Healthcare Social Worker salary in Washington
Healthcare Social Workers in Washington earn a median of $78,570 a year ($37.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,360 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $67,880. Washington ranks 8th of 51 states for healthcare social workers pay. There are 1.5 healthcare social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for healthcare social workers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,390 | $23.27 |
| 25th percentile | $59,690 | $28.70 |
| Median | $78,570 | $37.77 |
| 75th percentile | $98,990 | $47.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,360 | $59.79 |
| Average (mean) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
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 | $6,547.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,273.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,021.92 |
| Weekly | $1,510.96 |
| Hourly | $37.77 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $89,650 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,790 | 1,460 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $83,550 | 3,060 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $82,190 | 100 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $81,610 | 110 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $78,360 | 130 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $77,390 | 200 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $75,870 | 80 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $75,610 | 40 |
| Bellingham, WA | $75,470 | 160 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $67,060 | 440 |
| Yakima, WA | $62,640 | 250 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $68,910 | $33.13 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $74,480 | $35.81 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $82,670 | $39.74 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $64,340 | $30.94 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $70,460 | $33.88 |
| Community Health Worker | $57,070 | $27.44 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $82,750 | $39.79 |
| Health Education Specialist | $77,420 | $37.22 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $102,520 | $49.29 |
| Counselors, All Other | $69,530 | $33.43 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $60,000 | $28.84 |
| Clergy | $80,830 | $38.86 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for healthcare social workers in Washington is $78,570 a year, or $37.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid healthcare social workers make in Washington?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers in Washington earn at least $124,360 a year. The top 25% earn $98,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for healthcare social workers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,390 a year, and a quarter of healthcare social workers earn $59,690 or less.
How many healthcare social workers work in Washington?
About 5,180 healthcare social workers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.