Healthcare Social Worker Salary in Seattle, WA
Healthcare Social Workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $83,550 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,607 take-home, or $5,634 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median healthcare social worker salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,551
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,180
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,211
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$67,607
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Healthcare Social Worker pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,550 | $23.34 | $41,190 | $3,432 |
| 25th percentile | $60,290 | $28.99 | $50,623 | $4,219 |
| Median (50th) | $83,550 | $40.17 | $67,607 | $5,634 |
| 75th percentile | $101,030 | $48.57 | $79,905 | $6,659 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,440 | $60.79 | $97,688 | $8,141 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,550 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median healthcare social worker's $67,607 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,835 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 1.2× the national concentration of healthcare social worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for healthcare social workers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
The median healthcare social worker salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $83,550 a year, or about $40.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,290 and $101,030.
What is a healthcare social worker’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $83,550 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $67,607 a year ($5,634 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a healthcare social worker?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $67,880. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,835 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a healthcare social worker afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median healthcare social worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $87,280
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $75,280
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $73,580
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $70,630
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $58,580
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $58,090