Healthcare Social Worker salary in Illinois
Healthcare Social Workers in Illinois earn a median of $64,270 a year ($30.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,970 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $67,880. Illinois ranks 28th of 51 states for healthcare social workers pay. There are 0.81 healthcare social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $68,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for healthcare social workers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,290 | $22.74 |
| 25th percentile | $54,270 | $26.09 |
| Median | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| 75th percentile | $78,610 | $37.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,970 | $46.62 |
| Average (mean) | $68,190 | $32.78 |
Half of healthcare social workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,355.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,677.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,471.92 |
| Weekly | $1,235.96 |
| Hourly | $30.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Healthcare Social Worker salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $78,960 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $78,660 | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $71,430 | 3,770 |
| Springfield, IL | $63,370 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $63,070 | 160 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,860 | 140 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,200 | 1,860 |
| Peoria, IL | $59,210 | 150 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $58,920 | 150 |
| Kankakee, IL | $58,400 | 50 |
| Decatur, IL | $52,680 | 50 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $49,490 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for healthcare social workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $94,100 |
| California | $89,660 |
| Hawaii | $85,420 |
| Oregon | $84,350 |
| New Jersey | $82,690 |
| Vermont | $81,140 |
| Connecticut | $79,900 |
| Washington | $78,570 |
| Nevada | $78,470 |
| New Hampshire | $78,260 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,220 | $30.39 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $49,350 | $23.73 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $40,900 | $19.67 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $74,390 | $35.76 |
| Community Health Worker | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $64,030 | $30.79 |
| Health Education Specialist | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| Counselors, All Other | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Clergy | $61,820 | $29.72 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in Illinois?
The median salary for healthcare social workers in Illinois is $64,270 a year, or $30.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid healthcare social workers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers in Illinois earn at least $96,970 a year. The top 25% earn $78,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for healthcare social workers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,290 a year, and a quarter of healthcare social workers earn $54,270 or less.
How many healthcare social workers work in Illinois?
About 4,910 healthcare social workers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.