PermanentPosted today
Senior Social Worker (Acute Mental Health ED)
Veterans Health Administration · Loma Linda, CA
$115k–$149k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Bakersfield, CA
The median clinical social worker pay in the Bakersfield area is $40.84 per hour ($84,940 a year), with the typical range running from $28.88 to $52.31. That ranks 23rd of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 21st of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Bakersfield. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Bakersfield.
- $40.84median pay per hour, Bakersfield
- $29–$52typical range per hour
- 320clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 101cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Bakersfield, CA
The metro median is 9% below the California statewide median of $44.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 320 healthcare social workers employed in the Bakersfield-Delano metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.78).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.97 | $39,460 | 42% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $28.88 | $60,070 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Median | $40.84 | $84,940 | 25% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $52.31 | $108,800 | 60% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $63.22 | $131,500 | 93% above U.S. median |
How Bakersfield ranks
- 23rd of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 21st of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 18th of 24 California 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 Bakersfield
- Overall prices in Bakersfield-Delano run 1% above the U.S. average (index 100.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $40.84 median hour buys what $40.48 buys at the national price level, 24% 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.
Get the Bakersfield Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Bakersfield, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Bakersfield paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,470
- Per year: $73,512
- Per month: $6,126
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Bakersfield-Delano metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Bakersfield
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $132 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,442 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,746 |
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. 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).
Open Clinical Social Worker roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Bakersfield as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Social Worker, LCSW
MemorialCare · Long Beach, CA
$99k–$143k/ year
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in California
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Per diemPosted today
Medical Social Worker - Social Services - Sharp Memorial Hospital - Per Diem - Variable Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$48.58–$62.70/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Senior Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration
Veterans Health Administration · Visalia, CA
$100k–$130k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Social Worker (Primary Care)
Veterans Health Administration · Fresno, CA
$68k–$106k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - DOD-Lemoore NAS Liaison, Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC)
Veterans Health Administration · Fresno, CA
$100k–$130k/ year
New this week
Hospitals in Bakersfield
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Bakersfield, 0 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Bakersfield, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercy Hospital Bakersfield, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Adventist Health Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Kern Medical Center Bakersfield, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 1 of 5 | Yes |
| Good Samaritan Hospital, Lp Bakersfield, CA | Acute care | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, Llc Bakersfield, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Mental health shortage areas in Kern County
HRSA lists 25 active mental health shortage designations that include Kern County (3 geographic, 1 population-group, 21 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delano, CA | 31 mi | $40.84/hr | 53,198 |
| Porterville, CA | 49 mi | $45.16/hr | 63,517 |
| Tulare, CA | 61 mi | $45.16/hr | 72,601 |
| Lancaster, CA | 67 mi | $41.24/hr | 167,426 |
| Visalia, CA | 69 mi | $45.16/hr | 146,271 |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 72 mi | $41.24/hr | 229,159 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in California · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Bakersfield
Bakersfield city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Bakersfield, CA?
Clinical Social Workers in the Bakersfield-Delano metro area have a median pay of $40.84 per hour, about $84,940 a year. The middle half earn between $28.88 and $52.31 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Bakersfield a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Bakersfield-Delano ranks 21st of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 23rd of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Bakersfield?
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Bakersfield, led by Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Bakersfield as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Bakersfield in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 25 active mental health shortage designations that include Kern 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 Bakersfield?
The federal per diem benchmark in Bakersfield is $132 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,442 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 Bakersfield?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Bakersfield and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Bakersfield.
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What do employers near Bakersfield pay clinical social workers? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Clinical Social Worker roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Social Worker pay reportBakersfield, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- 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
- BrightSpring Health ServicesSAN DIEGO, CA · 4 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$43Median$55.64High$71
56 Social Worker postings with published pay in California, 51 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 56 Social Worker roles
- Senior Social Worker (Acute Mental Health ED)Permanent$115k–$149k/ year
- Social Worker, LCSWPermanent$99k–$143k/ year
+ 54 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.