Social Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median social worker in the Chicago area earns $64,790 a year ($31.15 an hour), 9% above the U.S. median ($59,550) and 2% above the Illinois median ($63,220). Half of the 13,550 social workers there earn between $53,950 and $82,640.
Median $64,790
10th: $48,46090th: $110,390
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,460 | $47,120 | $42,280 |
| 25th percentile | $53,950 | $52,320 | $48,270 |
| Median | $64,790 | $63,220 | $59,550 |
| 75th percentile | $82,640 | $81,650 | $76,070 |
| 90th percentile | $110,390 | $105,660 | $95,530 |
| Average | $72,040 | $70,670 | $64,000 |
| Jobs | 13,550 | 19,860 | 392,550 |
Chicago, IL ranks 15th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for social worker pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($87,600).
Paid less than $64,790? That gap, with its source, is the strongest line in a raise request. Check your pay for your level in 30 seconds. Free, no sign-up.
Check my paySocial worker pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $87,600
- Hartford, CT: $79,920
- Boston, MA: $77,420
- Washington, DC: $75,550
- Seattle, WA: $75,280
- Baltimore, MD: $74,960
- San Francisco, CA: $72,020
- Los Angeles, CA: $71,250
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.