2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Pennsylvania

Salary Report for Pennsylvania Social Workers

Pennsylvania Rankings

Compare Pennsylvania to U.S.

Pennsylvania Social Workers earn an average of $49,390 which is 10% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Pennsylvania	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$23.75	$26.39	-10.00%
Average Annual Salary	$49,390	$54,880	-10.00%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Pennsylvania, 50% of Social Workers earn between $38,340 and $60,670 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $75,330, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $31,220, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	2,098	Under $31,220
15%	2 – 4 years	3,147	$31,220 – $38,340
25%	5 – 9 years	5,245	$38,340 – $47,320
25%	10 – 14 years	5,245	$47,320 – $60,670
15%	15 – 20 years	3,147	$47,320 – $75,330
10%	20+ years	2,098	Above $75,330

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Pennsylvania psychologists earn about $50,625 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Pennsylvania is 2% less than the national average, which means Pennsylvania 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 $49,390, Pennsylvania Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($100,290), Psychology Teachers ($88,340), School Psychologists ($80,280), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($77,140), Health Care Social Workers ($61,990), Marriage and Family Therapists ($51,260), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($49,480).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$100,290
Psychology Teachers	$88,340
School Psychologists	$80,280
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$77,140
Health Care Social Workers	$61,990
Marriage and Family Therapists	$51,260
Substance Abuse Counselors	$49,480
Social Workers	$49,390

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Pennsylvania the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (27,640), Social Workers (22,440) and Health Care Social Workers (8,380).

The three professions in Pennsylvania needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (18.8%), Marriage and Family Therapists (12.6%) and Health Care Social Workers (11.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	23,260	27,640	18.8%	2,770
Social Workers	20,600	22,440	8.9%	2,150
Health Care Social Workers	7,530	8,380	11.3%	810
Marriage and Family Therapists	2,300	2,590	12.6%	250
Psychology Teachers	2,200	2,360	7.3%	220
Forensic Psychologists	550	560	1.8%	40
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	170	170	0%	10

Salaries Ranked by Pennsylvania Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Pennsylvania is $49,390. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Bloomsburg-Berwick ($53,520), Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington ($52,750) and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton ($51,620).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Bloomsburg-Berwick ($57,966), Williamsport ($53,793) and Lebanon ($53,292).

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
Bloomsburg-Berwick	$53,520	$57,966	$4,446
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	$52,750	$51,589	$-1,161
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	$51,620	$52,078	$458
Lebanon	$51,310	$53,292	$1,982
Harrisburg-Carlisle	$51,100	$52,964	$1,864
Pittsburgh	$50,010	$52,268	$2,258
Williamsport	$49,640	$53,793	$4,153
Lancaster	$48,860	$49,619	$759
Chambersburg-Waynesboro	$47,990	$50,596	$2,606
Reading	$47,000	$47,945	$945
York-Hanover	$46,460	$47,793	$1,333
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton	$46,320	$49,796	$3,476
Gettysburg	$45,760	$47,503	$1,743
Western Pennsylvania Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,010	$49,212	$5,202
Northern Pennsylvania Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,800	$48,977	$5,177
East Stroudsburg	$43,730	$43,774	$44
Southern Pennsylvania Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,340	$48,462	$5,122
Johnstown	$43,010	$51,014	$8,004
Altoona	$42,880	$47,565	$4,685
Erie	$42,350	$44,848	$2,498
State College	$42,230	$42,493	$263

Salary FAQ for Pennsylvania Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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