U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAll social workers not listed separately.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58,430 | 1.4 % | $26.38 | $54,870 | 0.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $14.83 | $18.95 | $26.23 | $33.27 | $38.62 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $30,840 | $39,410 | $54,560 | $69,190 | $80,320 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 18,270 | 0.33 | $27.91 | $58,040 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 11,020 | 0.54 | $34.21 | $71,160 |
| Individual and Family Services | 7,210 | 0.55 | $19.57 | $40,720 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 6,960 | 0.32 | $21.56 | $44,850 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 3,610 | 0.07 | $29.56 | $61,490 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | 2,100 | 1.47 | $18.05 | $37,530 |
| Individual and Family Services | 7,210 | 0.55 | $19.57 | $40,720 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 11,020 | 0.54 | $34.21 | $71,160 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 790 | 0.40 | $21.36 | $44,430 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 18,270 | 0.33 | $27.91 | $58,040 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 11,020 | 0.54 | $34.21 | $71,160 |
| Insurance Carriers | 790 | 0.07 | $32.31 | $67,200 |
| Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds | 90 | 0.21 | $30.35 | $63,120 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 3,610 | 0.07 | $29.56 | $61,490 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 40 | 0.02 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 13,150 | 0.92 | 2.05 | $29.98 | $62,360 |
| New York | 9,490 | 1.11 | 2.48 | $27.50 | $57,210 |
| Ohio | 2,880 | 0.57 | 1.27 | $22.04 | $45,830 |
| Florida | 2,410 | 0.33 | 0.74 | $26.31 | $54,730 |
| Michigan | 2,120 | 0.54 | 1.21 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 620 | 1.43 | 3.18 | $18.70 | $38,900 |
| New Mexico | 1,100 | 1.42 | 3.18 | $23.11 | $48,080 |
| New York | 9,490 | 1.11 | 2.48 | $27.50 | $57,210 |
| Oregon | 1,720 | 1.07 | 2.39 | $21.67 | $45,070 |
| California | 13,150 | 0.92 | 2.05 | $29.98 | $62,360 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 90 | 0.21 | 0.47 | $33.53 | $69,750 |
| Maryland | 830 | 0.33 | 0.73 | $33.20 | $69,050 |
| South Dakota | 80 | 0.20 | 0.44 | $31.83 | $66,210 |
| Minnesota | 390 | 0.15 | 0.33 | $31.45 | $65,420 |
| Nevada | 180 | 0.16 | 0.37 | $31.19 | $64,870 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 4,360 | 0.85 | 1.89 | $29.07 | $60,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,590 | 0.93 | 2.07 | $29.61 | $61,590 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,240 | 1.07 | 2.39 | $29.13 | $60,590 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,170 | 1.20 | 2.68 | $35.76 | $74,390 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division | 1,120 | 0.91 | 2.04 | $31.33 | $65,170 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,090 | 0.30 | 0.67 | $27.08 | $56,330 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 960 | 0.95 | 2.13 | $22.95 | $47,730 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 930 | 7.06 | 15.74 | $21.48 | $44,670 |
| Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA | 900 | 1.10 | 2.44 | $33.72 | $70,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 890 | 0.99 | 2.20 | $35.42 | $73,670 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 930 | 7.06 | 15.74 | $21.48 | $44,670 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 150 | 2.63 | 5.87 | $25.82 | $53,700 |
| Mansfield, OH | 90 | 1.79 | 3.98 | $25.97 | $54,010 |
| Medford, OR | 130 | 1.78 | 3.96 | $22.63 | $47,070 |
| Danville, IL | 50 | 1.77 | 3.96 | $29.19 | $60,720 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 220 | 1.76 | 3.93 | $22.67 | $47,150 |
| Fresno, CA | 550 | 1.75 | 3.89 | $28.23 | $58,720 |
| Missoula, MT | 90 | 1.68 | 3.76 | $18.16 | $37,770 |
| Great Falls, MT | 60 | 1.66 | 3.71 | $16.78 | $34,910 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 130 | 1.56 | 3.48 | $30.22 | $62,860 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,170 | 1.20 | 2.68 | $35.76 | $74,390 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 890 | 0.99 | 2.20 | $35.42 | $73,670 |
| Manchester, NH | 40 | 0.43 | 0.97 | $35.39 | $73,610 |
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 190 | 0.34 | 0.75 | $35.16 | $73,130 |
| Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX | 150 | 1.17 | 2.61 | $34.75 | $72,270 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 60 | 0.20 | 0.44 | $34.55 | $71,860 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 640 | 0.64 | 1.43 | $33.80 | $70,300 |
| Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA | 900 | 1.10 | 2.44 | $33.72 | $70,130 |
| Baltimore-Towson, MD | 510 | 0.41 | 0.90 | $33.58 | $69,850 |
| Las Vegas-Paradise, NV | (8) | (8) | (8) | $33.24 | $69,130 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.20 | 4.90 | $21.96 | $45,680 |
| Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 1.62 | 3.61 | $24.18 | $50,300 |
| Southwestern Montana nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 1.50 | 3.34 | $19.63 | $40,830 |
| Western Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 0.67 | 1.48 | $20.97 | $43,620 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.32 | 2.95 | $21.23 | $44,160 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 2.53 | 5.64 | $24.04 | $50,010 |
| North and West Central New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 2.21 | 4.93 | $23.23 | $48,310 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.20 | 4.90 | $21.96 | $45,680 |
| Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.79 | 4.00 | $18.24 | $37,930 |
| Coastal Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.67 | 3.72 | $18.02 | $37,490 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.37 | 0.82 | $31.58 | $65,680 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.58 | 1.30 | $29.60 | $61,580 |
| West Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $28.61 | $59,500 |
| Natchitoches nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.47 | 1.05 | $28.52 | $59,310 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $27.26 | $56,690 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013
