What is the best state to be a child, family, and school social workers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Connecticut is the best state for a child, family, and school social workers: a BLS median of $78,970 is worth $73,547 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,768) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 103.6), an index of 125.1 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Connecticut has the highest headline BLS median for a child, family, and school social workers at $78,970, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 125.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Best States to Be a Child, Family, and School Social Workers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a child, family, and school social workers salary goes furthest in Connecticut — a $78,970 BLS median worth $73,547 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 125.1).

Which US states are best for a child, family, and school social workers after cost of living and tax?

For a child, family, and school social workers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Connecticut #1: a $78,970 BLS median becomes $73,547 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 125.1). Delaware ranks last ($46,593, index 79.2). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Connecticut ranks #1 of 51 states for a child, family, and school social workers. Index 100 = the average state; 125.1 means pay goes 25.1% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

125.1

Child, Family, and School Social Workers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Connecticut	$78,970	$2,768	103.6	$73,547	125.1
2	North Dakota	$64,560	$21	89.0	$72,549	123.4
3	Maryland	$76,390	$3,296	105.0	$69,641	118.4
4	Washington	$74,480	—	107.0	$69,599	118.3
5	New Hampshire	$71,010	—	104.2	$68,171	115.9
6	Massachusetts	$75,570	$3,559	105.8	$68,091	115.8
7	New Jersey	$76,280	$2,669	108.8	$67,654	115.0
8	Vermont	$67,340	$2,063	98.0	$66,638	113.3
9	Rhode Island	$69,870	$2,020	102.3	$66,337	112.8
10	Minnesota	$67,450	$3,098	98.6	$65,252	111.0
11	District of Columbia	$73,550	$3,406	109.9	$63,825	108.5
12	Kentucky	$59,100	$2,233	90.2	$63,074	107.3
13	Louisiana	$56,800	$1,329	88.2	$62,887	106.9
14	Maine	$63,290	$2,657	97.0	$62,476	106.2
15	Tennessee	$56,310	—	91.9	$61,293	104.2
16	Alaska	$62,630	—	102.4	$61,187	104.0
17	Nevada	$61,080	—	100.0	$61,093	103.9
18	North Carolina	$59,610	$1,992	94.3	$61,084	103.9
19	Wisconsin	$59,280	$1,990	94.1	$60,886	103.5
20	Wyoming	$56,420	—	92.7	$60,869	103.5
21	Idaho	$59,840	$2,288	95.5	$60,268	102.5
22	Illinois	$63,220	$2,988	100.0	$60,257	102.5
23	Colorado	$63,720	$2,144	103.1	$59,753	101.6
24	New Mexico	$56,160	$1,526	92.2	$59,249	100.7
25	Michigan	$59,270	$2,272	96.2	$59,239	100.7
26	Hawaii	$68,270	$3,658	110.0	$58,764	99.9
27	Virginia	$61,330	$2,727	101.1	$57,963	98.6
28	Kansas	$54,300	$2,230	90.1	$57,812	98.3
29	South Dakota	$51,100	—	88.6	$57,684	98.1
30	Montana	$56,780	$2,212	94.6	$57,656	98.0
31	New York	$65,100	$2,976	107.9	$57,565	97.9
32	Oregon	$64,130	$4,807	103.4	$57,394	97.6
33	Texas	$55,680	—	97.1	$57,368	97.5
34	Iowa	$52,250	$1,946	87.8	$57,319	97.5
35	California	$65,200	$2,084	110.7	$57,005	96.9
36	West Virginia	$52,220	$1,619	89.5	$56,539	96.1
37	Ohio	$51,520	$634	92.8	$54,849	93.3
38	Florida	$56,550	—	103.4	$54,683	93.0
39	South Carolina	$51,800	$1,604	93.7	$53,543	91.0
40	Indiana	$50,470	$1,484	93.3	$52,487	89.2
41	Mississippi	$46,530	$1,242	87.0	$52,083	88.6
42	Missouri	$48,520	$1,399	90.8	$51,885	88.2
43	Nebraska	$47,770	$1,388	90.1	$51,477	87.5
44	Pennsylvania	$50,820	$1,560	97.6	$50,486	85.8
45	Utah	$52,000	$2,366	98.9	$50,204	85.4
46	Alabama	$46,660	$2,068	88.8	$50,203	85.4
47	Arizona	$50,150	$779	100.7	$49,039	83.4
48	Oklahoma	$43,950	$1,550	87.8	$48,268	82.1
49	Arkansas	$43,330	$1,481	86.9	$48,137	81.9
50	Georgia	$47,510	$1,914	96.3	$47,351	80.5
51	Delaware	$48,520	$2,016	99.8	$46,593	79.2

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Connecticut, a $78,970 salary is worth about $70,891 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $5,520 (≈ top marginal 6.99% (upper bound)) · take-home $73,450 · BEA cost of living 103.6 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $89,145, a $18,254 gain over Connecticut.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$89,145	88.6
2	Arkansas	$87,293	86.9
3	Louisiana	$86,842	88.2
4	Mississippi	$86,823	87.0
5	Iowa	$86,563	87.8
6	North Dakota	$86,552	89.0
7	Tennessee	$85,958	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$85,629	87.8
9	Wyoming	$85,197	92.7
10	Alabama	$84,462	88.8
11	Kentucky	$84,086	90.2
12	West Virginia	$83,985	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Child, Family, and School Social Workers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a child, family, and school social workers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Connecticut is the best state for a child, family, and school social workers: a BLS median of $78,970 is worth $73,547 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,768) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 103.6), an index of 125.1 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Connecticut has the highest headline BLS median for a child, family, and school social workers at $78,970, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 125.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a child, family, and school social workers salary go least far?: Delaware ranks last of 51 states for a child, family, and school social workers: a $48,520 BLS median is worth only $46,593 after tax and cost of living (index 79.2). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a child, family, and school social workers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.