GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Social Workers, All Other
Best States to Be a Social Workers, All Other
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a social workers, all other salary goes furthest in Nevada — a $121,830 BLS median worth $121,856 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 153.7).
Which US states are best for a social workers, all other after cost of living and tax?
For a social workers, all other, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Nevada #1: a $121,830 BLS median becomes $121,856 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 153.7). Montana ranks last ($52,555, index 66.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Nevada ranks #1 of 50 states for a social workers, all other. Index 100 = the average state; 153.7 means pay goes 53.7% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedSocial Workers, All Other — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $121,830 | — | 100.0 | $121,856 | 153.7 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $101,860 | $4,301 | 87.8 | $111,061 | 140.1 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $93,760 | — | 88.6 | $105,841 | 133.5 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $111,590 | $3,742 | 102.3 | $105,444 | 133.0 |
| 5 | Missouri | $98,740 | $3,760 | 90.8 | $104,584 | 132.0 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $91,560 | $3,223 | 87.0 | $101,591 | 128.2 |
| 7 | Alabama | $94,270 | $4,449 | 88.8 | $101,124 | 127.6 |
| 8 | Iowa | $91,170 | $3,424 | 87.8 | $99,981 | 126.1 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $103,710 | — | 104.2 | $99,563 | 125.6 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $116,130 | $7,296 | 110.0 | $98,984 | 124.9 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $96,350 | $4,366 | 93.7 | $98,117 | 123.8 |
| 12 | Washington | $102,520 | — | 107.0 | $95,801 | 120.9 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $90,820 | $3,173 | 92.2 | $95,049 | 119.9 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $101,280 | $4,844 | 105.8 | $91,186 | 115.0 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $81,330 | $348 | 89.0 | $91,033 | 114.9 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $85,160 | $3,276 | 90.2 | $90,822 | 114.6 |
| 17 | Idaho | $88,610 | $3,926 | 95.5 | $88,680 | 111.9 |
| 18 | Delaware | $93,250 | $4,814 | 99.8 | $88,607 | 111.8 |
| 19 | Indiana | $84,570 | $2,507 | 93.3 | $87,929 | 110.9 |
| 20 | Virginia | $92,930 | $4,544 | 101.1 | $87,421 | 110.3 |
| 21 | Texas | $84,240 | — | 97.1 | $86,794 | 109.5 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $96,380 | $5,317 | 109.9 | $82,859 | 104.5 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $76,520 | $2,883 | 90.1 | $81,726 | 103.1 |
| 24 | Georgia | $78,260 | $3,571 | 96.3 | $77,564 | 97.9 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $79,790 | $3,937 | 98.6 | $76,914 | 97.0 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $69,230 | $1,702 | 88.2 | $76,556 | 96.6 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $69,020 | — | 92.7 | $74,462 | 93.9 |
| 28 | New York | $84,010 | $4,016 | 107.9 | $74,123 | 93.5 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $74,430 | $2,285 | 97.6 | $73,940 | 93.3 |
| 30 | Vermont | $73,070 | $2,441 | 98.0 | $72,101 | 91.0 |
| 31 | Maryland | $75,600 | $3,258 | 105.0 | $68,924 | 87.0 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $76,640 | $2,692 | 108.8 | $67,964 | 85.7 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $62,590 | $2,082 | 89.5 | $67,609 | 85.3 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $63,490 | $2,156 | 94.3 | $65,023 | 82.0 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $69,080 | $2,224 | 103.6 | $64,526 | 81.4 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $62,830 | $2,178 | 94.1 | $64,459 | 81.3 |
| 37 | Utah | $66,440 | $3,023 | 98.9 | $64,146 | 80.9 |
| 38 | Ohio | $59,780 | $862 | 92.8 | $63,507 | 80.1 |
| 39 | Michigan | $62,140 | $2,394 | 96.2 | $62,095 | 78.3 |
| 40 | Illinois | $64,030 | $3,028 | 100.0 | $61,027 | 77.0 |
| 41 | Arizona | $62,150 | $1,079 | 100.7 | $60,661 | 76.5 |
| 42 | Oregon | $67,820 | $5,130 | 103.4 | $60,651 | 76.5 |
| 43 | Alaska | $61,220 | — | 102.4 | $59,809 | 75.5 |
| 44 | Maine | $60,280 | $2,454 | 97.0 | $59,584 | 75.2 |
| 45 | Colorado | $61,610 | $2,051 | 103.1 | $57,795 | 72.9 |
| 46 | Florida | $58,550 | — | 103.4 | $56,617 | 71.4 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $51,460 | — | 91.9 | $56,014 | 70.7 |
| 48 | California | $63,010 | $1,909 | 110.7 | $55,185 | 69.6 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $47,790 | $1,655 | 86.9 | $53,067 | 67.0 |
| 50 | Montana | $51,650 | $1,909 | 94.6 | $52,555 | 66.3 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 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.
In Nevada, a $121,830 salary is worth about $121,856 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $121,830 · BEA cost of living 100.0 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $137,527, a $15,672 gain over Nevada.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $137,527 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $134,671 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $133,975 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $133,945 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $133,544 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $133,527 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $132,611 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $132,103 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $131,437 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $130,302 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $129,723 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $129,566 | 89.5 |
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).
Social Workers, All Other — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a social workers, all other?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Nevada is the best state for a social workers, all other: a BLS median of $121,830 is worth $121,856 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 100.0), an index of 153.7 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Nevada has the highest headline BLS median for a social workers, all other at $121,830, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 153.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a social workers, all other salary go least far?
- Montana ranks last of 50 states for a social workers, all other: a $51,650 BLS median is worth only $52,555 after tax and cost of living (index 66.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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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 social workers, all other is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.