National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Social Workers at $54,150/year. Teachers earn 15% more nationally. The gap is $9,530 per year — or $794 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Social Worker
$54,150
national median/year
$4,513/mo • $26/hr
Annual salary gap
$9,530
Teachers earn 15% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $108,025.
Best states for Social Workers
vs Teachers
Colorado+$-5,420
Hawaii+$-5,860
Arizona+$-5,890
Florida+$-6,320
Alaska+$-6,580
Best states for Teachers
vs Social Workers
New York+$26,920
Massachusetts+$21,890
Connecticut+$21,800
Rhode Island+$21,000
Pennsylvania+$19,800
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Teachers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $54,150 for Social Workers — a difference of $9,530 per year or $794 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Social Workers is $9,530 per year. Teachers earn 15% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $108,025.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Social Workers the highest median salary at $68,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Teachers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Child, Family, and School Social Workers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Teachers earn approximately $31 per hour nationally and Social Workers earn approximately $26 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
