PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Social Worker
Ascension Health · Washington, DC
Pay range with your report
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Washington, DC
Clinical Social Workers in the Washington area earn a median of $37.51 per hour, about $78,010 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $27.60 and $45.30. That ranks 49th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 127th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Washington. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Washington.
- $37.51median pay per hour, Washington
- $28–$45typical range per hour
- 2,530clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Clinical Social Worker roles in Washington
1 more open role from employers in Washington. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Clinical Social Worker pay in Washington, DC
The metro median is 16% below the District of Columbia statewide median of $44.52 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 2,530 healthcare social workers employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.67).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.95 | $41,500 | 39% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $27.60 | $57,410 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.51 | $78,010 | 15% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.30 | $94,220 | 38% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $50.84 | $105,750 | 55% above U.S. median |
How Washington ranks
- 49th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 127th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
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.
Get the Washington Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Washington, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Washington
- Overall prices in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.51 median hour buys what $34.45 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Washington paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,350
- Per year: $67,518
- Per month: $5,626
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Washington
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $234 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,282 |
| 13-week assignment | $29,666 |
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 Washington
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Washington, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sibley Memorial Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Medstar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| United Medical Center Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Washington Dc Va Medical Center Washington, DC | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| George Washington Univ Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Howard University Hospital Corp Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | No |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Psychiatric Institute Of Washington Washington, DC | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| St Elizabeths Hospital Washington, DC | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 District of Columbia
HRSA lists 10 active mental health shortage designations that include District of Columbia (1 population-group, 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 7 mi | $37.51/hr | 159,102 |
| Rockville, MD | 14 mi | $37.51/hr | 68,417 |
| Baltimore, MD | 35 mi | $32.48/hr | 568,271 |
| Lancaster, PA | 87 mi | $30.20/hr | 58,441 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 95 mi | $31.07/hr | 50,649 |
| Wilmington, DE | 98 mi | $34.24/hr | 73,176 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in District of Columbia · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in District of Columbia
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
District of Columbia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Washington
Washington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Washington, DC?
Clinical Social Workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area have a median pay of $37.51 per hour, about $78,010 a year. The middle half earn between $27.60 and $45.30 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Washington a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ranks 127th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 49th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Washington?
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Washington, led by Sibley Memorial Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a District of Columbia license to work in Washington as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Washington in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 10 active mental health shortage designations that include District of Columbia. 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 Washington?
The federal per diem benchmark in Washington is $234 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,282 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 Washington?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Washington and across District of Columbia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Washington.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Washington 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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20+ Clinical Social Worker roles in District of Columbia, 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 reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your District of Columbia list by name comes with the full report
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. Request your District of Columbia list
2What they are offering now
Low$29Median$43.00High$61
368 Social Worker postings with published pay in the US, 303 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Social Worker roles
Open Social Worker roles near Washington, DC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.