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

Social Worker Salary in Wisconsin

Median Annual in Wisconsin
$59,280/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$28.50/hr
▬ 0% about even with U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Wisconsin

groups Employed in WI
5,710
public U.S. Median
$59,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$63,000 #17 of 51

Social Worker pay in Wisconsin, explained

Social workers in Wisconsin earn a median of $59,280 per year ($28.50 per hour), in line with the national median of $59,550. Entry-level workers earn around $44,400, while the most experienced social workers reach about $80,900. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Wisconsin.

Is $59,280 good pay in Wisconsin?

Adjusted for Wisconsin's cost of living (which runs 94% of the U.S. average), that $59,280 is worth about $63,000 in national buying power — ranking Wisconsin #17 for real pay (vs #24 on the sticker number).

See the full Social Worker Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Social Worker pay by experience in Wisconsin

Entry level (10th pct)
$44,400
$21.35/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$59,280
$28.50/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$80,900
$38.89/hr

Social Worker pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs WI
Wisconsin (here) $59,280 $63,000
Minnesota $67,450 $68,393 −$8,170
Illinois $63,220 $63,247 −$3,940
Michigan $59,270 $61,600 +$10
Iowa $52,250 $59,536 +$7,030

Social Worker in Wisconsin: FAQ

How much do social workers make in Wisconsin?

Social workers in Wisconsin earn a median of $59,280 per year ($28.50 per hour), compared with $59,550 nationally.

Does Wisconsin pay social workers well?

At $59,280, Wisconsin pays about the same as the national median for social workers. An estimated 5,710 work in the state.

Social Worker salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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