NY · Rochester · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Rochester, NY

Pay for clinical social workers in the Rochester area centers on $24.97 per hour, or about $51,940 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.21 and the upper quarter over $33.47. That ranks 347th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 331st of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Rochester. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Rochester.

Clinical Social Worker pay in Rochester, NY

The metro median is 23% below the New York statewide median of $32.33 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,700 healthcare social workers employed in the Rochester metro area, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.88).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.32$36,03047% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.21$37,88044% below U.S. median
Median$24.97$51,94024% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$33.47$69,6202% above U.S. median
Top 10%$38.86$80,83019% above U.S. median

How Rochester ranks

  • 347th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 331st of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 10th of 11 New York 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 Rochester

  • Overall prices in Rochester run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $24.97 median hour buys what $25.73 buys at the national price level, 21% 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.

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

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Estimate your Rochester paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$899
  • Per year: $44,946
  • Per month: $3,746

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

Travel assignment per diem in Rochester

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$132
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,484
13-week assignment$19,292

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 New York

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

PermanentPosted yesterday

Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration · Queens, NY

$73k–$114k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888775300
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration · Buffalo, NY

$65k–$102k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888468200
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Social Worker MSW

United Health Services · Binghamton, NY

$30.58–$45.86/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R0000014705
New this week
View role

All Clinical Social Worker jobs in New York

Hospitals in Rochester

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Rochester, 0 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Highland Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unity Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unity Specialty Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedNo
Rochester Psychiatric Center
Rochester, NY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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

Mental health shortage areas in Monroe County

HRSA lists 9 active mental health shortage designations that include Monroe County (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 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
Buffalo, NY66 mi$29.04/hr276,617
Syracuse, NY75 mi$30.35/hr146,097
Utica, NY121 mi$25.19/hr63,660
Erie, PA145 mi$28.42/hr92,940
Scranton, PA158 mi$29.70/hr75,905
Schenectady, NY188 mi$29.66/hr69,495

Clinical Social Worker jobs in New York · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New York

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

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

New York state guide

Other healthcare roles in Rochester

Rochester city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Rochester, NY?

Clinical Social Workers in the Rochester metro area have a median pay of $24.97 per hour, about $51,940 a year. The middle half earn between $18.21 and $33.47 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Rochester a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?

Rochester ranks 331st of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 347th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Where do clinical social workers work in Rochester?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Rochester, led by Highland Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a New York license to work in Rochester as a clinical social worker?

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

Is Rochester in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 9 active mental health shortage designations that include Monroe 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 Rochester?

The federal per diem benchmark in Rochester is $132 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,484 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 Rochester?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Rochester and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Rochester.

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

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Pay report · Social Worker near Rochester, NY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportRochester, NY · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 5 postings$51.30/ hr$41–$65
  • Garnet HealthMiddletown, NY · 2 postings$47.64/ hr$41–$54
  • Maimonides Medical CenterBrooklyn, NY · 5 wage offers$47.03/ hr$38–$53
  • Mount Sinai HospitalNew York, NY · 4 wage offers$43.00/ hr$40–$47

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$31Median$39.95High$56

24 Social Worker postings with published pay in New York, 23 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 24 Social Worker roles

  1. Social Worker (Program Coordinator)Permanent
    $125k–$163k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Bronx, NY · posted today
  2. Social Worker - Full Time- DaysPermanent
    $30.95–$49.03/ hour
    Guthrie Healthcare System · Binghamton, NY · posted today

+ 22 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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