Healthcare Social Workers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,880 or more. The middle half of healthcare social workers in Chicago earn between $58,830 and $80,370.
- $49K10th
- $59K25th
- $71KMedian
- $80K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,450 | $5,954 | $34.35 |
| Median | $71,430 | $5,952 | $34.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,830 | $4,902 | $28.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,370 | $6,698 | $38.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Healthcare Social Workers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Healthcare social workers in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($68,190) and about the same as the U.S. average ($71,790). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $67,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $71,450 | $71,430 | $49,300 | $97,880 | 3,770 |
| Illinois | $68,190 | $64,270 | $47,290 | $96,970 | 4,910 |
| United States | $71,790 | $67,880 | $46,220 | $100,360 | 187,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Healthcare Social Workers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $71,450, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $55,699 a year, or $4,642 a month and $2,142 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $56,982 | $4,748 |
| Working in IL | $55,699 | $4,642 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for healthcare social workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $71,450 buys what about $68,971 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Healthcare Social Workers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Bloomington pays the most ($72,300).
- Bloomington$72,300
- Chicago$71,450
- Champaign$66,700
- Springfield$65,340
- Rockford$64,970
- Decatur$59,700
- Kankakee$59,680
- Peoria$59,510
Highest-paying cities for healthcare social workers
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($129,130).
- Napa, CA$129,130
- San Luis Obispo, CA$112,750
- Vallejo, CA$112,700
- San Jose, CA$108,280
- Santa Rosa, CA$106,760
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Healthcare Social Workers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do healthcare social workers make an hour in Chicago?
$34.35 an hour on average, and $34.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level healthcare social workers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the healthcare social workers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $55,699 a year ($4,642 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,450.
Do healthcare social workers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($71,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-1022; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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