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Job title · New Jersey

Social Worker (government) in New Jersey

New Jersey Civil Service Commission lists 3 job classes for this work in the New Jersey state pay plan: Social Worker Trainee, Social Worker 2–1.

$53,282 – $92,953
state pay plan range, a year
3
classes in the state plan
$76,280
median pay in NJ, all employers
7,360
workers in NJ (SOC 21-1021)

Sources: New Jersey Civil Service Commission, New Jersey State Title List and FY2027 salary schedules by Employee Relations Group; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

New Jersey state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 11, 2026. These are the ranges New Jersey sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Social Worker Trainee
Class 60050 · class description
Grade P95 (60050) · Trainee/Apprentice Titles, FY2027 Compensation Compendium (Appendix A)
$53,282 – $55,691 a year
Social Worker 2
Class 60052 · class description
Grade P18 · ERG P – Professional Unit (CWA): FY2027 salary schedule
$58,222 – $84,763 a year
11 steps
  • Step 1: $58,222 a year
  • Step 2: $60,876 a year
  • Step 3: $63,530 a year
  • Step 4: $66,185 a year
  • Step 5: $68,839 a year
  • Step 6: $71,493 a year
  • Step 7: $74,147 a year
  • Step 8: $76,801 a year
  • Step 9: $79,455 a year
  • Step 10: $82,109 a year
  • Step 11: $84,763 a year
Social Worker 1
Class 60053 · class description
Grade P20 · ERG P – Professional Unit (CWA): FY2027 salary schedule
$63,663 – $92,953 a year
11 steps
  • Step 1: $63,663 a year
  • Step 2: $66,592 a year
  • Step 3: $69,521 a year
  • Step 4: $72,450 a year
  • Step 5: $75,379 a year
  • Step 6: $78,308 a year
  • Step 7: $81,237 a year
  • Step 8: $84,166 a year
  • Step 9: $87,095 a year
  • Step 10: $90,024 a year
  • Step 11: $92,953 a year

Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: New Jersey Civil Service Commission, New Jersey State Title List and FY2027 salary schedules by Employee Relations Group. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in New Jersey, all employers Sourced

Child, Family, and School Social Workers (SOC 21-1021) in New Jersey, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureNJ
Workers7,360
10th percentile$47,830
Median$76,280
90th percentile$109,420
National median, government employers$65,660

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Social Worker (government) page.

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