NC · Gastonia · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Gastonia, NC

Pay for clinical social workers in the Gastonia area centers on $32.14 per hour, or about $66,850 a year. The lower quarter earns under $27.64 and the upper quarter over $37.65. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Gastonia. That ranks 145th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 182nd of 333 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Gastonia.

Open Clinical Social Worker roles near Gastonia

Roles in other cities of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area.

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Clinical Social Worker pay in Gastonia, NC

The metro median is 3% above the North Carolina statewide median of $31.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,100 healthcare social workers employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.68).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.67$34,67049% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$27.64$57,49016% below U.S. median
Median$32.14$66,8502% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.65$78,31015% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.18$83,57023% above U.S. median

How Gastonia ranks

  • 145th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 182nd of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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 Gastonia

  • Overall prices in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $32.14 median hour buys what $33.02 buys at the national price level, 1% 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.

Estimate your Gastonia paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,157
  • Per year: $57,852
  • Per month: $4,821

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

Travel assignment per diem in Gastonia

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).

Hospitals in Gastonia

CMS lists 1 hospital in Gastonia, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Caromont Regional Medical Center
Gastonia, NC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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

Mental health shortage areas in Gaston County

HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Gaston County (1 population-group, 1 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
Charlotte, NC20 mi$32.14/hr943,476
Huntersville, NC21 mi$32.14/hr67,087
Greenville, SC72 mi$31.44/hr74,371
Winston-Salem, NC79 mi$32.28/hr255,769
Asheville, NC80 mi$30.37/hr94,992
High Point, NC84 mi$29.93/hr118,601

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.

North Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Gastonia

Gastonia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Gastonia, NC?

Clinical Social Workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area have a median pay of $32.14 per hour, about $66,850 a year. The middle half earn between $27.64 and $37.65 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ranks 182nd of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 145th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring clinical social workers in Gastonia?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Gastonia.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Gastonia 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 Gastonia in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Gaston 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 Gastonia?

The federal per diem benchmark in Gastonia 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 Gastonia?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Gastonia and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Gastonia.

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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 Gastonia, NC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportGastonia, 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

  1. Social Worker (Clinical)Permanent
    $93k–$122k/ year
    Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Bragg, NC · posted today
  2. Social Worker LCSW Ambulatory - NorthPark - PTPermanent
    $28.55–$42.85/ hour
    Advocate Health · Charlotte, NC · posted today

+ 9 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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