Clinical Social Worker jobs in Las Cruces, NM
Clinical Social Workers in the Las Cruces area earn a median of $31.41 per hour, about $65,320 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $22.86 and $40.47. That ranks 173rd of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 110th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Las Cruces. The free report below lists employers near Las Cruces and what they pay.
- $31.41median pay per hour, Las Cruces
- $23–$40typical range per hour
- 70clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 90cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Las Cruces, NM
The metro median is 1% below the New Mexico statewide median of $31.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 70 healthcare social workers employed in the Las Cruces metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.79).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.66 | $40,890 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.86 | $47,550 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Median | $31.41 | $65,320 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $40.47 | $84,180 | 24% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $42.62 | $88,650 | 30% above U.S. median |
How Las Cruces ranks
- 173rd of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 110th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 3 New Mexico 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 Las Cruces
- Overall prices in Las Cruces run 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $31.41 median hour buys what $34.82 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Las Cruces Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Las Cruces, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Las Cruces paycheck
- Per year: $56,538
- Per month: $4,712
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Las Cruces metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Las Cruces
| 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).
Hospitals in Las Cruces
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Las Cruces, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc Las Cruces, NM | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Memorial Medical Center Las Cruces, NM | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Mountain View Regional Medical Center Las Cruces, NM | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Bhc Mesilla Valley Hospital, Llc Las Cruces, NM | 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 Doña Ana County
HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Doña Ana County (1 geographic, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 39 mi | $25.33/hr | 681,723 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 192 mi | $32.29/hr | 560,326 |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 204 mi | $32.29/hr | 112,524 |
| Tucson, AZ | 239 mi | $28.99/hr | 554,013 |
| Marana, AZ | 254 mi | $33.47/hr | 62,380 |
| Odessa, TX | 262 mi | $37.78/hr | 119,748 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in New Mexico · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in New Mexico
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
New Mexico taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Las Cruces
Las Cruces city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Las Cruces, NM?
Clinical Social Workers in the Las Cruces metro area have a median pay of $31.41 per hour, about $65,320 a year. The middle half earn between $22.86 and $40.47 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Las Cruces a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Las Cruces ranks 110th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 173rd of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Las Cruces?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Las Cruces, led by Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Las Cruces as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Las Cruces in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Doña Ana 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 Las Cruces?
The federal per diem benchmark in Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Las Cruces and across New Mexico. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Las Cruces.
What do employers near Las Cruces 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.
Get your free pay report
20+ Clinical Social Worker roles in New Mexico, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your New Mexico list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Presbyterian Healthcare ServicesAlbuquerque, NM · 1 wage offer$24.70/ hr$25–$25
- 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 pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your New Mexico list
2What they are offering now
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 Social Worker roles
Open Social Worker roles near Las Cruces, NM, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.