Healthcare Social Worker salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Healthcare Social Workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $77,160 a year ($37.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,980 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $67,880. Pay here is 22% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $63,280. There are 1.5 healthcare social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,150, close to the median.
Pay range for healthcare social workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| 25th percentile | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| Median | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| 75th percentile | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,980 | $38.93 |
| Average (mean) | $72,150 | $34.69 |
Half of healthcare social workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,430 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,215 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,967.69 |
| Weekly | $1,483.85 |
| Hourly | $37.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Healthcare Social Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $69,090 | 660 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $66,470 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $66,410 | 1,170 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $65,550 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $63,880 | 660 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $61,930 | 150 |
| Asheville, NC | $61,650 | 310 |
| Burlington, NC | $61,470 | 100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $61,290 | 160 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61,030 | 410 |
| Greenville, NC | $60,880 | 60 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $60,820 | 390 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $60,750 | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $60,570 | 150 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $55,470 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for healthcare social workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $94,100 |
| California | $89,660 |
| Hawaii | $85,420 |
| Oregon | $84,350 |
| New Jersey | $82,690 |
| Vermont | $81,140 |
| Connecticut | $79,900 |
| Washington | $78,570 |
| Nevada | $78,470 |
| New Hampshire | $78,260 |
See Healthcare Social Worker pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $62,370 | $29.98 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $58,460 | $28.10 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Health Education Specialist | $76,380 | $36.72 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,410 | $28.08 |
| Community Health Worker | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $91,080 | $43.79 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $54,860 | $26.37 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Counselors, All Other | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Clergy | $61,030 | $29.34 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for healthcare social workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $77,160 a year, or $37.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid healthcare social workers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $80,980 a year. The top 25% earn $77,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for healthcare social workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,740 a year, and a quarter of healthcare social workers earn $64,080 or less.
How many healthcare social workers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 530 healthcare social workers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.