2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Iowa

Salary Report for Iowa Social Workers

Iowa Rankings

Compare Iowa to U.S.

Iowa Social Workers earn an average of $50,380 which is 8% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Iowa	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$24.22	$26.39	-8.22%
Average Annual Salary	$50,380	$54,880	-8.20%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Iowa, 50% of Social Workers earn between $37,250 and $62,470 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $77,020, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $30,730, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	202	Under $30,730
15%	2 – 4 years	303	$30,730 – $37,250
25%	5 – 9 years	505	$37,250 – $47,040
25%	10 – 14 years	505	$47,040 – $62,470
15%	15 – 20 years	303	$47,040 – $77,020
10%	20+ years	202	Above $77,020

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Iowa psychologists earn about $55,332 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

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.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $50,380, Iowa Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($106,200), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,070), Psychology Teachers ($90,930), School Psychologists ($67,710), Health Care Social Workers ($57,840), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($51,570).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,920).

Title	Annual 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

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%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	3,190	3,620	13.5%	350
Substance Abuse Counselors	3,180	4,160	30.8%	430
Health Care Social Workers	1,260	1,430	13.5%	140
Marriage and Family Therapists	670	820	22.4%	80
Psychology Teachers	400	450	12.5%	40
Forensic Psychologists	110	110	0%	10

Salaries Ranked by Iowa Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Iowa is $50,380. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Iowa City ($52,880), Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area ($52,860) and Des Moines-West Des Moines ($52,570).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area ($60,487), Southeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area ($59,789) and Northwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area ($58,576).

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
Iowa City	$52,880	$55,470	$2,590
Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$52,860	$60,487	$7,627
Des Moines-West Des Moines	$52,570	$55,419	$2,849
Southeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$52,250	$59,789	$7,539
Northwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$51,190	$58,576	$7,386
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	$50,610	$55,348	$4,738
Ames	$49,600	$52,332	$2,732
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	$48,680	$52,988	$4,308
Cedar Rapids	$46,640	$51,434	$4,794
Southwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,420	$53,118	$6,698
Sioux City	$45,080	$50,089	$5,009
Dubuque	$43,950	$48,376	$4,426

Salary FAQ for Iowa Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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