Social Work Degree in Seattle, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Social Work degree analysis for Seattle, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Seattle
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Social Work in Seattle, WA Overview
Seattle, Washington (pop. 737,015) has 16 colleges offering Social Work programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,508/month. Social Work has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Case Management and Counseling skills. The adjusted starting salary in Seattle is approximately $60,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,076/yr
Private Tuition
$49,119/yr
Room & Board
$18,145/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,675/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
68%
Social Work Salary in Seattle (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Seattle's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Social Work salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Seattle adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Social Work ROI Calculator for Seattle
Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local Seattle tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,076 | Private avg: $49,119
Seattle avg aid: $10,675/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,884
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,000
vs HS diploma in Seattle
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Seattle
$215,116
Lifetime earnings premium ($336,000) minus total education cost ($120,884)
Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in Seattle
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Seattle for Social Work
University of Washington
public
$12,076/yr
$48,304 total
Seattle University
private
$51,435/yr
$205,740 total
Seattle Pacific University
private
$46,803/yr
$187,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Seattle Central College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Social Work in Seattle
Seattle offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Seattle Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Social Work Job Titles
Social Work in Nearby Washington Cities
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Seattle
International Relations
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$60K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$60K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$53K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Social Work Degree in Seattle — 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 Seattle.