national median · NOC 41300
$79,997
$38.46/hr · 2,080 hrs/yr
#40 · Public & social services
Social workers Salary
Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024 national median $79,997 ($38.46/hr on 2,080 hours). NOC 41300. Modeled 2026 take-home, training context, and career comparisons below.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Alberta take-home at median
$59,181
26.0% effective
Quebec take-home at median
$55,639
30.4% effective
Key takeaways — Social workers
- Social workers ranks #40 of 61 on this hub with a $79,997 Job Bank national median ($38.46/hr; Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024). Common searches mapped here include social worker salary.
- Modeled Alberta take-home at that median: $59,181 (26.0% effective employee levy rate). Quebec: $55,639.
- One rank above: Medical lab technologists at $81,120 (+$1,123).
- Bonuses, equity, overtime, and self-employment income outside the published Job Bank row are not in this cash-wage median.
About Social workers wages
Using ESDC Job Bank wages (Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024), the national median annual wage for Social workers (NOC 41300) is $79,997 — meaning half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less across Canada.
We convert the published median to an hourly equivalent using 2,080 full-time hours per year, then apply our 2026 Canada paycheck model so you see modeled take-home, not just gross. That bridges labour-market statistics with the same tax rules as our province calculators.
Use the compare tool to pit Social workers against another career, or open the paycheck calculator to model an offer above or below the published median.
Public & social services · rank context
Social workers sits at rank #40 between Medical lab technologists (#39, $81,120) and Web developers (#41, $79,997).
Training & licensing context
Public and social-service medians blend municipal, provincial, and federal employers. Collective agreements, shift premiums, and years of service move individuals well above or below the national midpoint.
Job Bank wage percentiles (2023–2024)
Job Bank low–high wages show how pay spreads inside the Social workers occupation — the median is the midpoint.
| Job Bank low | Median | Job Bank high |
|---|---|---|
| $52,000 | $79,997 | $104,541 |
Take-home at Job Bank median by province
Single filer, basic personal amount, federal + provincial, employee payroll (CPP/EI) — gross equals the published Job Bank median.
| Province | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $59,181 | 26.0% |
| Ontario | $58,931 | 26.3% |
| British Columbia | $59,773 | 25.3% |
| Quebec | $55,639 | 30.4% |
Myths vs facts
Myth: Every Social workers job pays the Job Bank median.
Fact: The median is a national midpoint. Entry roles, part-time schedules, and low-COL markets sit below; senior specialists in high-demand metros sit above.
Myth: Take-home at median is what you will net.
Fact: Our columns use a single-filer vignette at the Job Bank gross median. Marriage, dependents, RRSP, TFSA, and local taxes change your actual paycheck.
Salary planning checklist
- Confirm the posting matches NOC 41300 (Social workers)
- Compare Alberta vs Quebec take-home if relocation is on the table
- Read Job Bank percentile tables when published for this occupation
- Use metro paycheck examples (Canada) when the employer names a city
- Model your exact gross in the Canada paycheck calculator
Common mistakes
- ✕Treating $79,997 as a universal offer for all experience levels
- ✕Ignoring licensing and training years when comparing to lower-medians with shorter paths
- ✕Skipping provincial tax when comparing two offers at similar gross medians
Compare Social workers to other careers
Social workers salary FAQs
Job Bank lists a $79,997 national median for NOC 41300 (Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024) — about $38.46/hr on a 2,080-hour year.
Modeled single-filer take-home at the Job Bank median: Alberta $59,181, Ontario $58,931, British Columbia $59,773, Quebec $55,639 (2026 rules).
#40 of 61 occupations on this hub by national median wage.
Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024: low $52,000, median $79,997, high $104,541.
This NOC unit group anchors searches such as social worker salary.
Medical laboratory technologists ranks #39 at $81,120 — $1,123 above Social workers.
Web developers and programmers ranks #41 at $79,997 — $0 below.
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