HI · Honolulu · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Honolulu, HI

Clinical Social Workers in the Honolulu area earn a median of $41.85 per hour, about $87,040 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $28.01 and $48.60. That ranks 21st of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 44th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Honolulu.

More open Clinical Social Worker roles in Honolulu

2 more open roles from employers in Honolulu. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Clinical Social Worker pay in Honolulu, HI

The metro median is 3% above the Hawaii statewide median of $40.69 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 520 healthcare social workers employed in the Urban Honolulu metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.96).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.50$48,88028% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$28.01$58,26014% below U.S. median
Median$41.85$87,04028% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$48.60$101,09048% above U.S. median
Top 10%$53.11$110,47062% above U.S. median

How Honolulu ranks

  • 21st of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 44th 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Honolulu

  • Overall prices in Urban Honolulu run 11% above the U.S. average (index 111.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 36% above the U.S. average (index 135.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $41.85 median hour buys what $37.72 buys at the national price level, 15% 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 Honolulu paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,507
  • Per year: $75,330
  • Per month: $6,278

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Urban Honolulu metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Honolulu

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).

Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Hawaii

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Honolulu as they open.

PermanentPosted 8 days ago

Supervisory Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration · Hilo, HI

$123k–$160k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888078200
Top 25% pay
View role

All Clinical Social Worker jobs in Hawaii

Hospitals in Honolulu

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu, 3 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
Honolulu, HI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kuakini Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Straub Clinic And Hospital
Honolulu, HI
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
The Queens Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Kapiolani Medical Center For Women & Children
Honolulu, HI
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Shriners Hospital For Children
Honolulu, HI
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo
Tripler Amc (Ft Shafter)
Honolulu, HI
Acute Care - Department of DefenseGovernment 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 Honolulu County

HRSA lists 14 active mental health shortage designations that include Honolulu County (1 population-group, 13 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.

License and tax basics in Hawaii

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

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

Hawaii state guide

Other healthcare roles in Honolulu

Honolulu city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Honolulu, HI?

Clinical Social Workers in the Urban Honolulu metro area have a median pay of $41.85 per hour, about $87,040 a year. The middle half earn between $28.01 and $48.60 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Urban Honolulu ranks 44th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 21st of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.

Where do clinical social workers work in Honolulu?

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu, led by Kaiser Foundation Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Hawaii license to work in Honolulu as a clinical social worker?

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

Is Honolulu in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 14 active mental health shortage designations that include Honolulu 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 Honolulu?

The federal per diem benchmark in Honolulu 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 Honolulu?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Honolulu and across Hawaii. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Honolulu.

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What do employers near Honolulu pay clinical social workers? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Social Worker near Honolulu, HI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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 now: 1 Social Worker roles

  1. Supervisory Social WorkerPermanent
    $123k–$160k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Hilo, HI · posted 8 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
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