Healthcare Social Workers Salary
In Wisconsin, healthcare social workers earn $66,910 at the median, or about $32.17 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $70,932 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Wisconsin?
About healthcare social workers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Healthcare social workers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level healthcare social workers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Healthcare Social Workers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $77K | +15% | 560 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $71K | +6% | 80 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $69K | +3% | 1,230 |
| Green Bay | $67K | +0% | 170 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $67K | -0% | 80 |
| Fond du Lac | $66K | -1% | 50 |
| Sheboygan | $66K | -1% | 40 |
| Eau Claire | $65K | -3% | 170 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $64K | -5% | 60 |
| Wausau | $63K | -6% | 90 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $63K | -7% | 220 |
| Appleton | $62K | -8% | 100 |
| Kenosha | $62K | -8% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a healthcare social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for healthcare social workers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new healthcare social workers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,017/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for healthcare social workers?
Wisconsin pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do healthcare social workers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $66,910 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,280, and experienced healthcare social workers can clear $91,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,413/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 27.2% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $70,932 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.