Social Work Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Social Work degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Social Work in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Social Work programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/month. Social Work has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Case Management and Counseling skills. The adjusted starting salary in Richmond is approximately $50,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Social Work Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Social Work salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Social Work ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$177,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($280,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Social Work in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Social Work Job Titles
Social Work in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Richmond
International Relations
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$48K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$50K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$50K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$50K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$44K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Social Work Degree in Richmond — 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 Richmond.