salary	$62,440	$54,880	13.78%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Maryland, 50% of Social Workers earn between $46,920 and $76,880 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $98,480, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $37,200, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	562	Under $37,200
15%	2 – 4 years	843	$37,200 – $46,920
25%	5 – 9 years	1,405	$46,920 – $60,250
25%	10 – 14 years	1,405	$60,250 – $76,880
15%	15 – 20 years	843	$60,250 – $98,480
10%	20+ years	562	Above $98,480

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Maryland psychologists earn about $58,646 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Maryland is 6% higher than the national average, which means Maryland 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 $62,440, Maryland Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($111,350), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($93,330), School Psychologists ($88,610), Psychology Teachers ($85,860), and Health Care Social Workers ($62,560).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($56,700), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($56,840).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$111,350
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$93,330
School Psychologists	$88,610
Psychology Teachers	$85,860
Health Care Social Workers	$62,560
Social Workers	$62,440
Marriage and Family Therapists	$56,840
Substance Abuse Counselors	$56,700

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Maryland the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (7,790), Social Workers (7,370) and Health Care Social Workers (4,900).

The three professions in Maryland needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (23.3%), Social Workers (22.2%) and Marriage and Family Therapists (21.9%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	6,320	7,790	23.3%	800
Social Workers	6,030	7,370	22.2%	750
Health Care Social Workers	4,130	4,900	18.6%	490
Forensic Psychologists	1,910	1,990	4.2%	140
Marriage and Family Therapists	1,370	1,670	21.9%	170
Psychology Teachers	930	1,060	14%	100
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	70	80	14.3%	10

Salaries Ranked by Maryland Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Maryland is $62,440. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Baltimore-Columbia-Towson ($63,150), Maryland Nonmetropolitan Area ($60,020) and Hagerstown-Martinsburg ($59,120).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Maryland Nonmetropolitan Area ($65,833), Hagerstown-Martinsburg ($64,331) and California-Lexington Park ($60,806).

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
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson	$63,150	$59,909	$-3,241
Maryland Nonmetropolitan Area	$60,020	$65,833	$5,813
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	$59,120	$64,331	$5,211
California-Lexington Park	$58,830	$60,806	$1,976
Cumberland	$48,990	$55,626	$6,636
Salisbury	$47,030	$51,025	$3,995

Salary FAQ for Maryland Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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