PermanentPosted 26 days ago
Licensed Therapist - LCSW or LPCC
Baptist Healthcare System · Lexington, KY
Pay range with your report
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Lexington, KY
Pay for clinical social workers in the Lexington area centers on $33.96 per hour, or about $70,630 a year. The lower quarter earns under $27.32 and the upper quarter over $37.30. That ranks 100th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 60th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Lexington. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Lexington.
- $33.96median pay per hour, Lexington
- $27–$37typical range per hour
- 350clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Clinical Social Worker roles in Lexington
1 more open role from employers in Lexington. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Clinical Social Worker pay in Lexington, KY
The metro median is 9% above the Kentucky statewide median of $31.18 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 350 healthcare social workers employed in the Lexington-Fayette metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.03).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.92 | $45,590 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $27.32 | $56,830 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $33.96 | $70,630 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $37.30 | $77,580 | 14% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $41.34 | $85,990 | 26% above U.S. median |
How Lexington ranks
- 100th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 60th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 6 Kentucky 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.
Get the Lexington Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Lexington, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Lexington
- Overall prices in Lexington-Fayette run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 77.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $33.96 median hour buys what $36.56 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Lexington paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,223
- Per year: $61,128
- Per month: $5,094
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lexington-Fayette metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Lexington
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $118 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,386 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,018 |
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 Kentucky
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Lexington as they open.
Per diemPosted yesterday
Medical Social Worker
CommonSpirit Health · Elizabethtown, KY
$26.70–$39.71/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Medical Social Worker - Hospice
CommonSpirit Health · Bardstown, KY
$26.70–$39.71/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
55+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in Kentucky
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Medical Social Worker
CommonSpirit Health · Florence, KY
$28.10–$41.80/ hour
Hospitals in Lexington
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Lexington, 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist Health Lexington Lexington, KY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Kentucky Hospital Lexington, KY | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Lexington Va Medical Center Lexington, KY | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Lexington, KY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Saint Joseph East Lexington, KY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Eastern State Hospital Lexington, KY | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| The Ridge Behavioral Health System Lexington, KY | Psychiatric | For-profit | 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 Fayette County
HRSA lists 8 active mental health shortage designations that include Fayette County (1 geographic, 2 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 65 mi | $35.28/hr | 640,796 |
| Jeffersonville, IN | 70 mi | $35.28/hr | 52,912 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 76 mi | $32.05/hr | 314,915 |
| Hamilton, OH | 94 mi | $32.05/hr | 63,953 |
| Middletown, OH | 101 mi | $32.05/hr | 52,291 |
| Columbus, IN | 113 mi | $29.17/hr | 51,970 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Kentucky · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Kentucky
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Kentucky requires for your role with the Kentucky licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Kentucky taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Lexington
Lexington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Lexington, KY?
Clinical Social Workers in the Lexington-Fayette metro area have a median pay of $33.96 per hour, about $70,630 a year. The middle half earn between $27.32 and $37.30 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lexington a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Lexington-Fayette ranks 60th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 100th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Lexington?
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Lexington, led by Baptist Health Lexington. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Lexington as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Kentucky requires for your role with the Kentucky licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Lexington in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 8 active mental health shortage designations that include Fayette 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 Lexington?
The federal per diem benchmark in Lexington is $118 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,386 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 Lexington?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lexington and across Kentucky. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lexington.
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What do employers near Lexington 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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55+ Clinical Social Worker roles in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthElizabethtown, KY · 3 postings$33.20/ hr$27–$42
- 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 Kentucky list
2What they are offering now
Low$27Median$33.20High$42
3 Social Worker postings with published pay in Kentucky, 2 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 3 Social Worker roles
- Medical Social WorkerPer diem$26.70–$39.71/ hour
- Medical Social Worker - HospicePermanent$26.70–$39.71/ hour
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.