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Social Work Degree in Montgomery, AL — Salary & ROI 2026

Social Work degree analysis for Montgomery, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$46K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$51K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.4 yrs

in Montgomery

Cost of Living

92

index (100 = avg)

Social Work in Montgomery, AL Overview

Montgomery is one of Alabama's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 17,419. Public tuition averages $10,814/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Social Work has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Case Management and Counseling skills. The adjusted starting salary in Montgomery is approximately $46,000.

Category

Social Sciences

Local Colleges

21

Public Tuition

$10,814/yr

Private Tuition

$29,622/yr

Room & Board

$11,372/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$7,044/yr

Unemployment

4.5%

Graduation Rate

46%

Social Work Salary in Montgomery (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Montgomery's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$46,000($-4,000 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$50,600($-4,400 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$59,800($-5,200 vs national)

Note: National average Social Work salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Montgomery adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.

Social Work ROI Calculator for Montgomery

Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local Montgomery tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $10,814 | Private avg: $29,622

Montgomery avg aid: $7,044/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$88,744

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$13,800

vs HS diploma in Montgomery

ROI Payback Period

6.4 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Montgomery

$168,856

Lifetime earnings premium ($257,600) minus total education cost ($88,744)

Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in Montgomery

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$88,744
Monthly Payment$1,008
Total Interest$32,176
% of Monthly Income26%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$88,744
Monthly Payment$1,736
Total Interest$15,439
Interest Savings$16,738

Colleges in Montgomery for Social Work

Alabama State University

public

$11,068/yr

$44,272 total

Auburn University at Montgomery

public

$10,560/yr

$42,240 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Trenholm State Community College

$4,800/yr

Top Employers for Social Work in Montgomery

Montgomery offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:

GovernmentHospitalsSchoolsNon-ProfitsCommunity Organizations

Key Montgomery Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences

Government agencies

Non-profits

Research institutes

Social services

Consulting

Common Social Work Job Titles

Social WorkerCase ManagerSchool Social WorkerClinical Social Worker

Social Work Degree in Montgomery — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

Explore More

Compare Social Work ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Montgomery.

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