Salary Report for Iowa Health Care Social Workers

  • The number of Health Care Social Workers currently employed in Iowa is 1,140.
  • Health Care Social Workers in Iowa earn an average of $57,840 per year or $27.81 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Health Care Social Workers who work in Iowa is 1%.
  • Iowa will need 1,430 new Health Care Social Workers by 2030 or 140 new psychologists per year.

Iowa Rankings

  • Iowa ranks #32 in the U.S. for Health Care Social Workers salary and #46 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Iowa ranks #34 in the U.S. for the total number of Health Care Social Workers employed.
  • Iowa ranks #36 in U.S. for the number of new Health Care Social Workers needed by 2030.
  • Iowa ranks #26 in U.S. for the percentage of new Health Care Social Workers needed by 2030.

Compare Iowa to U.S.

Iowa Health Care Social Workers earn an average of $57,840 which is 7% less than the national average salary of $62,310.

TypeIowaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$27.81$29.96-7.18%
Average Annual Salary$57,840$62,310-7.17%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Iowa, 50% of Health Care Social Workers earn between $48,480 and $63,460 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn more than $77,280, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Health Care Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn under $45,750, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Health Care Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year114Under $45,750
15%2 – 4 years171$45,750 – $48,480
25%5 – 9 years285$48,480 – $59,550
25%10 – 14 years285$59,550 – $63,460
15%15 – 20 years171$59,550 – $77,280
10%20+ years114Above $77,280
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in Iowa psychologists earn about $63,526 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $62,310.

Cost-of-living in Iowa is 9% less than the national average, which means Iowa residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Health Care Social Workers is $62,310.
  • Average Iowa Health Care Social Workers salary is $57,840.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, Iowa Health Care Social Workers earn an average salary of $63,526.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $57,840, Iowa Health Care Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($106,200), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,070), Psychology Teachers ($90,930), and School Psychologists ($67,710).

However, Health Care Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,920), Social Workers ($50,380), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($51,570).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$106,200
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$103,070
Psychology Teachers$90,930
School Psychologists$67,710
Health Care Social Workers$57,840
Substance Abuse Counselors$51,570
Social Workers$50,380
Marriage and Family Therapists$49,920
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Iowa the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (4,160), Social Workers (3,620) and Health Care Social Workers (1,430).

The three professions in Iowa needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (30.8%), Marriage and Family Therapists (22.4%) and Social Workers (13.5%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers3,1903,62013.5%350
Substance Abuse Counselors3,1804,16030.8%430
Health Care Social Workers1,2601,43013.5%140
Marriage and Family Therapists67082022.4%80
Psychology Teachers40045012.5%40
Forensic Psychologists1101100%10
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by Iowa Cities

The average salary for Health Care Social Workers in Iowa is $57,840. The top cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the most are Iowa City ($63,070), Des Moines-West Des Moines ($59,820) and Cedar Rapids ($57,970).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Iowa City ($66,160), Cedar Rapids ($63,928) and Des Moines-West Des Moines ($63,061).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Health Care 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 Health Care Social Workers salary will have in that area.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Iowa City$63,070$66,160$3,090
Des Moines-West Des Moines$59,820$63,061$3,241
Cedar Rapids$57,970$63,928$5,958
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island$57,080$62,423$5,343
Waterloo-Cedar Falls$56,710$61,729$5,019
Dubuque$56,410$62,091$5,681
Sioux City$56,380$62,644$6,264
Southeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area$55,050$62,993$7,943
Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area$54,020$61,815$7,795
Southwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area$53,880$61,655$7,775
Northwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area$51,750$59,217$7,467
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for Iowa Health Care Social Workers

Iowa Health Care Social Workers earn between $45,750 and $77,280 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 1,140 Health Care Social Workers employed in Iowa which is about 1% of the U.S. total.

Forensic Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in Iowa with an average annual wage of $106,200.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $45,750 a year in Iowa

The most Health Care Social Workers work in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area where 220 Health Care Social Workers are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in Iowa earn 63,526 per year, while the average across the United States earns $62,310.

By 2030, Iowa will need 1,430 Health Care Social Workers. A total of 140 Health Care Social Workers will need to enter into the Iowa work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Cedar Rapids

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $57,970
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $63,928
Hourly Wage: $27.87
Currently Employed: 100
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.68
Cedar Rapids Salary Report

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $57,080
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $62,423
Hourly Wage: $27
Currently Employed: 180
Cost-of-Living Index: 91.44
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island Salary Report

Des Moines-West Des Moines

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $59,820
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $63,061
Hourly Wage: $28.76
Currently Employed: 220
Cost-of-Living Index: 94.86
Des Moines-West Des Moines Salary Report

Dubuque

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $56,410
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $62,091
Hourly Wage: $27
Currently Employed: 50
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.85
Dubuque Salary Report

Iowa City

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $63,070
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $66,160
Hourly Wage: $30.32
Currently Employed: 150
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.33
Iowa City Salary Report

Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $54,020
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $61,815
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 60
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.39
Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Northwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $51,750
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $59,217
Hourly Wage: $24.88
Currently Employed: 110
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.39
Northwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Sioux City

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $56,380
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $62,644
Hourly Wage: $27
Currently Employed: 60
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.00
Sioux City Salary Report

Southeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $55,050
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $62,993
Hourly Wage: $26.46
Currently Employed: 100
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.39
Southeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Southwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $53,880
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $61,655
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.39
Southwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Waterloo-Cedar Falls

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $56,710
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $61,729
Hourly Wage: $27.26
Currently Employed: 80
Cost-of-Living Index: 91.87
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Salary Report

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