Social Worker Salary in Tennessee (2026 Guide)

Tennessee falls on the lower-wage side of the U.S. social worker labor market, with a weighted mean salary of $58,991. Licensure level and practice setting drive most of the variation — LCSWs in clinical and healthcare roles earn substantially more, reaching $64,280. Pay reflects Tennessee's Nashville healthcare corridor and rural Appalachian need.

Salary Breakdown

Tennessee salary by specialty.

BLS tracks four social worker subcategories. Each has different salary dynamics driven by licensure, setting, and employer type.

Specialty (SOC)	Tennessee mean	U.S. mean	Differential
Child, Family & School SOC 21-1021 · BSW/LMSW/LCSW	$57,890	$58,570	-1.2%
Healthcare / Medical SOC 21-1022 · LCSW	$64,280	$68,090	-5.6%
Mental Health & Substance Abuse SOC 21-1023 · LCSW	$53,240	$60,060	-11.4%
Social Workers, All Other SOC 21-1029 · Policy/VA/Private	$61,470	$69,480	-11.5%

Data: BLS OES May 2024. Differential compares state subcategory mean to national subcategory mean.

What this means

What this salary picture tells you.

Tennessee offers below-average pay with real hiring pressure. NHSC loan repayment eligibility, HRSA-designated shortage areas, and PSLF-eligible public-sector roles often add significant effective compensation beyond the base salary.

Shortage level: High Demand score: 85/100 Top settings: Healthcare, Behavioral health, Schools

How to earn more in Tennessee

Three levers that move the salary needle.

1. LCSW licensure. The LCSW is the single biggest salary lever in social work. In Tennessee, licensed clinical social workers earn up to $64,280 — +9.0% above the state mean. Requires 4,000 supervised clinical hours and 2 years post-MSW.

2. Specialty choice. Healthcare social workers earn $64,280 on average in Tennessee — typically the highest-paying subcategory. Substance use and geriatric specializations also command premiums due to demand.

3. Setting and employer type. Nationally, state/local government and hospital systems pay $12,000–$16,000 more than individual and family services. PSLF-eligible public-sector employment adds significant effective compensation for anyone with student loans.

LCSW path in TennesseeHours, timeline, examSee the roadmap → Find supervisionConnect with LCSW supervisorsBrowse supervisors → Open jobs in TennesseeLCSW-eligible with 4-signal listingsBrowse jobs →

Compare Tennessee to peer states

Salary peers worth comparing.

Automatically selected based on region, salary tier, and shortage contrast.

Midwest · Mean salary

$58,490

Pennsylvania

Northeast · Mean salary

FAQ

Common questions about social work salary in Tennessee.

How much do social workers make in Tennessee?

The weighted mean annual salary for social workers in Tennessee is $58,991, based on BLS OES May 2024 data. Pay varies significantly by specialty: Child/Family/School social workers average $57,890, Healthcare social workers $64,280, and Mental Health & Substance Abuse social workers $53,240.

How much do LCSWs make in Tennessee?

LCSWs in Tennessee typically earn up to $64,280 in the highest-paying settings (usually mental health, healthcare, or specialty private practice). That's +9.0% above the overall state mean. Clinical licensure is the single biggest salary lever in social work.

What's the highest-paying social work specialty in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, the highest-paying subcategory is Healthcare at $64,280. Nationally, healthcare social work tends to be the most consistently well-paid, but state-specific patterns vary.

Is Tennessee a good state for social workers?

Tennessee has a demand score of 85/100 based on growth rate, shortage pressure, and labor-market signals. The state's high shortage level and 7.1% projected growth 2024–2034 shape both job availability and compensation dynamics. Best-fit settings include healthcare, behavioral health, schools.

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), May 2024 — mean annual wage by SOC subcategory (21-1021 / 21-1022 / 21-1023 / 21-1029). Weighted mean uses national employment weights (CFS 49%, HC 24%, MH 17%, Other 10%). State employment counts: BLS OES SOC 21-1020 aggregated; est. indicates population-proportional estimate. Growth rate: BLS national 2024–2034 projection with state demographic modifiers. Last updated April 2026. This page provides general career-planning data, not legal or licensing advice — verify current state board requirements before making career decisions.

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