Social Worker (government) in Washington: Pay Plan

$56,952 – $154,488

state pay plan range, a year

classes in the state plan

$74,480

median pay in WA, all employers

10,720

workers in WA (SOC 21-1021)

Sources: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Washington sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and grade	Published rate
Social Worker 1 - Academic Medical Centers Class 351E · class description Grade 51 · General Service Salary Schedule	$56,952 – $76,608 a year 13 steps Step A: $56,952 a year Step B: $58,392 a year Step C: $59,760 a year Step D: $61,332 a year Step E: $62,880 a year Step F: $64,512 a year Step G: $66,072 a year Step H: $67,704 a year Step I: $69,348 a year Step J: $71,136 a year Step K: $72,900 a year Step L: $74,748 a year Step M: $76,608 a year
Social Worker 2 - Academic Medical Centers Class 351F · class description Grade 55 · General Service Salary Schedule	$62,880 – $84,528 a year 13 steps Step A: $62,880 a year Step B: $64,512 a year Step C: $66,072 a year Step D: $67,704 a year Step E: $69,348 a year Step F: $71,136 a year Step G: $72,900 a year Step H: $74,748 a year Step I: $76,608 a year Step J: $78,504 a year Step K: $80,496 a year Step L: $82,440 a year Step M: $84,528 a year
Psychiatric Social Worker 1 Class 352I · class description Grade 60 · General Service Salary Schedule	$71,136 – $95,676 a year 13 steps Step A: $71,136 a year Step B: $72,900 a year Step C: $74,748 a year Step D: $76,608 a year Step E: $78,504 a year Step F: $80,496 a year Step G: $82,440 a year Step H: $84,528 a year Step I: $86,688 a year Step J: $88,788 a year Step K: $91,104 a year Step L: $93,288 a year Step M: $95,676 a year
Psychiatric Social Worker 2 Class 352J · class description Grade 66 · General Service Salary Schedule	$82,440 – $110,952 a year 13 steps Step A: $82,440 a year Step B: $84,528 a year Step C: $86,688 a year Step D: $88,788 a year Step E: $91,104 a year Step F: $93,288 a year Step G: $95,676 a year Step H: $98,064 a year Step I: $100,488 a year Step J: $102,996 a year Step K: $105,612 a year Step L: $108,228 a year Step M: $110,952 a year
Psychiatric Social Worker 3 Class 352K · class description Grade 68 · General Service Salary Schedule	$86,688 – $116,544 a year 13 steps Step A: $86,688 a year Step B: $88,788 a year Step C: $91,104 a year Step D: $93,288 a year Step E: $95,676 a year Step F: $98,064 a year Step G: $100,488 a year Step H: $102,996 a year Step I: $105,612 a year Step J: $108,228 a year Step K: $110,952 a year Step L: $113,736 a year Step M: $116,544 a year
Grade 66 · Teamsters Local 117 Standard Progression General Service Salary Schedule	$101,520 – $136,596 a year 13 steps Step A: $101,520 a year Step B: $104,052 a year Step C: $106,704 a year Step D: $109,272 a year Step E: $112,092 a year Step F: $114,852 a year Step G: $117,792 a year Step H: $120,696 a year Step I: $123,684 a year Step J: $126,780 a year Step K: $129,996 a year Step L: $133,200 a year Step M: $136,596 a year
Psychiatric Social Worker 4 Class 352L · class description Grade 73 · General Service Salary Schedule	$98,064 – $131,868 a year 13 steps Step A: $98,064 a year Step B: $100,488 a year Step C: $102,996 a year Step D: $105,612 a year Step E: $108,228 a year Step F: $110,952 a year Step G: $113,736 a year Step H: $116,544 a year Step I: $119,460 a year Step J: $122,448 a year Step K: $125,544 a year Step L: $128,688 a year Step M: $131,868 a year
Grade 71 · Teamsters Local 117 Standard Progression General Service Salary Schedule	$114,852 – $154,488 a year 13 steps Step A: $114,852 a year Step B: $117,792 a year Step C: $120,696 a year Step D: $123,684 a year Step E: $126,780 a year Step F: $129,996 a year Step G: $133,200 a year Step H: $136,596 a year Step I: $139,944 a year Step J: $143,496 a year Step K: $147,036 a year Step L: $150,732 a year Step M: $154,488 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: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

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

Measure	WA
Workers	10,720
10th percentile	$48,750
Median	$74,480
90th percentile	$98,100
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.

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

Social Worker (government) in Washington

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

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Social Worker (government) in other states