verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Social Worker Salary in Illinois

Median Annual in Illinois
$63,220/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$30.39/hr
▲ 6% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Illinois

groups Employed in IL
19,860
public U.S. Median
$59,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$63,247 #15 of 51

Social Worker pay in Illinois, explained

Social workers in Illinois earn a median of $63,220 per year ($30.39 per hour), which is 6% above the national median of $59,550. Entry-level workers earn around $47,120, while the most experienced social workers reach about $105,660. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Illinois.

Is $63,220 good pay in Illinois?

Adjusted for Illinois's cost of living (which runs 100% of the U.S. average), that $63,220 is worth about $63,247 in national buying power — ranking Illinois #15 for real pay (vs #18 on the sticker number).

See the full Social Worker Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Social Worker pay by experience in Illinois

Entry level (10th pct)
$47,120
$22.65/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$63,220
$30.39/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$105,660
$50.80/hr

Social Worker pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IL
Illinois (here) $63,220 $63,247
Wisconsin $59,280 $63,000 +$3,940
Kentucky $59,100 $65,551 +$4,120
Iowa $52,250 $59,536 +$10,970
Indiana $50,470 $54,078 +$12,750
Missouri $48,520 $53,426 +$14,700

Social Worker in Illinois: FAQ

How much do social workers make in Illinois?

Social workers in Illinois earn a median of $63,220 per year ($30.39 per hour), compared with $59,550 nationally.

Does Illinois pay social workers well?

At $63,220, Illinois pays 6% above the national median for social workers. An estimated 19,860 work in the state.

Social Worker salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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