Healthcare Social Worker salary in Madison, WI
Healthcare Social Workers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $76,720 a year ($36.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,780 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $67,880. Pay here is 15% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $66,910. There are 1.4 healthcare social workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $76,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for healthcare social workers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| 25th percentile | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Median | $76,720 | $36.89 |
| 75th percentile | $91,040 | $43.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,780 | $44.13 |
| Average (mean) | $76,830 | $36.94 |
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 | $6,393.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,196.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,950.77 |
| Weekly | $1,475.38 |
| Hourly | $36.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Healthcare Social Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $73,970 | 1,630 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $70,600 | 80 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $69,180 | 1,230 |
| Green Bay, WI | $67,080 | 170 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $66,900 | 80 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $66,420 | 50 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $65,940 | 40 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $65,200 | 170 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $63,750 | 60 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $63,590 | 160 |
| Wausau, WI | $63,000 | 90 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $62,560 | 220 |
| Appleton, WI | $61,680 | 100 |
| Kenosha, WI | $61,550 | 70 |
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 |
See Healthcare Social Worker pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $67,510 | $32.46 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $62,020 | $29.82 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $54,680 | $26.29 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $63,690 | $30.62 |
| Health Education Specialist | $79,910 | $38.42 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $60,790 | $29.23 |
| Community Health Worker | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Counselors, All Other | $70,300 | $33.80 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Clergy | $60,900 | $29.28 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for healthcare social workers in the Madison, WI metro area is $76,720 a year, or $36.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid healthcare social workers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $91,780 a year. The top 25% earn $91,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for healthcare social workers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,800 a year, and a quarter of healthcare social workers earn $65,420 or less.
How many healthcare social workers work in Madison, WI?
About 560 healthcare social workers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.