Healthcare Social Worker Salary in Houston, TX
Healthcare Social Workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $71,900 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,412 take-home, or $4,951 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median healthcare social worker salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,988
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,458
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,043
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$59,412
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 Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,400 | $22.31 | $39,462 | $3,289 |
| 25th percentile | $52,950 | $25.46 | $44,725 | $3,727 |
| Median (50th) | $71,900 | $34.57 | $59,412 | $4,951 |
| 75th percentile | $81,600 | $39.23 | $66,236 | $5,520 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,490 | $48.31 | $79,525 | $6,627 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,900 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median healthcare social worker's $59,412 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,238 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for healthcare social workers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #4 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.
Healthcare Social Worker salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $75,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in Houston, TX?
The median healthcare social worker salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $71,900 a year, or about $34.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,950 and $81,600.
What is a healthcare social worker’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $71,900 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $59,412 a year ($4,951 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a healthcare social worker?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $67,880. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,238 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #4 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a healthcare social worker afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median healthcare social worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.