The following minimum salary standards were approved by the Chapter’s Board of Directors in October, 2005.  These standards were developed to inform social workers and employers about what NASW-NYC believes should be the minimum salary for social workers based on the type of educational degree and years of experience in the field.

In approving these standards, the Board of Directors recognized two vital facts about social work salaries: 1)  based on their level of education and the high cost of living in New York City, these standards are modest in light of each social worker’s value to the organizations that employ them;  and 2) while some organizational settings are paying their social workers close to or slightly above these standards, it is recognized that many organizations are well below them.  NASW recommends that organizations and their funders acknowledge the importance of these standards and that they work toward bringing salaries that fall below these levels into compliance.

Salaries for social workers who have special expertise, or who are employed in supervisory and administrative capacities, or who have accumulated additional years of service, should be set at levels above these minimum standards.

SALARY STANDARDS

Social Workers at the Masters Level

Beginning Salary                           $45,342

Three Years Experience                 $52,154

Baccalaureate Social workers

Beginning Salary                            $36,282

Three Years Experience                 $41,724

Note: Salary standards were originally set by the New York City Chapter, NASW in 1993 based on standards developed by national NASW at that time.  The current salary standards were determined by adjusting the salary levels by the consumer price index.

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