Healthcare Social Workers Career, Salary and Skills
Healthcare Social Workers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $67,880 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 187,630. Wage data is published for 427 locations.
Occupation description
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
O*NET code
21-1022.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$67,880
Hourly median
$32.63
Employment
187,630
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.25 | 5.12 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Service Orientation | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Coordination | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
Technology
- Adobe PageMaker
- Automated clinical information systems
- Calendar software
- Command Systems ComServe
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- Email software
- Google Meet
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Information presentation software
- Intrado SchoolMessenger
- James Frazier Associates DataStart
- Medical procedure coding software
- Medical records software
Healthcare Social Workers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in NYMedian $73,070 · Employment 20,440
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in CAMedian $89,660 · Employment 17,690
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in New York, NYMedian $78,610 · Employment 17,250
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in TXMedian $69,990 · Employment 10,880
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in FLMedian $64,820 · Employment 10,520
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in PAMedian $61,900 · Employment 9,630
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in OHMedian $63,610 · Employment 8,930
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in MAMedian $76,440 · Employment 7,220
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in GAMedian $62,420 · Employment 6,970
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $79,830 · Employment 6,340
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in TNMedian $61,240 · Employment 5,970
- Healthcare Social Workers Salary in WAMedian $78,570 · Employment 5,180
Related careers
- Nurse PractitionersNational median $132,300
- Social and Community Service ManagersNational median $80,390
- Occupational Therapy AssistantsNational median $72,300
- PsychiatristsNational median $281,870
- Occupational TherapistsNational median $100,330
- Family Medicine PhysiciansNational median $244,180
- Clinical Nurse SpecialistsNational median $97,550
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric NursesNational median $97,550
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.