SOC 21-1029 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social Workers, All Other — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Social Workers, All Other in Lakeland, FL is $51,500 per year, substantially below the national median of $71,900 — a gap of 28.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Social Workers, All Other in Lakeland, FL is $51,500 per year, substantially below the national median of $71,900 — a gap of 28.4%. Half of workers earn between $50,000 and $59,490. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $46,530 and the ninetieth at $63,400.
Employment stands at 140, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Wildwood records the highest median at $87,420. Of the 429 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 204th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,530 | −35.3% |
| 25th | $50,000 | −30.5% |
| Median (50th) | $51,500 | −28.4% |
| 75th | $59,490 | −17.3% |
| 90th | $63,400 | −11.8% |
| Mean | $56,070 | −22.0% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wildwood | $87,420 | 40 | |
| 2 | Gainesville | $71,960 | 220 | |
| 3 | Tampa | $68,310 | 780 | |
| 4 | Miami | $62,030 | 1,090 | |
| 5 | Orlando | $59,840 | 580 | |
| 6 | Pensacola | $58,930 | 140 | |
| 7 | Palm Bay | $57,420 | 160 | |
| 8 | Cape Coral | $56,510 | 130 | |
| 9 | Jacksonville | $56,140 | 380 | |
| 10 | North Port | $55,760 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $51,500 buys what $49,807 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 30.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,807US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,500 a year, 28.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,530 to $63,400 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wildwood, at $87,420.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social Workers, All Other in Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $51,500, or $24.76 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $71,900, so pay in Lakeland, FL is 28.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Lakeland, FL earns more than $63,400 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,530 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Wildwood, at $87,420 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Lakeland, FL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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