LA · Lake Charles · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Lake Charles, LA

The median clinical social worker pay in Louisiana is $30.95 per hour ($64,380 a year), with the typical range running from $28.38 to $36.67. That is 5% below the U.S. median of $32.74 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Lake Charles.

Clinical Social Worker pay in Lake Charles, LA

Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,480 healthcare social workers employed in Louisiana.

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.35$48,57029% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$28.38$59,03013% below U.S. median
Median$30.95$64,3805% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$36.67$76,27012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.22$83,66023% above U.S. median

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 Lake Charles

  • Overall prices in Lake Charles run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 48% below the U.S. average (index 51.8).

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.

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

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Estimate your Lake Charles paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,114
  • Per year: $55,710
  • Per month: $4,642

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for Louisiana. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Lake Charles

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 Louisiana

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

All Clinical Social Worker jobs in Louisiana

Hospitals in Lake Charles

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital
Lake Charles, LA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital
Lake Charles, LA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital
Lake Charles, LA
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedYes
Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, LA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Stonebridge Behavioral Hospital
Lake Charles, LA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Mental health shortage areas in Calcasieu Parish

HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Calcasieu Parish (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Port Arthur, TX46 mi$32.30/hr55,799
Beaumont, TX56 mi$32.30/hr112,893
Baytown, TX109 mi$35.11/hr86,004
Texas City, TX114 mi$35.11/hr57,875
Pasadena, TX122 mi$35.11/hr149,617
League City, TX124 mi$35.11/hr118,456

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Louisiana · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Louisiana

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

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

Louisiana state guide

Other healthcare roles in Lake Charles

Lake Charles city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Lake Charles, LA?

Clinical Social Workers in Louisiana have a median pay of $30.95 per hour, about $64,380 a year. The middle half earn between $28.38 and $36.67 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Where do clinical social workers work in Lake Charles?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles, led by Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Louisiana license to work in Lake Charles as a clinical social worker?

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

Is Lake Charles in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Calcasieu Parish. 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 Lake Charles?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lake Charles and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lake Charles.

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Social Worker near Lake Charles, LA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Louisiana list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Veterans Health AdministrationMonroe, LA · 3 postings$59.78/ hr$45–$69
  • 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 Louisiana list

2What they are offering now

Low$45Median$59.78High$69

3 Social Worker postings with published pay in Louisiana, 3 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

  1. Senior Social Worker-Primary Care Mental Health Integration/Substance Use Disorders Social WorkerPermanent
    $108k–$141k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Monroe, LA · posted yesterday
  2. Senior Social Worker-Hud VashPermanent
    $94k–$122k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Hammond, LA · posted 2 days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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