2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Nebraska

Salary Report for Nebraska Social Workers

Nebraska Rankings

Compare Nebraska to U.S.

Nebraska Social Workers earn an average of $43,730 which is 20% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Nebraska	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.03	$26.39	-20.31%
Average Annual Salary	$43,730	$54,880	-20.32%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Nebraska, 50% of Social Workers earn between $37,200 and $48,820 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $60,300, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $30,590, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	294	Under $30,590
15%	2 – 4 years	441	$30,590 – $37,200
25%	5 – 9 years	735	$37,200 – $38,720
25%	10 – 14 years	735	$38,720 – $48,820
15%	15 – 20 years	441	$38,720 – $60,300
10%	20+ years	294	Above $60,300

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Nebraska psychologists earn about $47,077 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Nebraska is 7% less than the national average, which means Nebraska 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 $43,730, Nebraska Social Workers tend to earn less than School Psychologists ($82,230), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($82,110), Psychology Teachers ($81,250), Health Care Social Workers ($53,840), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($53,360).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($42,660).

Title	Annual Salary
School Psychologists	$82,230
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$82,110
Psychology Teachers	$81,250
Health Care Social Workers	$53,840
Substance Abuse Counselors	$53,360
Social Workers	$43,730
Marriage and Family Therapists	$42,660

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Nebraska the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (3,520), Substance Abuse Counselors (2,480) and Health Care Social Workers (1,000).

The three professions in Nebraska needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (20.4%), Marriage and Family Therapists (12.1%) and Psychology Teachers (11.1%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	3,240	3,520	8.6%	340
Substance Abuse Counselors	2,060	2,480	20.4%	250
Health Care Social Workers	920	1,000	8.7%	100
Marriage and Family Therapists	330	370	12.1%	40
Psychology Teachers	270	300	11.1%	30
Forensic Psychologists	170	180	5.9%	10
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	10	10	0%	0

Salaries Ranked by Nebraska Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Nebraska is $43,730. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Grand Island ($56,790), Omaha-Council Bluffs ($45,970) and Northeast Nebraska Nonmetropolitan Area ($42,820).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Grand Island ($62,717), Omaha-Council Bluffs ($48,232) and Northeast Nebraska Nonmetropolitan Area ($48,194).

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
Grand Island	$56,790	$62,717	$5,927
Omaha-Council Bluffs	$45,970	$48,232	$2,262
Northeast Nebraska Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,820	$48,194	$5,374
South Nebraska Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,390	$47,710	$5,320
Lincoln	$41,640	$44,397	$2,757
Northwest Nebraska Nonmetropolitan Area	$41,100	$46,258	$5,158

Salary FAQ for Nebraska Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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