Healthcare Social Workers Salary
In Missouri, healthcare social workers earn $59,870 at the median, or about $28.79 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $67,292 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Missouri?
About healthcare social workers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for healthcare social workers in Missouri runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level healthcare social workers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Healthcare Social Workers salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $66K | +11% | 1,390 |
| St. Louis | $62K | +4% | 1,860 |
| Jefferson City | $61K | +2% | 80 |
| Columbia | $61K | +1% | 160 |
| St. Joseph | $60K | -0% | 70 |
| Springfield | $57K | -4% | 370 |
| Joplin | $56K | -7% | 130 |
| Cape Girardeau | $49K | -17% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track healthcare social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a healthcare social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for healthcare social workers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new healthcare social workers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,351/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $60K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for healthcare social workers?
Missouri pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do healthcare social workers make in Missouri?
The median is $59,870 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,180, and experienced healthcare social workers can clear $79,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,007/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 27.4% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $67,292 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.