Clinical Social Worker jobs in Santa Fe, NM
Pay for clinical social workers in the Santa Fe area centers on $29.03 per hour, or about $60,380 a year. The lower quarter earns under $23.62 and the upper quarter over $35.54. That ranks 282nd of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 303rd of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Santa Fe.
- $29.03median pay per hour, Santa Fe
- $24–$36typical range per hour
- 30clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 99cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Santa Fe, NM
The metro median is 9% below the New Mexico statewide median of $31.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 30 healthcare social workers employed in the Santa Fe metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.46).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.74 | $45,220 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.62 | $49,130 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.03 | $60,380 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $35.54 | $73,920 | 9% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $50.73 | $105,520 | 55% above U.S. median |
How Santa Fe ranks
- 282nd of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 303rd of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd 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 Santa Fe
- Overall prices in Santa Fe run 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.03 median hour buys what $29.39 buys at the national price level, 10% below 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 Santa Fe Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Santa Fe, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Fe paycheck
- Per year: $52,254
- Per month: $4,354
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Fe metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Fe
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $155 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,645 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,385 |
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).
Hospitals in Santa Fe
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center Santa Fe, NM | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center Santa Fe, NM | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Fe Phs Indian Hospital Santa Fe, NM | Acute care | Government and federal | 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 Santa Fe County
HRSA lists 5 active mental health shortage designations that include Santa Fe County (1 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho, NM | 48 mi | $32.29/hr | 112,524 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 54 mi | $32.29/hr | 560,326 |
| Pueblo, CO | 195 mi | — | 111,166 |
| Amarillo, TX | 236 mi | $30.20/hr | 203,729 |
| Lubbock, TX | 274 mi | $32.23/hr | 272,086 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 319 mi | $33.87/hr | 77,539 |
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 Santa Fe
Santa Fe city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Santa Fe, NM?
Clinical Social Workers in the Santa Fe metro area have a median pay of $29.03 per hour, about $60,380 a year. The middle half earn between $23.62 and $35.54 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Fe a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Santa Fe ranks 303rd of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 282nd of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Santa Fe?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Fe, led by Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 5 active mental health shortage designations that include Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Fe is $155 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,645 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 Santa Fe?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Fe and across New Mexico. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Fe.
What do employers near Santa Fe 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 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 Santa Fe, NM, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.