Healthcare Social Workers Salary
In Alabama, healthcare social workers earn $60,000 at the median, or about $28.85 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $67,904 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Alabama?
About healthcare social workers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for healthcare social workers in Alabama runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level healthcare social workers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Healthcare Social Workers salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $63K | +4% | 230 |
| Birmingham | $61K | +2% | 880 |
| Mobile | $61K | +1% | 200 |
| Dothan | $60K | +0% | 60 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $59K | -1% | 110 |
| Montgomery | $58K | -3% | 260 |
| Gadsden | $58K | -3% | 70 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $58K | -3% | 50 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $58K | -3% | 60 |
| Tuscaloosa | $57K | -5% | 170 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $56K | -6% | 50 |
| Decatur | $55K | -8% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track healthcare social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a healthcare social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for healthcare social workers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new healthcare social workers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,401/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is healthcare social worker a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $60K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for healthcare social workers?
Alabama pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do healthcare social workers make in Alabama?
The median is $60,000 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,020, and experienced healthcare social workers can clear $74,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,951/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 27.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a healthcare social workers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median healthcare social workers salary is worth about $67,904 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do healthcare social workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.