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
Clinical Social Worker jobs in San Diego, CA
Pay for clinical social workers in the San Diego area centers on $39.96 per hour, or about $83,120 a year. The lower quarter earns under $29.55 and the upper quarter over $49.22. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in San Diego. That ranks 25th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 80th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near San Diego and what they pay.
- $39.96median pay per hour, San Diego
- $30–$49typical range per hour
- 1,520clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 6open roles with published pay
Open Clinical Social Worker roles in San Diego
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Licensed Psych Social Worker - Psych Adult Chem Dep - Sharp McDonald Center - Part Time - Evening Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$47.60–$61.43/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
60+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in San Diego, CA
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PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Social Worker (Clinical)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · San Diego, CA
$102k–$133k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Supervisory Social Worker (Clinical)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · San Diego, CA
$122k–$158k/ year
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Licensed Clinical Social Worker / LCSW
BrightSpring Health Services · San Diego, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
Per diemPosted 21 days ago
Medical Social Worker - Social Services - Sharp Memorial Hospital - Per Diem - Variable Shift
Sharp Healthcare · San Diego, CA
$48.58–$62.70/ hour
Get the San Diego Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near San Diego, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring clinical social workers near San Diego
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 2 | $55.08 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 2 | $61.88 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 1 | $62.50 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $55.64 |
Clinical Social Worker pay in San Diego, CA
The metro median is 11% below the California statewide median of $44.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,520 healthcare social workers employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.82).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.52 | $48,920 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $29.55 | $61,460 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Median | $39.96 | $83,120 | 22% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $49.22 | $102,380 | 50% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $61.75 | $128,440 | 89% above U.S. median |
How San Diego ranks
- 25th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 80th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 19th 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 San Diego
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $39.96 median hour buys what $35.71 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 San Diego paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,439
- Per year: $71,928
- Per month: $5,994
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in San Diego
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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).
Hospitals in San Diego
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, 5 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Aurora San Diego San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | 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 San Diego County
HRSA lists 23 active mental health shortage designations that include San Diego County (2 geographic, 21 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 7 mi | $39.96/hr | 60,767 |
| Santee, CA | 9 mi | $39.96/hr | 59,104 |
| Temecula, CA | 47 mi | $44.61/hr | 112,431 |
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 San Diego
San Diego city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in San Diego, CA?
Clinical Social Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $39.96 per hour, about $83,120 a year. The middle half earn between $29.55 and $49.22 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is San Diego a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 80th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 25th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring clinical social workers in San Diego?
We list 6 open roles with published pay from 4 employers in San Diego. Your free report adds named employers and pay near San Diego.
Do I need a California license to work in San Diego 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 San Diego in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 23 active mental health shortage designations that include San Diego 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 San Diego?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Diego is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 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 San Diego?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Diego and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Diego.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near San Diego 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.
Get your free pay report
230+ Clinical Social Worker roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Social Worker pay reportSan Diego, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- BrightSpring Health ServicesSAN DIEGO, CA · 4 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
- Military Treatment Facilities under DHASan Diego, CA · 3 postings$57.69/ hr$49–$76
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$66.11/ hr$57–$75
- Veterans Health AdministrationLos Angeles, CA · 13 postings$63.41/ hr$32–$77
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.