Salary Report for North Carolina Health Care Social Workers

  • The number of Health Care Social Workers currently employed in North Carolina is 3,050.
  • Health Care Social Workers in North Carolina earn an average of $62,540 per year or $30.07 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Health Care Social Workers who work in North Carolina is 2%.
  • North Carolina will need 3,600 new Health Care Social Workers by 2030 or 350 new psychologists per year.

North Carolina Rankings

  • North Carolina ranks #18 in the U.S. for Health Care Social Workers salary and #39 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • North Carolina ranks #21 in the U.S. for the total number of Health Care Social Workers employed.
  • North Carolina ranks #22 in U.S. for the number of new Health Care Social Workers needed by 2030.
  • North Carolina ranks #25 in U.S. for the percentage of new Health Care Social Workers needed by 2030.

Compare North Carolina to U.S.

North Carolina Health Care Social Workers earn an average of $62,540 which is 0% more than the national average salary of $62,310.

TypeNorth CarolinaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$30.07$29.960.37%
Average Annual Salary$62,540$62,3100.37%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In North Carolina, 50% of Health Care Social Workers earn between $49,230 and $75,090 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 $81,020, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Health Care Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn under $46,880, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Health Care Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year305Under $46,880
15%2 – 4 years458$46,880 – $49,230
25%5 – 9 years762$49,230 – $60,920
25%10 – 14 years762$60,920 – $75,090
15%15 – 20 years458$60,920 – $81,020
10%20+ years305Above $81,020
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 North Carolina psychologists earn about $68,097 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $62,310.

Cost-of-living in North Carolina is 8% less than the national average, which means North Carolina 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 North Carolina Health Care Social Workers salary is $62,540.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, North Carolina Health Care Social Workers earn an average salary of $68,097.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $62,540, North Carolina Health Care Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($94,480), Forensic Psychologists ($87,210), Psychology Teachers ($80,960), and School Psychologists ($65,110).

However, Health Care Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($46,900), Social Workers ($51,060), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($52,850).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$94,480
Forensic Psychologists$87,210
Psychology Teachers$80,960
School Psychologists$65,110
Health Care Social Workers$62,540
Substance Abuse Counselors$52,850
Social Workers$51,060
Marriage and Family Therapists$46,900
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 North Carolina the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (14,160), Substance Abuse Counselors (11,610) and Health Care Social Workers (3,600).

The three professions in North Carolina needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (24.4%), Substance Abuse Counselors (23.9%) and Social Workers (13.9%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers12,43014,16013.9%1,390
Substance Abuse Counselors9,37011,61023.9%1,190
Health Care Social Workers3,1703,60013.6%350
Forensic Psychologists1,8001,9608.9%140
Psychology Teachers1,0401,1409.6%110
Marriage and Family Therapists45056024.4%60
Industrial Organizational Psychologists1902005.3%20
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by North Carolina Cities

The average salary for Health Care Social Workers in North Carolina is $62,540. The top cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the most are Raleigh ($68,200), Durham-Chapel Hill ($66,560) and Greenville ($66,280).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Rocky Mount ($77,310), Greenville ($73,270) and Raleigh ($71,294).

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
Raleigh$68,200$71,294$3,094
Durham-Chapel Hill$66,560$70,937$4,377
Greenville$66,280$73,270$6,990
Rocky Mount$65,520$77,310$11,790
Greensboro-High Point$63,710$70,476$6,766
Winston-Salem$62,720$70,456$7,736
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$62,040$65,595$3,555
Asheville$60,030$65,186$5,156
Wilmington$58,190$60,957$2,767
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$57,490$66,516$9,026
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton$55,380$63,176$7,796
Fayetteville$54,890$61,125$6,235
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$54,480$63,034$8,554
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$53,520$61,923$8,403
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$51,090$59,111$8,021
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for North Carolina Health Care Social Workers

North Carolina Health Care Social Workers earn between $46,880 and $81,020 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 3,050 Health Care Social Workers employed in North Carolina which is about 2% of the U.S. total.

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in North Carolina with an average annual wage of $94,480.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $46,880 a year in North Carolina

The most Health Care Social Workers work in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area where 710 Health Care Social Workers are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in North Carolina earn 68,097 per year, while the average across the United States earns $62,310.

By 2030, North Carolina will need 3,600 Health Care Social Workers. A total of 350 Health Care Social Workers will need to enter into the North Carolina work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Asheville

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $60,030
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $65,186
Hourly Wage: $28.86
Currently Employed: 170
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.09
Asheville Salary Report

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $62,040
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $65,595
Hourly Wage: $30
Currently Employed: 710
Cost-of-Living Index: 94.58
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia Salary Report

Durham-Chapel Hill

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $66,560
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $70,937
Hourly Wage: $32.00
Currently Employed: 330
Cost-of-Living Index: 93.83
Durham-Chapel Hill Salary Report

Fayetteville

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $54,890
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $61,125
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.80
Fayetteville Salary Report

Greensboro-High Point

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $63,710
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $70,476
Hourly Wage: $30.63
Currently Employed: 240
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.40
Greensboro-High Point Salary Report

Greenville

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $66,280
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $73,270
Hourly Wage: $32
Currently Employed: 100
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.46
Greenville Salary Report

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $55,380
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $63,176
Hourly Wage: $26.62
Currently Employed: 80
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.66
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Salary Report

Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $51,090
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $59,111
Hourly Wage: $25
Currently Employed: 80
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $57,490
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $66,516
Hourly Wage: $27.64
Currently Employed: 50
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $54,480
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $63,034
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 200
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Raleigh

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $68,200
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $71,294
Hourly Wage: $32.79
Currently Employed: 360
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.66
Raleigh Salary Report

Rocky Mount

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $65,520
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $77,310
Hourly Wage: $32
Currently Employed: 30
Cost-of-Living Index: 84.75
Rocky Mount Salary Report

Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $53,520
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $61,923
Hourly Wage: $25.73
Currently Employed: 160
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Wilmington

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $58,190
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $60,957
Hourly Wage: $28
Currently Employed: 60
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.46
Wilmington Salary Report

Winston-Salem

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $62,720
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $70,456
Hourly Wage: $30.16
Currently Employed: 220
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.02
Winston-Salem Salary Report

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