Healthcare social workers

Detailed Occupation

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2021 Workforce

93.3k

Average Age

44.4

Estimated Job Growth

14.4%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$52,544

Average Male Salary

$51,585

Average Female Salary

$52,833

About

Healthcare social workers are most often employed by the Individual & family services industry. The average yearly wage for Healthcare social workers was $52,544 in 2021.

The locations that employ the most Healthcare social workers are Rapides & Vernon Parishes PUMA, LA, Edgewater, Uptown & Rogers Park PUMA, IL, and Little Rock City PUMA, AR. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Healthcare social workers are Bedford, Garfield Heights & Maple Heights Cities PUMA, OH, Rapides & Vernon Parishes PUMA, LA, and Ross & Fayette Counties PUMA, OH.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Community & Social Service Occupations Education, legal, community service, arts, & media occupations

Employment and salary information for the Healthcare social workers workforce. Healthcare social workers workforce in 2021 was 93,255 people, of which 76.8% were women and 23.2% were men. Healthcare social workers are paid most in Castle Hill, Clason Point & Parkchester PUMA, NY but are relatively concentrated in Bedford, Garfield Heights & Maple Heights Cities PUMA, OH.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

21,596

Male Workforce

± 3.61k

71,659

Female Workforce

± 6.57k

The Healthcare social workers workforce in 2021 was 93,255 people (76.8% women and 23.2% men). This implies an average annual growth of −7.63% between 2018 (100,956) and 2021 (93,255).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Healthcare social workers.

During 2021, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Alaska ($76,061), Nevada ($71,814), and Rhode Island ($71,473).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$52,544

AVERAGE WAGE

#263 in the ranking (2021)

$59,596

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2021, Healthcare social workers earned an average of $52,544, $7,051 less than the average national salary of $59,596

The graph shows the ranking of Healthcare social workers in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2021.

Wage Distribution

Gender

0.297

WAGE GINI

In 2021, Healthcare social workers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.297, which is lower than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Healthcare social workers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Healthcare social workers compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Healthcare social workers and on wages for those in the field. Individual & family services is the industry that employs the most Healthcare social workers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Healthcare social workers, by average wage, is Management, scientific & technical consulting services ($98,155).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

93.3k

2021 Workforce

± 7,495

−3.69%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 11.7%

This graphic shows the share of Healthcare social workers employed by various industries. Individual & family services employs the largest share of Healthcare social workers at 57%, followed by Residential care facilities, except skilled nursing facilities with 29.1% and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 13.9%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Healthcare social workers in the US. The workforce of Healthcare social workers in 2021 was 93,255 people, with 76.8% woman, and 23.2% men. The average age of male Healthcare social workers in the workforce is 45 and of female Healthcare social workers is 44.2, and the most common race/ethnicity for Healthcare social workers is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Healthcare social workers in 2021 was 93,255 people, with 76.8% woman, and 23.2% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 35 to 39 years (13,087 people), 30 to 34 years (11,778 people), and 40 to 44 years (11,057 people). Among them they concentrated 38.6% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2021, 14% of Healthcare social workers workers were Hispanic and 86% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (73.4%), Puerto Rican (18.2)%, and Dominican (8.42)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2021, 61% of the Healthcare social workers workforce were White, of which 79.1% were women and 20.9% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (24.9%) and Two or More Races (6.34%).

Education & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Healthcare social workers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Healthcare social workers is Public Administration and Social Service but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2021 were Public Administration and Social Service.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Healthcare social workers in 2021 (counting all academic degrees) were Public Administration and Social Service (14,183 people), Psychology (12,470 people), and Social Sciences (5,619 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Healthcare social workers workers were Graduate Degree (32,528 people), Bachelors Degree (25,920 people), and Some college (12,942 people).

The graphic shows the Healthcare social workers workforce by gender and educational level.

Projections

Projections on job growth for Healthcare Social Workers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Healthcare Social Workers are expected to see a growth of 14.4% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

14.4%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Healthcare social workers. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.