2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Arkansas

Salary Report for Arkansas Social Workers

Arkansas Rankings

Compare Arkansas to U.S.

Arkansas Social Workers earn an average of $41,110 which is 25% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Arkansas	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$19.76	$26.39	-25.12%
Average Annual Salary	$41,110	$54,880	-25.09%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Arkansas, 50% of Social Workers earn between $36,740 and $46,300 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $48,930, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $35,710, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	122	Under $35,710
15%	2 – 4 years	183	$35,710 – $36,740
25%	5 – 9 years	305	$36,740 – $37,200
25%	10 – 14 years	305	$37,200 – $46,300
15%	15 – 20 years	183	$37,200 – $48,930
10%	20+ years	122	Above $48,930

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Arkansas psychologists earn about $46,098 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Arkansas is 11% less than the national average, which means Arkansas residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $41,110, Arkansas Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($92,470), Psychology Teachers ($79,020), School Psychologists ($75,510), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($75,050), Health Care Social Workers ($57,650), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($48,320).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$92,470
Psychology Teachers	$79,020
School Psychologists	$75,510
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$75,050
Health Care Social Workers	$57,650
Substance Abuse Counselors	$48,320
Social Workers	$41,110

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Arkansas the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (2,360), Health Care Social Workers (1,460) and Social Workers (1,290).

The three professions in Arkansas needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (26.9%), Marriage and Family Therapists (20%) and Psychology Teachers (13%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,860	2,360	26.9%	240
Health Care Social Workers	1,330	1,460	9.8%	140
Social Workers	1,190	1,290	8.4%	120
Forensic Psychologists	340	340	0%	20
Psychology Teachers	230	260	13%	20
Marriage and Family Therapists	100	120	20%	10

Salaries Ranked by Arkansas Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Arkansas is $41,110. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are West Arkansas Nonmetropolitan Area ($44,210), Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers ($43,430) and Fort Smith ($41,860).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are West Arkansas Nonmetropolitan Area ($51,738), Pine Bluff ($47,662) and Jonesboro ($47,077).

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

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
West Arkansas Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,210	$51,738	$7,528
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	$43,430	$46,559	$3,129
Fort Smith	$41,860	$46,886	$5,026
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	$41,630	$45,127	$3,497
Jonesboro	$41,070	$47,077	$6,007
Pine Bluff	$39,960	$47,662	$7,702
South Arkansas Nonmetropolitan Area	$39,350	$46,050	$6,700
East Arkansas Nonmetropolitan Area	$38,430	$44,974	$6,544
North Arkansas Nonmetropolitan Area	$37,960	$44,424	$6,464

Salary FAQ for Arkansas Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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