AR · Little Rock · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Little Rock, AR

Clinical Social Workers in the Little Rock area earn a median of $32.06 per hour, about $66,680 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $26.36 and $35.96. That ranks 147th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 75th of 333 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Little Rock. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Little Rock.

Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Little Rock

More open Clinical Social Worker roles in Little Rock

1 more open role from employers in Little Rock. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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Named employers near Little Rock, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Clinical Social Worker pay in Little Rock, AR

The metro median is 7% above the Arkansas statewide median of $29.83 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 550 healthcare social workers employed in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.29).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$21.31$44,32035% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$26.36$54,83019% below U.S. median
Median$32.06$66,6802% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$35.96$74,80010% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.09$83,39022% above U.S. median

How Little Rock ranks

  • 147th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 75th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 5 Arkansas metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Little Rock

  • Overall prices in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 32% below the U.S. average (index 68.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $32.06 median hour buys what $35.88 buys at the national price level, 10% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Little Rock paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,154
  • Per year: $57,708
  • Per month: $4,809

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Little Rock

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel clinical social worker assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Little Rock

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Little Rock, 0 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Arkansas Heart Hospital, Llc
Little Rock, AR
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Chi-St Vincent Infirmary
Little Rock, AR
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
University Of Arkansas Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Va Central Ar. Veterans Healthcare System Lr
Little Rock, AR
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Arkansas Children's Hospital
Little Rock, AR
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Arkansas State Hospital
Little Rock, AR
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Mental health shortage areas in Pulaski County

HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Pulaski County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 6 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for social workers and other mental health clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Clinical Social Worker pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
North Little Rock, AR8 mi$32.06/hr64,498
Conway, AR25 mi$32.06/hr70,711
Jonesboro, AR121 mi$32.40/hr82,384
Fort Smith, AR122 mi$27.80/hr90,507
Southaven, MS136 mi$32.35/hr57,493
Fayetteville, AR138 mi$29.19/hr103,134

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Arkansas · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Arkansas

MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Arkansas state guide

Other healthcare roles in Little Rock

Little Rock city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Little Rock, AR?

Clinical Social Workers in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area have a median pay of $32.06 per hour, about $66,680 a year. The middle half earn between $26.36 and $35.96 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Little Rock a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway ranks 75th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 147th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring clinical social workers in Little Rock?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Little Rock. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Little Rock.

Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Little Rock as a clinical social worker?

MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Little Rock in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Pulaski County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Little Rock?

The federal per diem benchmark in Little Rock is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place clinical social workers in Little Rock?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Little Rock and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Little Rock.

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Pay report · Social Worker near Little Rock, AR
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Veterans Health AdministrationFort Smith, AR · 3 postings$54.54/ hr$30–$90
  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$66.11/ hr$57–$75
  • Veterans Health AdministrationLos Angeles, CA · 13 postings$63.41/ hr$32–$77
  • Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$63.02/ hr$59–$68

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list

2What they are offering now

Low$30Median$54.54High$90

3 Social Worker postings with published pay in Arkansas, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 Social Worker roles

  1. Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)Permanent
    $99k–$128k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Fayetteville, AR · posted today
  2. Social WorkerPermanent
    $63k–$99k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Fort Smith, AR · posted today

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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