PermanentPosted today
Social Worker (Clinical)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Bragg, NC
$93k–$122k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Cary, NC
Pay for clinical social workers in the Cary area centers on $32.94 per hour, or about $68,520 a year. The lower quarter earns under $29.01 and the upper quarter over $40.86. That ranks 116th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 166th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Cary. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Cary.
- $32.94median pay per hour, Raleigh
- $29–$41typical range per hour
- 590clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Cary, NC
The metro median is 5% above the North Carolina statewide median of $31.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 590 healthcare social workers employed in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.67).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.76 | $45,260 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $29.01 | $60,340 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Median | $32.94 | $68,520 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $40.86 | $84,990 | 25% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $44.11 | $91,750 | 35% above U.S. median |
How Cary ranks
- 116th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 166th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 13 North Carolina 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 Cary
- Overall prices in Raleigh-Cary run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $32.94 median hour buys what $33.56 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Cary Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Cary, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Cary paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,186
- Per year: $59,292
- Per month: $4,941
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Raleigh-Cary metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Cary
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $131 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,435 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,655 |
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 North Carolina
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Cary as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Social Worker LCSW Ambulatory - NorthPark - PT
Advocate Health · Charlotte, NC
$28.55–$42.85/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in North Carolina
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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Per diemPosted today
Medical Social Worker
Amedisys · Leland, NC
$26.00–$28.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Social Worker (Mental Health Consultant)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Cherry Point, NC
$90k–$116k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Social Worker II AHWFB
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Social Worker LCSW Ambulatory
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Hospitals in Cary
CMS lists 1 hospital in Cary, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wakemed, Cary Hospital Cary, NC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Mental health shortage areas in Wake County
HRSA lists 5 active mental health shortage designations that include Wake County (2 population-group, 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex, NC | 5 mi | $32.94/hr | 75,977 |
| Raleigh, NC | 11 mi | $32.94/hr | 499,825 |
| Durham, NC | 14 mi | $37.24/hr | 301,870 |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 16 mi | $37.24/hr | 64,028 |
| Burlington, NC | 41 mi | $29.38/hr | 61,365 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 49 mi | $29.28/hr | 209,496 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in North Carolina · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in North Carolina
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
North Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Cary
Cary city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Cary, NC?
Clinical Social Workers in the Raleigh-Cary metro area have a median pay of $32.94 per hour, about $68,520 a year. The middle half earn between $29.01 and $40.86 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Cary a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Raleigh-Cary ranks 166th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 116th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Cary?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Cary, led by Wakemed, Cary Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Cary as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Cary in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 5 active mental health shortage designations that include Wake 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 Cary?
The federal per diem benchmark in Cary is $131 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,435 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 Cary?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cary and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cary.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Cary 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
110+ Clinical Social Worker roles in North Carolina, 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 reportCary, NC · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Military Treatment Facilities under DHAFort Bragg, NC · 2 postings$50.59/ hr$43–$58
- Advocate HealthCharlotte, NC · 6 postings$38.38/ hr$29–$46
- AmedisysLeland, NC · 3 postings$29.25/ hr$25–$34
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$27Median$38.38High$46
11 Social Worker postings with published pay in North Carolina, 11 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 11 Social Worker roles
- Social Worker (Clinical)Permanent$93k–$122k/ year
- Social Worker LCSW Ambulatory - NorthPark - PTPermanent$28.55–$42.85/ hour
+ 9 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.