How's the pay for social workers in the military?

I've been thinking about social work as a possible career path, and I recently heard about opportunities for social work within the military. Does anyone know how the salary for a social worker in the military compares to civilian social work?

In general, social workers in the military may have a higher income than their civilian counterparts. This is because their compensation isn't only in the form of a base salary, but also includes benefits specific to military service. For instance, they may receive housing allowances, healthcare benefits, and cost of living adjustments depending on their location, which are not typically included in a civilian social worker's salary.

Determining the exact salary of a military social worker can be somewhat complicated, as pay in the military is based on a number of factors including rank, years of service, and duty location. For instance, as a starting point, a newly commissioned officer (which a military social worker would be) can earn around $40,000 per year in base pay. However, depending on their experience, education, and other qualifications, they could begin at a higher rank and therefore a higher salary.

Conversely, the median salary for civilian social workers, not considering different specializations, is around $50,470 annually according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but this doesn't include military-specific benefits. So, if you combine the base salary with the additional benefits provided to military personnel, it's likely that a social worker in the military could potentially earn more overall than their civilian counterparts.

It's also important to note that being a social worker in the military can offer a distinct set of career experiences and opportunities for professional growth. Working with service members, veterans, and their families can present unique challenges and rewards that you may not encounter in civilian social work. So, while salary is an important consideration, it's also worth thinking about these aspects when deciding on this career path.