Healthcare Social Worker salary in North Carolina
Healthcare Social Workers in North Carolina earn a median of $63,280 a year ($30.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,070 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $67,880. North Carolina ranks 33rd of 51 states for healthcare social workers pay. There are 1.0 healthcare social workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for healthcare social workers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| 25th percentile | $53,000 | $25.48 |
| Median | $63,280 | $30.42 |
| 75th percentile | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,070 | $40.90 |
| Average (mean) | $64,720 | $31.11 |
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 | $5,273.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,636.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,433.85 |
| Weekly | $1,216.92 |
| Hourly | $30.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,280 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 cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $77,160 | 530 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $59,610 | $28.66 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $57,630 | $27.71 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $58,210 | $27.98 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $54,820 | $26.36 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $62,220 | $29.91 |
| Health Education Specialist | $58,080 | $27.92 |
| Community Health Worker | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $63,490 | $30.52 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $48,100 | $23.13 |
| Counselors, All Other | $52,280 | $25.14 |
| Clergy | $59,600 | $28.65 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for healthcare social workers in North Carolina is $63,280 a year, or $30.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid healthcare social workers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers in North Carolina earn at least $85,070 a year. The top 25% earn $77,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for healthcare social workers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,650 a year, and a quarter of healthcare social workers earn $53,000 or less.
How many healthcare social workers work in North Carolina?
About 5,120 healthcare social workers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.