PermanentPosted yesterday
Social Worker
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$68k–$107k/ year
New this week
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Ames, IA
The median clinical social worker pay in the Ames area is $30.05 per hour ($62,500 a year), with the typical range running from $26.90 to $34.31. That ranks 228th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 150th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Ames. The free report below lists employers near Ames and what they pay.
- $30.05median pay per hour, Ames
- $27–$34typical range per hour
- 30clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Ames, IA
The metro median is 1% below the Iowa statewide median of $30.40 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 30 healthcare social workers employed in the Ames metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.45).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.65 | $51,270 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $26.90 | $55,950 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Median | $30.05 | $62,500 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.31 | $71,360 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $38.77 | $80,640 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Ames ranks
- 228th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 150th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 8 Iowa 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 Ames
- Overall prices in Ames run 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $30.05 median hour buys what $33.83 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Ames Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Ames, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Ames paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,082
- Per year: $54,090
- Per month: $4,508
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Ames metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Ames
| Item | Federal 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 Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Ames as they open.
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Senior Social Worker - Outpatient Substance Use Disorders Program
Veterans Health Administration · Waterloo, IA
$94k–$123k/ year
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in Iowa
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Hospitals in Ames
CMS lists 1 hospital in Ames, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Greeley Medical Center Ames, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 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 Story County
HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Story County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 20 mi | $31.00/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 31 mi | $31.00/hr | 213,096 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 34 mi | $31.00/hr | 73,664 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $29.23/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 100 mi | $30.46/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 111 mi | $32.34/hr | 76,710 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Iowa · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Ames
Ames city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Ames, IA?
Clinical Social Workers in the Ames metro area have a median pay of $30.05 per hour, about $62,500 a year. The middle half earn between $26.90 and $34.31 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Ames a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Ames ranks 150th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 228th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Ames?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Ames, led by Mary Greeley Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ames as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Ames in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Story 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 Ames?
The federal per diem benchmark in Ames 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 Ames?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Ames and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Ames.
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What do employers near Ames 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 Iowa, 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 Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Veterans Health AdministrationDes Moines, IA · 2 postings$47.12/ hr$33–$59
- 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
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa 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: 2 Social Worker roles
- Social WorkerPermanent$68k–$107k/ year
- Senior Social Worker - Outpatient Substance Use Disorders ProgramPermanent$94k–$123k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.