Accountants vs Social Workers
Accountants earns $21,900 more at the middle. Every figure is US government data you can check.
| Accountants | Social Workers | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay in the middle median annual wage, May 2025 | $83,680 | $61,780 |
| Pay range 10th to 90th percentile | $56,020 to $144,090 | not published to not published |
| Years of school you pay for our own estimate from published entry requirements, not a BLS figure | 4 | 4 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | See How to Become One |
| Jobs opening up each year | 115,300 | 69,100 |
| Growth by 2035 | 5.0% | 6.2% |
| People doing it now | 1,595,200 | 816,100 |
| Where the pay is highest and lowest state medians, not adjusted for cost of living or taxes | $111,530 in Washington DC down to $66,330 in Arkansas | $78,970 in Connecticut down to $43,330 in Arkansas |
Also compared: Accountants vs Civil Engineers Accountants vs Dental Hygienists Accountants vs Financial Analysts Accountants vs Graphic Designers Accountants vs High School Teachers Accountants vs Human Resources Specialists
Jobs that use what you already know
Same skills, same knowledge, same daily tasks. Most of these are not on this site.
Social Workers covers 4 separate job codes. “3 of 4” means 3 of those 4 name that job as closely related.
Accountants
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Financial Examiners
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Tax Preparers
- Financial Managers
- Budget Analysts
What these usually take: Usually a four-year degree, plus a few years of experience.
Social Workers
- Marriage and Family Therapists3 of 4
- Rehabilitation Counselors3 of 4
- Social and Human Service Assistants2 of 4
- Community Health Workers2 of 4
- Health Education Specialists2 of 4
- Mental Health Counselors2 of 4
O*NET 30.3 Database, U.S. Department of Labor. These are jobs that use similar skills, knowledge and daily tasks. It is a measure of how alike two jobs are — not a record of people moving between them.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment and wage data, May 2025, and employment projections 2025-35. Years of school is our own estimate from published entry requirements, not a BLS figure. State medians are not adjusted for cost of living or taxes, and that difference could be large either way. No advice, just data.