Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Great Plains Region

Earlier this year the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released May 2024 data indicating that there were over 185,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) employed in the United States.  The seven-state Great Plains regions accounted for 11,740 of those healthcare social worker jobs.  BLS data reveals the region to be a rather poor one for healthcare social worker pay, as only one Great Plains state registered a HSW annual mean wage level that topped the national average of $69,904. Moreover, four states in the region ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for HSW annual mean wages. BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Great Plains region:

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	1,180	$64,410	39th
KS	1,420	$64,570	38th
MN	2,530	$73,400	15th
MO	4,630	$57,660	47th
NE	990	$61,540	45th
ND	310	$63,810	42nd
SD	680	$56,520	50th
U.S.	185,940	$69,904	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 10, 2025

In the 25-26 U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) survey of American hospitals, nearly 820 hospitals were rated for their effectiveness at delivering care to adult heart patients.  The hospitals surveyed were scored on various measures related to heart patient outcomes, the breadth of their heart program and services, and the amount of recognition earned by these hospitals from their peers within the cardiology community.  In the 25-26 survey, a score of at least 63.0 out of 100 was required to earn a spot among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult heart care. No hospitals in the Rocky Mountain region made the top 50 list and only four hospitals in the region scored more than 50 out of 100 in the 25-26 survey.  The four top-ranked heart hospitals in the Rocky Mountain region in the 25-26 USNWR survey were:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Rocky Mountain Region

UC Health University of Colorado Hospital

Location:  Aurora, CO

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  52.9 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Location:  Missoula, MT

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  52.8 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

University of Utah Hospital
Location:  Salt Lake City, UT

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  51.4 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

Intermountain Healthcare Intermountain Medical Center

Location:  Murray, UT

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  50.7 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

For more insight into the metrics used to rate heart hospitals in the 25-26 USNWR survey, or to find the cardiology rating of other hospitals in the Rocky Mountain region, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.