FederalPay.org
Social Worker - Federal Salaries of 2020
Pay Rates for "Social Worker"
How much does a Social Worker in the federal government get paid? $81,843.02* *Based on the 2020 average.Social Worker was the 19th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2020, with 17,300 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2020, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Social Work, with an average salary of $81,770.
Government Social Work jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Social Work job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation includes positions which require application of a professional knowledge of the principles and practices of social work in the performance of such assignments as providing direct services to individuals and families, including work with individuals in groups. Also included are positions concerned with teaching social work, doing research on social work problems, training of social work students, and providing consultation and advice to members of related professions and community organizations on social work questions.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions fall under this job category. Due to the growing focus of them STEM fields, individuals in this job category tend to advance more quickly than employees in the other job categories. Jobs in this category are being added quickly and many organizations have trouble finding qualified individuals. Individuals in this job category typically recieve pormotions of 2 grade increases at a time until they reach GS-12.
Agencies that have hired a Social Worker
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 17,072 | $81,770.18 |
| Indian Health Service | 82 | $82,625.98 |
| Indian Affairs | 56 | $88,787.52 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 42 | $78,159.17 |
| Department of State | 12 | $122,688.92 |
| National Institutes of Health | 11 | $95,112.91 |
| Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration | 7 | $52,175.00 |
| Armed Forces Retirement Home | 4 | $77,155.00 |
| U.S. Agency for International Development | 3 | $125,473.33 |
| Health Resources and Services Administration | 2 | $111,056.00 |
| Immigration and Customs Enforcement | 2 | $0.00 |
| Offices, Boards and Divisions | 2 | $148,500.00 |
| Drug Enforcement Administration | 2 | $143,556.00 |
| Forest Service | 1 | $68,777.00 |
| Department of Homeland Security Headquarters | 1 | $141,534.00 |
| Office of the Director | 1 | $123,198.00 |
Social Worker Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Social Worker is $81,843.02. The highest paid Social Worker made $170,800 in 2020.
Common Social Worker Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Social Work Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 16,518 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 765 |
| CY - Contract Education--school Year | 8 |
| EI - Advisory Committee Member (other) | 7 |
| EX - Executive Pay | 2 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $34,649.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $146,757.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 0100 SOCIAL SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND WELFARE GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Social Work jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Astronomy and Space Science | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Nursing Assistant | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Emergency Management | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
Average Social Work Pay Trend from 2004 to 2020
In 2004, the average pay for a Social Worker was $59,263. Since then, the average pay has increased to $81,843 in 2020.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0185.