New York social worker salaries by employer, 2025
7,575 people worked as social workers for New York City in fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025). Those who worked the full year earned an average of $93,755. So far this page covers only New York City; more New York employers follow as we collect their pay data.
What is the average social worker salary in New York?
- Social workers
- 7,575
- 5,263 of them worked the full year
- Employers
- 1
- with 5 or more social workers
- Median total pay
- $89,037
- the middle social worker: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $3,890
- average per full-year social worker
What stands out in New York social worker pay
School social workers earn the most.
By kind of work, full-year social workers averaged $112,890 for school social workers, $87,650 for children's social workers, $74,939 for mental health social workers and $65,531 for general social workers.1
School social workers earn more than child protective specialists.
Full-year School Social Workers at the Department of Education averaged $112,890; Child Protective Specialists at the Administration for Children's Services $80,086.1
Questions about social worker pay in New York
How much do social workers make in New York City?
Full-year social workers, child protective specialists, caseworkers and school social workers at New York City agencies earned an average of $93,755 in fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025). The middle one earned $89,037.
What does a Child Protective Specialist earn in New York City?
Full-year Child Protective Specialists at the Administration for Children's Services averaged $80,086 in fiscal year 2025, overtime included.
What do school social workers earn in New York City?
Full-year School Social Workers at the Department of Education averaged $112,890 in fiscal year 2025.
Sources for the New York social worker figures
Every person who held a social worker position at any point in fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025) counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people still employed at the end of June 2025 who worked at least 90% of a full year's regular hours at their title's standard week; for school staff, whose hours aren't recorded, regular pay of at least 90% of their own annual salary. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- City of New York, Citywide Payroll Data (Fiscal Year): titles, base salaries, regular pay, overtime and other pay of every city employee, fiscal year 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025).
- City of New York, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Civil Service Titles: official minimum and maximum pay per title, current list (2026).