2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Tennessee

Salary Report for Tennessee Social Workers

Tennessee Rankings

Compare Tennessee to U.S.

Tennessee Social Workers earn an average of $46,280 which is 15% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Tennessee	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$22.25	$26.39	-15.69%
Average Annual Salary	$46,280	$54,880	-15.67%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Tennessee, 50% of Social Workers earn between $38,520 and $53,260 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $59,390, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $34,820, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	578	Under $34,820
15%	2 – 4 years	867	$34,820 – $38,520
25%	5 – 9 years	1,445	$38,520 – $46,310
25%	10 – 14 years	1,445	$46,310 – $53,260
15%	15 – 20 years	867	$46,310 – $59,390
10%	20+ years	578	Above $59,390

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Tennessee psychologists earn about $50,222 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Tennessee is 8% less than the national average, which means Tennessee 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 $46,280, Tennessee Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($108,560), Psychology Teachers ($78,840), School Psychologists ($67,420), and Health Care Social Workers ($52,920).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($42,210), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($43,560).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$108,560
Psychology Teachers	$78,840
School Psychologists	$67,420
Health Care Social Workers	$52,920
Social Workers	$46,280
Marriage and Family Therapists	$43,560
Substance Abuse Counselors	$42,210

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Tennessee the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Health Care Social Workers (6,640), Social Workers (6,520) and Substance Abuse Counselors (4,940).

The three professions in Tennessee needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (35%), Psychology Teachers (29.5%) and Marriage and Family Therapists (25.2%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	5,930	6,520	9.9%	630
Health Care Social Workers	5,400	6,640	23%	670
Substance Abuse Counselors	3,660	4,940	35%	520
Marriage and Family Therapists	1,190	1,490	25.2%	150
Psychology Teachers	950	1,230	29.5%	130
Forensic Psychologists	940	960	2.1%	70
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	60	60	0%	0

Salaries Ranked by Tennessee Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Tennessee is $46,280. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are West Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area ($47,130), Jackson ($47,110) and Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin ($46,960).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Jackson ($56,017), West Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area ($54,802) and North Central Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area ($53,872).

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
West Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$47,130	$54,802	$7,672
Jackson	$47,110	$56,017	$8,907
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	$46,960	$48,422	$1,462
North Central Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,330	$53,872	$7,542
Chattanooga	$46,010	$49,995	$3,985
Memphis	$45,750	$49,342	$3,592
Knoxville	$45,160	$49,269	$4,109
East Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$45,010	$52,337	$7,327
Morristown	$44,660	$50,767	$6,107
Johnson City	$44,520	$50,096	$5,576
South Central Tennessee Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,300	$51,512	$7,212
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	$43,680	$50,167	$6,487
Cleveland	$43,190	$48,907	$5,717
Clarksville	$42,970	$47,350	$4,380

Salary FAQ for Tennessee Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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