2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Louisiana

Salary Report for Louisiana Social Workers

Louisiana Rankings

Compare Louisiana to U.S.

Louisiana Social Workers earn an average of $45,010 which is 17% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Louisiana	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.64	$26.39	-18.00%
Average Annual Salary	$45,010	$54,880	-17.98%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Louisiana, 50% of Social Workers earn between $36,370 and $49,290 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $61,510, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $30,650, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	39	Under $30,650
15%	2 – 4 years	58	$30,650 – $36,370
25%	5 – 9 years	98	$36,370 – $45,640
25%	10 – 14 years	98	$45,640 – $49,290
15%	15 – 20 years	58	$45,640 – $61,510
10%	20+ years	39	Above $61,510

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Louisiana psychologists earn about $48,544 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Louisiana is 7% less than the national average, which means Louisiana 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 $45,010, Louisiana Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($101,420), Forensic Psychologists ($97,890), Psychology Teachers ($74,980), and Health Care Social Workers ($55,060).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($38,060), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($39,970).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$101,420
Forensic Psychologists	$97,890
Psychology Teachers	$74,980
Health Care Social Workers	$55,060
Social Workers	$45,010
Substance Abuse Counselors	$39,970
Marriage and Family Therapists	$38,060

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Louisiana the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (4,540), Health Care Social Workers (1,850) and Forensic Psychologists (650).

The three professions in Louisiana needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (12.5%), Substance Abuse Counselors (11.3%) and Psychology Teachers (6.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	4,080	4,540	11.3%	440
Health Care Social Workers	1,800	1,850	2.8%	170
Forensic Psychologists	680	650	-4.4%	40
Social Workers	430	450	4.7%	40
Psychology Teachers	160	170	6.3%	20
Marriage and Family Therapists	80	90	12.5%	10

Salaries Ranked by Louisiana Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Louisiana is $45,010. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are New Orleans-Metairie ($48,620), Baton Rouge ($48,550) and Shreveport-Bossier City ($45,270).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Baton Rouge ($51,283), New Orleans-Metairie ($50,196) and Shreveport-Bossier City ($49,638).

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
New Orleans-Metairie	$48,620	$50,196	$1,576
Baton Rouge	$48,550	$51,283	$2,733
Shreveport-Bossier City	$45,270	$49,638	$4,368
Lafayette	$36,490	$39,845	$3,355

Salary FAQ for Louisiana Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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