There are currently an estimated 176,500 healthcare social workers in the United States. The healthcare social worker job market is expected to grow by 20.1% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are healthcare social workers?

CareerExplorer rates healthcare social workers with a B+ employability rating, meaning this career should provide good employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 41,900 healthcare social workers. That number is based on 35,500 additional healthcare social workers, and the retirement of 6,400 existing healthcare social workers.

What’s the supply of healthcare social workers?

The healthcare social worker industry is concentrated in California, New York, Massachusetts

Healthcare Social Worker job market by state

State Name Employed Healthcare Social Workers
California 18,150
New York 12,620
Massachusetts 11,540
Texas 9,980
Ohio 9,810
Florida 8,380
Pennsylvania 7,590
Illinois 5,430
Missouri 5,350
Michigan 5,270
Indiana 5,260
Maryland 4,370
Arizona 3,760
Georgia 3,730
Minnesota 3,720
Washington 3,610
North Carolina 3,460
Virginia 3,420
Wisconsin 3,150
New Jersey 3,050
Tennessee 3,030
Colorado 2,650
Alabama 2,380
Connecticut 2,170
Louisiana 2,160
South Carolina 1,930
Oklahoma 1,830
Kentucky 1,710
Iowa 1,480
Oregon 1,480
Arkansas 1,340
New Mexico 1,200
Mississippi 1,170
Utah 1,140
Kansas 1,060
Nebraska 1,040
Hawaii 910
Maine 800
Puerto Rico 750
Nevada 730
West Virginia 690
Rhode Island 690
New Hampshire 620
Montana 550
South Dakota 550
Delaware 540
District of Columbia 530
Idaho 480
Vermont 420
North Dakota 370
Alaska 280
Wyoming 160
Guam 50