2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Missouri

Salary Report for Missouri Social Workers

Missouri Rankings

Compare Missouri to U.S.

Missouri Social Workers earn an average of $41,070 which is 25% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Missouri	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$19.75	$26.39	-25.16%
Average Annual Salary	$41,070	$54,880	-25.16%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Missouri, 50% of Social Workers earn between $36,690 and $46,300 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $52,260, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $29,240, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	720	Under $29,240
15%	2 – 4 years	1,080	$29,240 – $36,690
25%	5 – 9 years	1,800	$36,690 – $37,240
25%	10 – 14 years	1,800	$37,240 – $46,300
15%	15 – 20 years	1,080	$37,240 – $52,260
10%	20+ years	720	Above $52,260

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Missouri psychologists earn about $44,405 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Missouri is 8% less than the national average, which means Missouri 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 $41,070, Missouri Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($97,620), Psychology Teachers ($82,380), School Psychologists ($81,520), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($72,530), Health Care Social Workers ($51,340), Marriage and Family Therapists ($47,930), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($43,270).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$97,620
Psychology Teachers	$82,380
School Psychologists	$81,520
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$72,530
Health Care Social Workers	$51,340
Marriage and Family Therapists	$47,930
Substance Abuse Counselors	$43,270
Social Workers	$41,070

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Missouri the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (9,480), Health Care Social Workers (6,550) and Substance Abuse Counselors (6,100).

The three professions in Missouri needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (13.8%), Psychology Teachers (11.6%) and Marriage and Family Therapists (11.1%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	9,020	9,480	5.1%	890
Health Care Social Workers	6,240	6,550	5%	610
Substance Abuse Counselors	5,360	6,100	13.8%	600
Psychology Teachers	690	770	11.6%	80
Forensic Psychologists	570	580	1.8%	40
Marriage and Family Therapists	180	200	11.1%	20

Salaries Ranked by Missouri Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Missouri is $41,070. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Kansas City ($45,770), St. Louis ($45,090) and Jefferson City ($42,830).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Kansas City ($48,332), Jefferson City ($48,178) and St. Louis ($47,111).

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
Kansas City	$45,770	$48,332	$2,562
St. Louis	$45,090	$47,111	$2,021
Jefferson City	$42,830	$48,178	$5,348
St. Joseph	$40,780	$45,825	$5,045
North Missouri Nonmetropolitan Area	$39,880	$46,421	$6,541
Central Missouri Nonmetropolitan Area	$39,770	$46,293	$6,523
Joplin	$39,220	$44,823	$5,603
Springfield	$39,220	$43,607	$4,387
Southeast Missouri Nonmetropolitan Area	$39,030	$45,431	$6,401
Southwest Missouri Nonmetropolitan Area	$38,380	$44,675	$6,295
Cape Girardeau	$38,000	$42,463	$4,463
Columbia	$37,390	$40,439	$3,049

Salary FAQ for Missouri Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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