2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Washington

Salary Report for Washington Social Workers

Washington Rankings

Compare Washington to U.S.

Washington Social Workers earn an average of $60,230 which is 9% more than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Washington	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$28.96	$26.39	9.74%
Average Annual Salary	$60,230	$54,880	9.75%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Washington, 50% of Social Workers earn between $47,550 and $71,990 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $77,120, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $38,580, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	903	Under $38,580
15%	2 – 4 years	1,354	$38,580 – $47,550
25%	5 – 9 years	2,258	$47,550 – $59,950
25%	10 – 14 years	2,258	$59,950 – $71,990
15%	15 – 20 years	1,354	$59,950 – $77,120
10%	20+ years	903	Above $77,120

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Washington psychologists earn about $56,101 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Washington is 7% higher than the national average, which means Washington 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 $60,230, Washington Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($105,640), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,190), School Psychologists ($95,780), Psychology Teachers ($74,460), and Health Care Social Workers ($71,800).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,220), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($56,500).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$105,640
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$103,190
School Psychologists	$95,780
Psychology Teachers	$74,460
Health Care Social Workers	$71,800
Social Workers	$60,230
Substance Abuse Counselors	$56,500
Marriage and Family Therapists	$49,220

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Washington the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (34,160), Social Workers (9,840) and Health Care Social Workers (5,230).

The three professions in Washington needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (26.3%), Substance Abuse Counselors (23.1%) and Psychology Teachers (15.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	27,760	34,160	23.1%	4,100
Social Workers	8,540	9,840	15.2%	1,100
Health Care Social Workers	4,550	5,230	14.9%	580
Psychology Teachers	640	740	15.6%	80
Marriage and Family Therapists	380	480	26.3%	60

Salaries Ranked by Washington Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Washington is $60,230. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Olympia-Tumwater ($63,800), Eastern Washington Nonmetropolitan Area ($63,000) and Wenatchee ($61,280).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Eastern Washington Nonmetropolitan Area ($64,948), Western Washington Nonmetropolitan Area ($62,216) and Olympia-Tumwater ($61,317).

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
Olympia-Tumwater	$63,800	$61,317	$-2,483
Eastern Washington Nonmetropolitan Area	$63,000	$64,948	$1,948
Wenatchee	$61,280	$61,188	$-92
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	$61,160	$54,632	$-6,528
Western Washington Nonmetropolitan Area	$60,350	$62,216	$1,866
Bremerton-Silverdale	$59,170	$56,085	$-3,085
Longview	$59,110	$60,775	$1,665
Kennewick-Richland	$59,050	$57,972	$-1,078
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	$57,550	$56,223	$-1,327
Spokane-Spokane Valley	$57,480	$58,468	$988
Walla Walla	$57,330	$58,536	$1,206
Yakima	$57,190	$59,579	$2,389
Bellingham	$55,730	$54,482	$-1,248

Salary FAQ for Washington Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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