SOC 21-1029 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social Workers, All Other — Lansing
Lansing-East Lansing, MI · 8 metro areas compared
At $51,660, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Social Workers, All Other, 28.2% beneath the national figure of $71,900.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +3.9%
- Openings per year
- 7,000
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
14.5% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Lansing-East Lansing, MI.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $51,660, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Social Workers, All Other, 28.2% beneath the national figure of $71,900. Pay ranges from under $39,750 at the tenth percentile to more than $104,250 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,160 to $76,870.
Employment stands at 100, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Battle Creek records the highest median at $92,830. Of the 457 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 286th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,750 | −44.7% |
| 25th | $45,160 | −37.2% |
| Median (50th) | $51,660 | −28.2% |
| 75th | $76,870 | +6.9% |
| 90th | $104,250 | +45.0% |
| Mean | $60,700 | −15.6% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $92,830 | 90 | |
| 2 | Saginaw | $91,580 | 120 | |
| 3 | Detroit | $68,630 | 510 | |
| 4 | Ann Arbor | $67,420 | 250 | |
| 5 | Traverse City | $66,880 | 40 | |
| 6 | Jackson | $60,230 | 40 | |
| 7 | Grand Rapids | $52,510 | 170 | |
| 8 | Kalamazoo | $48,750 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lansing run 5.0% below the national average, so the median of $51,660 goes as far as $54,379 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
95.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,379US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,660 a year, 28.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,750 to $104,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Battle Creek, at $92,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social Workers, All Other in Lansing, MI?
The median annual wage is $51,660, or $24.84 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 Lansing, MI is 28.2% 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 Lansing, MI earns more than $104,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,750 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 Battle Creek, at $92,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Lansing, MI. 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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