From January 2001 NASW NEWS
Copyright ©2001, National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

Members' Median Income Is $45,660

Thirty-one percent were in households with incomes of more than $100,000.

By John V. O'Neill, MSW, NEWS Staff

The NASW Practice Research Network's 2000 initial survey of members is chock-full of up-to-date, interesting facts about the association's regular members. For instance, while social workers often grouse about low incomes, they live in households that are solidly middle class, with median incomes of $78,710.

Thirty-one percent were in households with incomes of more than $100,000, the highest category of household income surveyed. Fourteen percent were between $80,000-$99,000; 20 percent between $60,000-$79,000; 19 percent between $40,000-$59,000; and only 10 percent below $40,000.

Twenty-four percent of members were single, 67 percent were married and 8 percent had domestic partners.

The survey is based on a random survey of 2,000 regular association members (excluding student, transitional and retired members) with an 81 percent return rate, making it highly characteristic of NASW's 100,742 regular domestic members. It was funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to learn about the relationship between social work practice and substance abuse diagnosis and treatment.

While median income from social work is $41,290, it rises to $45,660 for those working full-time. Eight percent earn more than $80,000 full-time; 16 percent, $60,000-$79,999; 14 percent, $50,000-$59,999; 23 percent, $40,000-$49,999; 27 percent, $30,000-$39,000; 8 percent, under $30,000.

These figures indicate some reasonably steep increases in social work income compared to those reported in NASW's book Who We Are, based on 1995 membership data, although data collection methods were different and could account for some of the disparity. Median income reported then was $34,215, 33.4 percent less than the 2000 median of $45,660 for full-time work.

In 1995, 31 percent earned less than $30,000, compared to just 8 percent in 2000. Changes were also dramatic at the higher levels, with just 32 percent earning more than $40,000 in 1995, compared to 61 percent in 2000.

Incomes grow substantially with years of experience. Those with 25-plus years of experience earn a median income of $58,400; 20-24 years, $55,710; 15-19 years, $50,480; 10-14 years, $44,270; 5-9 years, $37,330; and 2-4 years, $34,440.

Incomes are remarkably even across primary practice areas, with child welfare workers earning the most, $48,000; school social workers the least, $40,000; and in between, mental health ($47,340), health ($45,000) and aging ($42,780).

Much bigger variations occur in full-time income depending on the type of organization where members work, with individual private practitioners making 56 percent more than those in social service agencies. Private practice solo social workers have median incomes of $62,500, followed by: child welfare, $51,110; private practice group, $50,000; government agency, $50,000; college, $47,310; health outpatient, $45,620; health inpatient, $44,550; school, $43,330; mental health inpatient, $40,000; social service agency, $39,820; and mental health outpatient, $38,610.

By primary auspice, full-time social workers earn $53,120 in federal/military practice; $51,900 at private for-profits; $47,690 with local government; $45,000 with state government; $43,140 with other nonprofits; and $40,180, nonprofit sectarian.

Finally, males make more than females, $54,290 to $43,510, and black social workers make more, $55,000, than Hispanics, $50,000, and whites, $45,230.

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