Licensed Social Worker demographics and statistics in the US
Licensed social worker demographics research summary. Zippia estimates licensed social worker demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our licensed social worker estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about licensed social workers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 187,402 licensed social workers currently employed in the United States.
- 83.9% of all licensed social workers are women, while 16.1% are men.
- The average licensed social worker age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of licensed social workers is White (58.5%), followed by Black or African American (19.9%), Hispanic or Latino (12.3%) and Unknown (5.4%).
- In 2022, women earned 101% of what men earned.
- 13% of all licensed social workers are LGBT.
- Licensed social workers are 70% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On This Page
Licensed Social Worker demographics by:
Licensed Social Worker gender statistics
83.9% of licensed social workers are women and 16.1% of licensed social workers are men.
- Female, 83.9%
- Male, 16.1%
Licensed Social Worker gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 83.9% |
| Male | 16.1% |
Licensed Social Worker gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$56,374
Female Income
$56,890
Licensed Social Worker gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in licensed social worker positions over time. Currently, 83.9% of licensed social workers are female.
Licensed Social Worker gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14.78% | 85.22% |
| 2011 | 14.15% | 85.85% |
| 2012 | 14.11% | 85.89% |
| 2013 | 13.57% | 86.43% |
| 2014 | 14.30% | 85.70% |
| 2015 | 14.12% | 85.88% |
| 2016 | 14.34% | 85.66% |
| 2017 | 14.01% | 85.99% |
| 2018 | 18.00% | 82.00% |
| 2019 | 18.34% | 81.66% |
| 2020 | 19.87% | 80.13% |
| 2021 | 16.09% | 83.91% |
Licensed Social Worker related jobs gender ratio
We compared licensed social workers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, public health worker and rehabilitation engineer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfeeding Educator | 2% | 98% |
| Certified Lactation Counselor | 3% | 97% |
| Lactation Specialist | 5% | 95% |
| Licensed Social Worker | 16% | 84% |
| Donation Worker | 70% | 30% |
| Rehabilitation Engineer | 70% | 30% |
| Public Health Worker | 81% | 19% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Licensed Social Worker demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among licensed social workers is White, which makes up 58.5% of all licensed social workers. Comparatively, 19.9% of licensed social workers are Black or African American and 12.3% of licensed social workers are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 58.5%
- Black or African American, 19.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 12.3%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- Asian, 3.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Licensed Social Worker Race
| Licensed Social Worker Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.5% |
| Black or African American | 19.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.3% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| Asian | 3.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6% |
Licensed Social Worker race and ethnicity over time
See how licensed social worker racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Licensed Social Worker race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.83% | 17.57% | 2.59% | 10.00% |
| 2011 | 65.42% | 18.60% | 3.01% | 10.04% |
| 2012 | 65.75% | 17.96% | 2.81% | 10.36% |
| 2013 | 65.67% | 17.74% | 2.90% | 10.11% |
| 2014 | 65.32% | 17.27% | 3.07% | 11.30% |
| 2015 | 65.17% | 17.67% | 2.89% | 11.38% |
| 2016 | 64.92% | 17.21% | 3.27% | 11.88% |
| 2017 | 65.28% | 15.66% | 3.37% | 12.35% |
| 2018 | 65.80% | 17.35% | 2.18% | 11.32% |
| 2019 | 66.88% | 15.00% | 2.08% | 12.40% |
| 2020 | 62.15% | 15.96% | 3.26% | 12.70% |
| 2021 | 58.45% | 19.92% | 3.32% | 12.27% |
Licensed Social Worker wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown licensed social workers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White licensed social workers have the lowest average salary at $54,035.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $57,227 |
| White | $54,035 |
| Black or African American | $56,377 |
| Asian | $57,107 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $57,192 |
Average licensed social worker age
See how the average age of licensed social workers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Licensed Social Worker age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 37 | |
| White | 46 | 46 |
| Black or African American | 48 | 44.5 |
| Asian | 38.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 43 |
Licensed Social Worker age breakdown
The average age of licensed social workers is 40+ years years old, representing 63% of the licensed social worker population.
Licensed Social Worker age breakdown
| Licensed Social Worker Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 63% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 8% |
Licensed Social Worker educational attainment
The most common degree for licensed social workers is bachelor's degree, with 55% of licensed social workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 38% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Master's, 38%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
Licensed Social Workers by degree level
| Licensed Social Worker Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 55% |
| Master's | 38% |
| Associate | 5% |
| Doctorate | 1% |
| Other Degrees | 1% |
Licensed Social Worker Jobs You Might Like
Licensed Social Worker wage gap by degree level
According to the data, licensed social workers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $66,580 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, licensed social workers earn a median annual income of $58,968 compared to $55,974 for licensed social workers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $66,580 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,662 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $58,968 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $55,974 |
Licensed Social Worker employment statistics
Most licensed social workers work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where licensed social workers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where licensed social workers work.
Licensed Social Worker jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 14% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Licensed Social Worker jobs by company type
Employees with the licensed social worker job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most licensed social workers prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Licensed Social Worker jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 6% |
| Private | 70% |
| Government | 16% |
Licensed Social Worker jobs by industry
The most common industries for licensed social workers are health care, non profits and government.
Licensed Social Worker industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 49% |
| Non Profits | 11% |
| Government | 9% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Education | 5% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Licensed Social Worker turnover and employment statistics
Licensed Social Worker unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for licensed social workers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Licensed Social Worker unemployment rate by year
| Year | Licensed Social Worker Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.89% |
| 2011 | 4.68% |
| 2012 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | 3.77% |
| 2014 | 2.89% |
| 2015 | 2.27% |
| 2016 | 2.28% |
| 2017 | 1.90% |
| 2018 | 2.61% |
| 2019 | 1.33% |
| 2020 | 2.51% |
| 2021 | 3.18% |
Average licensed social worker tenure
The average licensed social worker stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,431 licensed social workers resumes in Zippia's database.
Licensed Social Worker tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 16% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 19% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 13% |
Licensed Social Worker LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of licensed social workers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Assault Counselor | 8.96% | 75,374 |
| Juvenile Officer | 9.50% | 56,115 |
| Monk | 11.25% | 46 |
| Community Organization Aide | 11.48% | 50,987 |
| Licensed Social Worker | 12.99% | - |
| Adolescent Counselor | 15.06% | 33,698 |
| Case Consultant | 15.06% | 35,111 |
Similar licensed social worker jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Assault Counselor | 8.96% | 75,374 |
| Juvenile Officer | 9.50% | 56,115 |
| Monk | 11.25% | 46 |
| Community Organization Aide | 11.48% | 50,987 |
| Adolescent Counselor | 15.06% | 33,698 |
| Case Consultant | 15.06% | 35,111 |
Foreign languages spoken by licensed social workers
The most common foreign language among licensed social workers is Spanish at 63.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Chinese at 4.3% and Russian is the third-most popular at 4.3%.
- Spanish, 63.8%
- Chinese, 4.3%
- Russian, 4.3%
- Portuguese, 2.9%
- Italian, 2.9%
- Other, 21.8%
Licensed Social Worker languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 63.8% |
| Chinese | 4.3% |
| Russian | 4.3% |
| Portuguese | 2.9% |
| Italian | 2.9% |
| Other | 21.8% |
