Social Worker salary
From 49 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 21-1029: Social Workers, All Other
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 62% of Social Worker filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 12% since FY2020. From $60,372 in FY2020 to $67,600 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Social Worker H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 49 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Social Worker jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 21-1029, Social Workers, All Other). The median base salary is $65,437, 47% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $54,000 and $72,800. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 62% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 38% of filings
Mid-level · 62% of filings
Senior · 0% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $51,636 | 14 |
| Level II · Qualified | $66,560 | 23 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Social Worker pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 1 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $66,071 | 14 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Social Worker does
All social workers not listed separately.
O*NET occupation: Social Workers, All Other (21-1029.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Social Workers, All Other), the median annual wage was $71,900 in May 2025, with 62,930 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $65,437, 9% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,630 | $43,620 |
| 25th percentile | $54,000 | $51,900 |
| Median | $65,437 | $71,900 |
| 75th percentile | $72,800 | $97,040 |
| 90th percentile | $81,994 | $115,610 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,630 |
| 25th | $54,000 |
| 50th (median) | $65,437 |
| 75th | $72,800 |
| 90th | $81,994 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $60,372 | $52,078 | $63,870 | 18 |
| FY2021 | $59,280 | $54,033 | $66,956 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $56,015 | $49,400 | $66,690 | 13 |
| FY2023 | $64,241 | $51,000 | $69,625 | 28 |
| FY2024 | $63,280 | $52,240 | $70,750 | 22 |
| FY2025 | $65,000 | $54,619 | $69,430 | 34 |
| FY2026 | $67,600 | $49,362 | $80,476 | 15 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Social Worker make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Social Worker jobs is $65,437 (49 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $54,000 and $72,800.
What does an entry-level Social Worker earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $51,636. Level I accounts for 38% of Social Worker filings.
Do H-1B Social Workers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($65,437) is 9% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($71,900, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.