Social Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social workers, all other in Massachusetts is $101,280/year ($48.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $101,189 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Massachusetts?
About social workers, all others
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for social workers, all other, local pay runs about 41% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 37.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level social workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Social Workers, All Other salary by metro in Massachusetts
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $113K | +12% | 30 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $111K | +10% | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $98K | -3% | 410 |
Compare to other states
Track social workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 37.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social workers, all others in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social workers, all others typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,319/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social workers, all other a high-paying job in Massachusetts?
Local pay is 41% above the national median — $101K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for social workers, all others?
Massachusetts pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social workers, all others make in Massachusetts?
The median is $101,280 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,980, and experienced social workers, all others can clear $125,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,214/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 37.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a social workers, all other salary go in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social workers, all other salary is worth about $101,189 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social workers, all others 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.