Healthcare Social Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Healthcare Social Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $71,430 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,690 take-home, or $4,641 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median healthcare social worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,885
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,429
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,036
- Illinois income tax$3,391
- Take-home pay$55,690
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Healthcare Social Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,300 | $23.70 | $39,497 | $3,291 |
| 25th percentile | $58,830 | $28.28 | $46,683 | $3,890 |
| Median (50th) | $71,430 | $34.34 | $55,690 | $4,641 |
| 75th percentile | $80,370 | $38.64 | $61,537 | $5,128 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,880 | $47.06 | $72,988 | $6,082 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,430 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median healthcare social worker's $55,690 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,757 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Healthcare Social Worker jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for healthcare social workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $99,640 | $72,594 | $62,791 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $83,550 | $67,607 | $60,835 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $75,930 | $62,247 | $60,381 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $71,900 | $59,412 | $60,238 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $75,720 | $58,866 | $56,338 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $78,410 | $60,291 | $55,688 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $71,430 | $55,690 | $53,757 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $78,610 | $60,484 | $53,734 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: healthcare social workers
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median healthcare social worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $71,430 a year, or about $34.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,830 and $80,370.
What is a healthcare social worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $71,430 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $55,690 a year ($4,641 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,391 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a healthcare social worker?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $67,880. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,757 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a healthcare social worker afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median healthcare social worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $64,790
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $64,730
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $61,600
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $57,720
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $49,350
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $47,180