Salaries › Social Worker › Illinois
Social Worker Salary in Illinois (2026)
$30.39 per hour · take-home ≈ $49,848/year ($4,154/month) for a single filer
Social Worker pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $47,120 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $52,320 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $63,220 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $81,650 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $105,660 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 19,860 Social Worker jobs in Illinois (occupation code 21-1021, “Child, Family, and School Social Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Social Worker salary of $63,220 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $49,848 — an effective tax rate of 21.2%.
| Gross (median) | $63,220 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,406 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,836 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$3,129 |
| Take-home (annual) | $49,848 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,154 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Social Worker make in Illinois?
- The median Social Worker salary in Illinois is $63,220 per year ($30.39 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $52,320 and $81,650.
- What is the take-home pay for a Social Worker in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $63,220, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $49,848 per year ($4,154 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 21.2%.
- How many Social Worker jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 19,860 Social Worker jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Social Workers
Other salaries in Illinois
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Illinois state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Illinois.