Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

21-1022 Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family care givers, providing patient education and counseling, and making referrals for other services. May also provide care and case management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
133,890 1.0 % $24.28 $50,500 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $14.98 $18.56 $23.37 $28.98 $35.11
Annual Wage (2) $31,160 $38,610 $48,620 $60,280 $73,040

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

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)
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 37,400 0.72 $26.95 $56,060
Individual and Family Services 15,800 1.26 $20.22 $42,050
Nursing Care Facilities 15,420 0.92 $21.74 $45,230
Home Health Care Services 15,050 1.34 $26.45 $55,020
Local Government (OES Designation) 8,990 0.16 $23.06 $47,960

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Home Health Care Services 15,050 1.34 $26.45 $55,020
Individual and Family Services 15,800 1.26 $20.22 $42,050
Outpatient Care Centers 7,480 1.22 $24.60 $51,180
Grantmaking and Giving Services 1,340 1.05 $23.31 $48,490
Nursing Care Facilities 15,420 0.92 $21.74 $45,230

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 60 0.01 $32.68 $67,970
Scientific Research and Development Services 200 0.03 $28.99 $60,300
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 1,900 0.86 $28.55 $59,380
Employment Services 1,270 0.04 $27.16 $56,490
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 37,400 0.72 $26.95 $56,060

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

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 12,300 0.88 0.84 $29.08 $60,490
New York 10,230 1.21 1.16 $26.19 $54,480
Massachusetts 9,970 3.16 3.02 $25.53 $53,100
Texas 7,580 0.74 0.70 $25.57 $53,180
Pennsylvania 7,570 1.36 1.31 $22.67 $47,150




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)
Massachusetts 9,970 3.16 3.02 $25.53 $53,100
Delaware 820 2.02 1.94 $21.94 $45,630
Missouri 4,580 1.77 1.69 $20.08 $41,770
Mississippi 1,670 1.56 1.49 $18.99 $39,490
Connecticut 2,300 1.43 1.37 $29.06 $60,440




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 320 0.50 0.48 $34.20 $71,130
Nevada 710 0.64 0.61 $32.18 $66,930
California 12,300 0.88 0.84 $29.08 $60,490
Connecticut 2,300 1.43 1.37 $29.06 $60,440
Maryland 2,820 1.14 1.09 $28.76 $59,830





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 6,880 1.36 1.30 $27.36 $56,910
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 3,800 2.27 2.18 $25.78 $53,620
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 3,140 0.82 0.79 $27.63 $57,480
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 2,970 1.63 1.57 $26.05 $54,190
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 2,840 0.79 0.76 $25.24 $52,490
St. Louis, MO-IL 2,290 1.81 1.73 $21.22 $44,130
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 2,070 0.93 0.89 $23.57 $49,020
Baltimore-Towson, MD 1,830 1.46 1.40 $28.78 $59,860
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 1,600 0.94 0.90 $24.28 $50,500
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 1,600 0.63 0.60 $28.12 $58,490