What is the best state to be a healthcare social workers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a healthcare social workers: a BLS median of $94,100 is worth $80,961 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,124) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 118.8 where the average state is 100.

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

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a healthcare social workers at $94,100, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 118.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a healthcare social workers salary go least far?

Montana ranks last of 51 states for a healthcare social workers: a $57,090 BLS median is worth only $57,964 after tax and cost of living (index 85.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Healthcare Social Workers

Best States to Be a Healthcare Social Workers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a healthcare social workers salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $94,100 BLS median worth $80,961 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 118.8).

Which US states are best for a healthcare social workers after cost of living and tax?

For a healthcare social workers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $94,100 BLS median becomes $80,961 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 118.8). Montana ranks last ($57,964, index 85.1). 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

District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 states for a healthcare social workers. Index 100 = the average state; 118.8 means pay goes 18.8% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

118.8

Healthcare Social Workers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	District of Columbia	$94,100	$5,124	109.9	$80,961	118.8
2	Vermont	$81,140	$2,973	98.0	$79,796	117.1
3	Nevada	$78,470	—	100.0	$78,486	115.2
4	California	$89,660	$4,217	110.7	$77,171	113.2
5	Utah	$78,150	$3,556	98.9	$75,451	110.7
6	Oregon	$84,350	$6,577	103.4	$75,244	110.4
7	New Hampshire	$78,260	—	104.2	$75,131	110.2
8	Idaho	$74,500	$3,122	95.5	$74,746	109.7
9	Connecticut	$79,900	$2,820	103.6	$74,395	109.2
10	Washington	$78,570	—	107.0	$73,421	107.7
11	Hawaii	$85,420	$4,962	110.0	$73,176	107.4
12	New Jersey	$82,690	$3,077	108.8	$73,170	107.4
13	Texas	$69,990	—	97.1	$72,112	105.8
14	Rhode Island	$75,390	$2,227	102.3	$71,532	105.0
15	Minnesota	$73,970	$3,541	98.6	$71,414	104.8
16	North Dakota	$62,860	—	89.0	$70,662	103.7
17	Maine	$71,610	$3,219	97.0	$70,470	103.4
18	Maryland	$76,440	$3,298	105.0	$69,686	102.3
19	Mississippi	$62,250	$1,934	87.0	$69,366	101.8
20	New Mexico	$65,930	$1,985	92.2	$69,346	101.8
21	Iowa	$63,050	$2,356	87.8	$69,158	101.5
22	Massachusetts	$76,440	$3,602	105.8	$68,873	101.1
23	Wisconsin	$66,910	$2,394	94.1	$68,565	100.6
24	Kansas	$64,440	$2,796	90.1	$68,442	100.4
25	Kentucky	$64,080	$2,432	90.2	$68,377	100.3
26	Louisiana	$61,080	$1,457	88.2	$67,594	99.2
27	Michigan	$67,600	$2,627	96.2	$67,528	99.1
28	Ohio	$63,610	$967	92.8	$67,522	99.1
29	Wyoming	$62,260	—	92.7	$67,169	98.6
30	Indiana	$64,580	$1,907	93.3	$67,152	98.5
31	Nebraska	$62,420	$2,150	90.1	$66,890	98.2
32	Tennessee	$61,240	—	91.9	$66,659	97.8
33	West Virginia	$60,140	$1,971	89.5	$64,996	95.4
34	South Dakota	$57,510	—	88.6	$64,920	95.3
35	North Carolina	$63,280	$2,148	94.3	$64,810	95.1
36	New York	$73,070	$3,414	107.9	$64,544	94.7
37	Alabama	$60,000	$2,735	88.8	$64,471	94.6
38	Missouri	$59,870	$1,933	90.8	$63,795	93.6
39	Virginia	$66,550	$3,027	101.1	$62,829	92.2
40	Florida	$64,820	—	103.4	$62,680	92.0
41	South Carolina	$60,840	$2,165	93.7	$62,588	91.8
42	Arizona	$64,030	$1,126	100.7	$62,481	91.7
43	Georgia	$62,420	$2,718	96.3	$62,001	91.0
44	Delaware	$64,620	$2,924	99.8	$61,815	90.7
45	Arkansas	$55,640	$1,961	86.9	$61,744	90.6
46	Pennsylvania	$61,900	$1,900	97.6	$61,493	90.2
47	Oklahoma	$56,120	$2,128	87.8	$61,464	90.2
48	Illinois	$64,270	$3,040	100.0	$61,255	89.9
49	Alaska	$62,000	—	102.4	$60,571	88.9
50	Colorado	$63,480	$2,133	103.1	$59,530	87.4
51	Montana	$57,090	$2,230	94.6	$57,964	85.1

"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 District of Columbia, a $94,100 salary is worth about $76,418 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $10,116 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $83,984 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $106,224, a $29,806 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$106,224	88.6
2	Arkansas	$104,018	86.9
3	Louisiana	$103,480	88.2
4	Mississippi	$103,458	87.0
5	Iowa	$103,147	87.8
6	North Dakota	$103,135	89.0
7	Tennessee	$102,427	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$102,035	87.8
9	Wyoming	$101,520	92.7
10	Alabama	$100,644	88.8
11	Kentucky	$100,196	90.2
12	West Virginia	$100,075	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).

Healthcare Social Workers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a healthcare social workers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a healthcare social workers: a BLS median of $94,100 is worth $80,961 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,124) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 118.8 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a healthcare social workers at $94,100, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 118.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a healthcare social workers salary go least far?: Montana ranks last of 51 states for a healthcare social workers: a $57,090 BLS median is worth only $57,964 after tax and cost of living (index 85.1). 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 healthcare social workers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.