PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Senior Social Worker
Veterans Health Administration · Augusta, GA
$93k–$121k/ year
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Athens, GA
Pay for clinical social workers in the Athens area centers on $28.19 per hour, or about $58,640 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.27 and the upper quarter over $34.72. That ranks 312th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 291st of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Athens. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Athens.
- $28.19median pay per hour, Athens
- $21–$35typical range per hour
- 230clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Athens, GA
The metro median is 6% below the Georgia statewide median of $29.85 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 230 healthcare social workers employed in the Athens-Clarke County metro area, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.99).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.85 | $39,210 | 42% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.27 | $44,240 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Median | $28.19 | $58,640 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.72 | $72,220 | 6% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $39.81 | $82,800 | 22% above U.S. median |
How Athens ranks
- 312th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 291st of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 12 Georgia 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 Athens
- Overall prices in Athens-Clarke County run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $28.19 median hour buys what $30.20 buys at the national price level, 8% below 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 Athens Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Athens, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Athens paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,015
- Per year: $50,742
- Per month: $4,228
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Athens-Clarke County metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Athens
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $136 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,470 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,110 |
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 Georgia
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Athens as they open.
Per diemPosted 24 days ago
Licensed Medical Social Worker
Amedisys · Vidalia, GA
$52.00–$64.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in Georgia
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Per diemPosted 24 days ago
Licensed Medical Social Worker
Amedisys · Douglas, GA
$52.00–$62.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Licensed Medical Social Worker
Amedisys · Gray, GA
$58.00–$65.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
Hospitals in Athens
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Athens, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center Athens, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | No |
| St Mary's Hospital Athens, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Mental health shortage areas in Clarke County
HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Clarke County (1 geographic, 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Creek, GA | 48 mi | $31.70/hr | 81,167 |
| Stonecrest, GA | 48 mi | $31.70/hr | 61,015 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 52 mi | $31.70/hr | 67,275 |
| Dunwoody, GA | 54 mi | $31.70/hr | 51,795 |
| Brookhaven, GA | 56 mi | $31.70/hr | 59,370 |
| Roswell, GA | 57 mi | $31.70/hr | 92,227 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Georgia · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Georgia
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Georgia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Athens
Athens city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Athens, GA?
Clinical Social Workers in the Athens-Clarke County metro area have a median pay of $28.19 per hour, about $58,640 a year. The middle half earn between $21.27 and $34.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Athens a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Athens-Clarke County ranks 291st of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 312th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Athens?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Athens, led by Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Georgia license to work in Athens as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Athens in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Clarke 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 Athens?
The federal per diem benchmark in Athens is $136 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,470 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 Athens?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Athens and across Georgia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Athens.
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What do employers near Athens 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
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110+ Clinical Social Worker roles in Georgia, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Georgia list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- St. Mary's Hospital, Inc.Athens, GA · 1 wage offer$30.50/ hr$29–$32
- AmedisysVidalia, GA · 3 postings$58.00/ hr$52–$65
- 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 pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Georgia list
2What they are offering now
Low$46Median$57.50High$65
4 Social Worker postings with published pay in Georgia, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 4 Social Worker roles
- Senior Social WorkerPermanent$93k–$121k/ year
- Licensed Medical Social WorkerPer diem$52.00–$64.00/ hour
+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.