Salary Report for North Carolina Social Workers

  • The number of Social Workers currently employed in North Carolina is 11,300.
  • Social Workers in North Carolina earn an average of $51,060 per year or $24.55 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Social Workers who work in North Carolina is 3%.
  • North Carolina will need 14,160 new Social Workers by 2030 or 1,390 new psychologists per year.

North Carolina Rankings

  • North Carolina ranks #24 in the U.S. for Social Workers salary and #39 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • North Carolina ranks #8 in the U.S. for the total number of Social Workers employed.
  • North Carolina ranks #8 in U.S. for the number of new Social Workers needed by 2030.
  • North Carolina ranks #12 in U.S. for the percentage of new Social Workers needed by 2030.

Compare North Carolina to U.S.

North Carolina Social Workers earn an average of $51,060 which is 6% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

TypeNorth CarolinaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$24.55$26.39-6.97%
Average Annual Salary$51,060$54,880-6.96%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In North Carolina, 50% of Social Workers earn between $39,460 and $60,080 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $64,170, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $36,850, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year1,130Under $36,850
15%2 – 4 years1,695$36,850 – $39,460
25%5 – 9 years2,825$39,460 – $48,970
25%10 – 14 years2,825$48,970 – $60,080
15%15 – 20 years1,695$48,970 – $64,170
10%20+ years1,130Above $64,170
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in North Carolina psychologists earn about $55,597 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in North Carolina is 8% less than the national average, which means North Carolina residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Social Workers is $54,880.
  • Average North Carolina Social Workers salary is $51,060.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, North Carolina Social Workers earn an average salary of $55,597.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $51,060, North Carolina Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($94,480), Forensic Psychologists ($87,210), Psychology Teachers ($80,960), School Psychologists ($65,110), Health Care Social Workers ($62,540), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($52,850).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($46,900).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$94,480
Forensic Psychologists$87,210
Psychology Teachers$80,960
School Psychologists$65,110
Health Care Social Workers$62,540
Substance Abuse Counselors$52,850
Social Workers$51,060
Marriage and Family Therapists$46,900
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in North Carolina the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (14,160), Substance Abuse Counselors (11,610) and Health Care Social Workers (3,600).

The three professions in North Carolina needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (24.4%), Substance Abuse Counselors (23.9%) and Social Workers (13.9%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers12,43014,16013.9%1,390
Substance Abuse Counselors9,37011,61023.9%1,190
Health Care Social Workers3,1703,60013.6%350
Forensic Psychologists1,8001,9608.9%140
Psychology Teachers1,0401,1409.6%110
Marriage and Family Therapists45056024.4%60
Industrial Organizational Psychologists1902005.3%20
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by North Carolina Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in North Carolina is $51,060. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Durham-Chapel Hill ($60,400), Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ($53,420) and Wilmington ($53,380).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Durham-Chapel Hill ($64,372), Jacksonville ($57,708) and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ($56,481).

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.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Durham-Chapel Hill$60,400$64,372$3,972
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$53,420$56,481$3,061
Wilmington$53,380$55,919$2,539
Raleigh$52,760$55,154$2,394
Jacksonville$52,370$57,708$5,338
Greensboro-High Point$50,290$55,631$5,341
Winston-Salem$49,030$55,078$6,048
Greenville$48,870$54,024$5,154
Asheville$48,640$52,818$4,178
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$48,270$55,849$7,579
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton$48,060$54,825$6,765
Fayetteville$47,850$53,285$5,435
Goldsboro$47,790$53,606$5,816
Burlington$47,760$52,885$5,125
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$47,090$54,483$7,393
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$46,940$54,310$7,370
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$46,310$53,581$7,271
Rocky Mount$43,760$51,634$7,874
New Bern$42,430$47,471$5,041
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for North Carolina Social Workers

North Carolina Social Workers earn between $36,850 and $64,170 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 11,300 Social Workers employed in North Carolina which is about 3% of the U.S. total.

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in North Carolina with an average annual wage of $94,480.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $36,850 a year in North Carolina

The most Social Workers work in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area where 2,500 Social Workers are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in North Carolina earn 55,597 per year, while the average across the United States earns $54,880.

By 2030, North Carolina will need 14,160 Social Workers. A total of 1,390 Social Workers will need to enter into the North Carolina work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Asheville

Average Social Workers Salary: $48,640
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $52,818
Hourly Wage: $23.38
Currently Employed: 600
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.09
Asheville Salary Report

Burlington

Average Social Workers Salary: $47,760
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $52,885
Hourly Wage: $23
Currently Employed: 180
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.31
Burlington Salary Report

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia

Average Social Workers Salary: $53,420
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $56,481
Hourly Wage: $25.68
Currently Employed: 2,500
Cost-of-Living Index: 94.58
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia Salary Report

Durham-Chapel Hill

Average Social Workers Salary: $60,400
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $64,372
Hourly Wage: $29
Currently Employed: 800
Cost-of-Living Index: 93.83
Durham-Chapel Hill Salary Report

Fayetteville

Average Social Workers Salary: $47,850
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $53,285
Hourly Wage: $23.01
Currently Employed: 380
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.80
Fayetteville Salary Report

Goldsboro

Average Social Workers Salary: $47,790
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $53,606
Hourly Wage: $23
Currently Employed: 110
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.15
Goldsboro Salary Report

Greensboro-High Point

Average Social Workers Salary: $50,290
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $55,631
Hourly Wage: $24.18
Currently Employed: 830
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.40
Greensboro-High Point Salary Report

Greenville

Average Social Workers Salary: $48,870
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $54,024
Hourly Wage: $23
Currently Employed: 260
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.46
Greenville Salary Report

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Average Social Workers Salary: $48,060
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $54,825
Hourly Wage: $23.11
Currently Employed: 510
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.66
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Salary Report

Jacksonville

Average Social Workers Salary: $52,370
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $57,708
Hourly Wage: $25
Currently Employed: 180
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.75
Jacksonville Salary Report

Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Social Workers Salary: $46,940
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $54,310
Hourly Wage: $22.57
Currently Employed: 450
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

New Bern

Average Social Workers Salary: $42,430
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $47,471
Hourly Wage: $20
Currently Employed: 100
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.38
New Bern Salary Report

Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Social Workers Salary: $46,310
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $53,581
Hourly Wage: $22.26
Currently Employed: 270
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Social Workers Salary: $47,090
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $54,483
Hourly Wage: $23
Currently Employed: 680
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Raleigh

Average Social Workers Salary: $52,760
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $55,154
Hourly Wage: $25.37
Currently Employed: 1,320
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.66
Raleigh Salary Report

Rocky Mount

Average Social Workers Salary: $43,760
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $51,634
Hourly Wage: $21
Currently Employed: 180
Cost-of-Living Index: 84.75
Rocky Mount Salary Report

Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Social Workers Salary: $48,270
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $55,849
Hourly Wage: $23.21
Currently Employed: 1,020
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Wilmington

Average Social Workers Salary: $53,380
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $55,919
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 470
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.46
Wilmington Salary Report

Winston-Salem

Average Social Workers Salary: $49,030
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $55,078
Hourly Wage: $23.57
Currently Employed: 590
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.02
Winston-Salem Salary Report

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