Illinois · 2025 pay · 249 people
How much does a social worker make in Illinois?
$96,900typical pay for a social worker in 2025
$73,600 – $116,100what most people earned
Includes everyone paid during 2025, including part-year workers. Typical pay rose 3.5% from 2024.
✓ Official data from Illinois Comptroller · Matches the agency's latest release · illinoiscomptroller.gov ↗
Where social workers work
Typical pay at each employer, 2025 (everyone paid).
Pay by level
Levels with 5 or more people.
- Social Worker I8 people$73,600
- Social Worker II133 people$83,700
- Social Worker III42 people$101,950
- Social Worker IV66 people$127,650
Highest-paid social workers, 2025
- 1Christopher SmithSocial Worker II · Department of Human Services$319,100
- 2Caitlin CordovaSocial Worker IV · Department of Corrections$247,700
- 3Beth HartSocial Worker IV · Department of Corrections$207,900
- 4Carlene HempenSocial Worker IV · Department of Corrections$197,900
- 5Jessica StoverSocial Worker IV · Department of Corrections$182,300
Common questions
How much does a social worker make in Illinois?
The typical social worker was paid $96,900 in 2025; most earned between $73,600 and $116,100. This counts all 249 people paid, including part-year workers.
Which job titles are included?
Everyone whose payroll title is Social Worker, at any level (for example "Social Worker I"). Part-time-schedule titles (such as "20 hours") are left out. Senior, supervising and trainee titles have their own pages.
Job titles are written out in full from the payroll's abbreviations (for example "SR CRRECTNL POLC OFCR" → "Senior Correctional Police Officer"). "Typical pay" is the median; "most earned" is the middle half. How we calculate this