Social Work Degree Programs in Urban Honolulu, HI (2026)

Quick answer: Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the Urban Honolulu area earn a median $68,270 per year, above the national median of $59,550, and the metro employs about 820 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Social Work Pay in Urban Honolulu, HI

MetricUrban Honolulu metroHawaiiNational
Median annual wage$68,270$68,270$59,550
10th percentile$45,070$46,840$42,280
25th percentile$58,290$58,290$48,270
75th percentile$79,870$79,860$76,070
90th percentile$93,450$93,430$95,530
Employment8201,170392,550
Location quotient0.73-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Urban Honolulu median of $68,270 is above the national median of $59,550, and level with the Hawaii statewide median of $68,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.73 means child, family, and school social workers are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Social work demand follows local school districts, hospital systems, county agencies and nonprofit providers.

Other Hawaii Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Kahului$68,280120

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Social work licensure is tiered, and both the tier names and what each permits differ by state. The national constants are CSWE accreditation of the degree - required at both bachelor’s and master’s level - and the ASWB examinations. Clinical practice requires the master’s plus supervised post-graduate experience.

See the Hawaii licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state social work licensing board.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#2

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI 24.9 miles away BOC Score 67.2
Tuition $12,186 - $34,218
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 86.6%
  • Graduation rate: 63.5%
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 480
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $61,903 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Kapiolani Community College

Honolulu, HI 23.0 miles away BOC Score 64.3
Tuition $3,284 - $11,992
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 21.2%
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 407
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,544 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Hawaii Medical College

Honolulu, HI 26.4 miles away BOC Score 60.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 1221 Kapiolani Boulevard Ste. 644 Honolulu, HI 96814-3518
  • (808) 237-5140
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 74.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 230
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,730 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Leeward Community College

Pearl City, HI 37.4 miles away BOC Score 59.1
Tuition $3,214 - $12,507
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 33.4%
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 338
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,818 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Pacific Rim Christian University

Honolulu, HI 29.8 miles away BOC Score 59.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 8
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $38,583 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Honolulu Community College

Honolulu, HI 28.5 miles away BOC Score 48.2
Tuition $3,174 - $13,151
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 29.9%
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 969
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $71,254 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Hawaii Institute of Hair Design

Honolulu, HI 27.8 miles away BOC Score 47.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 82.2%
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 48
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $18,581 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honolulu, HI 24.0 miles away BOC Score 40.9
Tuition $30,874 - $45,798
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 91.4%
  • Graduation rate: 56.7%
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 57
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,437 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Hawaii Pacific University

Honolulu, HI 27.9 miles away BOC Score 37.2
Tuition $34,392 - $50,674
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 85.9%
  • Graduation rate: 37.8%
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 91
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,128 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do child, family, and school social workers make in Urban Honolulu?

The median annual wage for child, family, and school social workers in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area is $68,270, above the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many child, family, and school social workers work in the Urban Honolulu area?

The Urban Honolulu, HI metro area employs about 820 child, family, and school social workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do child, family, and school social workers in Urban Honolulu need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Social work licensure is tiered, and both the tier names and what each permits differ by state. The national constants are CSWE accreditation of the degree - required at both bachelor's and master's level - and the ASWB examinations. Clinical practice requires the master's plus supervised post-graduate experience. Confirm current requirements with your state social work licensing board.

Can I study social work online from Urban Honolulu?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state social work licensing board.

Is Urban Honolulu a better market than the rest of Hawaii?

The Urban Honolulu metro median is $68,270 against a statewide median of $68,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Child, Family, and School Social Workers (SOC 21-1021), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.