2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Massachusetts

Salary Report for Massachusetts Social Workers

Massachusetts Rankings

Compare Massachusetts to U.S.

Massachusetts Social Workers earn an average of $54,980 which is 0% more than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Massachusetts	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$26.43	$26.39	0.15%
Average Annual Salary	$54,980	$54,880	0.18%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Massachusetts, 50% of Social Workers earn between $38,700 and $62,270 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $77,430, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $31,740, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	938	Under $31,740
15%	2 – 4 years	1,407	$31,740 – $38,700
25%	5 – 9 years	2,345	$38,700 – $48,580
25%	10 – 14 years	2,345	$48,580 – $62,270
15%	15 – 20 years	1,407	$48,580 – $77,430
10%	20+ years	938	Above $77,430

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Massachusetts psychologists earn about $51,173 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Massachusetts is 7% higher than the national average, which means Massachusetts residents have an overall higher 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 $54,980, Massachusetts Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($100,070), Psychology Teachers ($96,650), School Psychologists ($92,730), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($92,110), Industrial Organizational Psychologists ($72,640), Health Care Social Workers ($64,250), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($55,160).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($53,940).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$100,070
Psychology Teachers	$96,650
School Psychologists	$92,730
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$92,110
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	$72,640
Health Care Social Workers	$64,250
Substance Abuse Counselors	$55,160
Social Workers	$54,980
Marriage and Family Therapists	$53,940

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Massachusetts the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (20,610), Health Care Social Workers (11,930) and Social Workers (10,210).

The three professions in Massachusetts needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (16.6%), Marriage and Family Therapists (14%) and Psychology Teachers (13.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	17,680	20,610	16.6%	2,050
Health Care Social Workers	10,920	11,930	9.2%	1,140
Social Workers	9,310	10,210	9.7%	980
Forensic Psychologists	1,690	1,660	-1.8%	110
Psychology Teachers	1,580	1,790	13.3%	180
Marriage and Family Therapists	1,000	1,140	14%	110
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	240	250	4.2%	20

Salaries Ranked by Massachusetts Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Massachusetts is $54,980. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Boston-Cambridge-Nashua ($60,520), New Bedford ($55,300) and Barnstable Town ($54,390).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Boston-Cambridge-Nashua ($55,671), New Bedford ($50,869) and Barnstable Town ($50,032).

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
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua	$60,520	$55,671	$-4,849
New Bedford	$55,300	$50,869	$-4,431
Barnstable Town	$54,390	$50,032	$-4,358
Leominster-Gardner	$52,630	$48,413	$-4,217
Worcester	$50,160	$46,141	$-4,019
Massachusetts Nonmetropolitan Area	$47,890	$44,053	$-3,837
Pittsfield	$44,170	$40,631	$-3,539
Springfield	$44,000	$40,475	$-3,525

Salary FAQ for Massachusetts Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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