LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Healthcare Social Workers in Chicago, IL · Generated June 14, 2026
Healthcare Social Workers Salary in Chicago, IL $71,430/yr
$71,430
Mean: $71,450
~$55,715 est. take-home
$34.34
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$2,305/mo
48%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$58,830
Median
$71,430
75th %
$80,370
Median is in the 58th percentile of the typical range
Healthcare Social Workers in other IL cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in IL.
About Healthcare Social Workers salaries in Chicago, IL
Healthcare Social Workers in Chicago, IL earn a median of $71,430 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $71,450, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most healthcare social workers in this area earn between $58,830 and $80,370. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $34.34 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
10% growth. Hospitals and clinics are integrating social workers into care teams to address patients' social determinants of health. Insurance companies are also hiring LCSWs for care management roles.
Worth knowing: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) status is the earnings unlock. Clinical social workers in hospital settings earn noticeably more and have broader career options, including private practice.
Healthcare Social Workers Jobs in Chicago, IL
Median: $71,430/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a healthcare social workers in Chicago?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $71,430. The average (mean) is $71,450, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a healthcare social workers make per hour in Chicago?▾
About $34.34/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for healthcare social workers in Chicago?▾
The middle 50% earn between $58,830 and $80,370. Below $58,830 is typically entry-level; above $80,370 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $71,430 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $71,430 | $55,715 |
| Monthly | $5,953 | $4,643 |
| Biweekly | $2,747 | $2,143 |
| Weekly | $1,374 | $1,071 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $34.34 | $26.79 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $39.25 | $30.61 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $45.79 | $35.71 |
| Daily (8h) | $275 | $214 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Healthcare Social Workers: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for healthcare social workers, based on BLS median salary data.
Related Occupations in Chicago
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Healthcare Social Workers salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for healthcare social workers across all states.
- All IL salary data — every occupation we cover in IL, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Healthcare Social Workers in Napa, CA — the top-paying city for healthcare social workers in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Chicago.
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $65,077.