PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Licensed Social Worker / LSW
BrightSpring Health Services · King of Prussia, PA
$44.00–$48.00/ hour
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
The median clinical social worker pay in the Pittsburgh area is $29.38 per hour ($61,110 a year), with the typical range running from $27.28 to $34.22. That ranks 262nd of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 270th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 11 hospitals in Pittsburgh. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Pittsburgh.
- $29.38median pay per hour, Pittsburgh
- $27–$34typical range per hour
- 1,570clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 95cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Pittsburgh, PA
The metro median is 3% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $30.30 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,570 healthcare social workers employed in the Pittsburgh metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.17).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.32 | $48,510 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $27.28 | $56,740 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.38 | $61,110 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.22 | $71,180 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $42.04 | $87,440 | 28% above U.S. median |
How Pittsburgh ranks
- 262nd of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 270th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 11th of 15 Pennsylvania 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 Pittsburgh
- Overall prices in Pittsburgh run 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 72.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.38 median hour buys what $31.03 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Pittsburgh Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Pittsburgh, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Pittsburgh paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,058
- Per year: $52,884
- Per month: $4,407
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Pittsburgh metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Pittsburgh
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $138 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,526 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,838 |
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 Pennsylvania
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Pittsburgh as they open.
PermanentPosted 30 days ago
Medical Social Worker
Amedisys · Lancaster, PA
$28.00–$35.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in Pennsylvania
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Hospitals in Pittsburgh
CMS lists 11 hospitals in Pittsburgh, 6 of the 9 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magee Womens Hospital Of Upmc Health System Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| St Clair Hospital Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Upmc Mercy Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Upmc Passavant Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Upmc Presbyterian Shadyside Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Va Pittsburgh Healthcare System - Univ Dr Pittsburgh, PA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Upmc St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Children's Home Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Children's | Nonprofit | 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 Allegheny County
HRSA lists 5 active mental health shortage designations that include Allegheny County (5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown, OH | 57 mi | $30.29/hr | 59,123 |
| Canton, OH | 77 mi | $29.40/hr | 69,211 |
| Akron, OH | 92 mi | $29.80/hr | 189,664 |
| Cuyahoga Falls, OH | 97 mi | $29.80/hr | 50,979 |
| Parma, OH | 112 mi | $33.08/hr | 79,350 |
| Cleveland, OH | 114 mi | $33.08/hr | 365,379 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Pennsylvania · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Pennsylvania
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Pennsylvania taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Pittsburgh, PA?
Clinical Social Workers in the Pittsburgh metro area have a median pay of $29.38 per hour, about $61,110 a year. The middle half earn between $27.28 and $34.22 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Pittsburgh a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Pittsburgh ranks 270th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 262nd of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Pittsburgh?
CMS lists 11 hospitals in Pittsburgh, led by Magee Womens Hospital Of Upmc Health System. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Pittsburgh as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Pittsburgh in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 5 active mental health shortage designations that include Allegheny 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 Pittsburgh?
The federal per diem benchmark in Pittsburgh is $138 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,526 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 Pittsburgh?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Pittsburgh.
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What do employers near Pittsburgh 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
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110+ Clinical Social Worker roles in Pennsylvania, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Pennsylvania list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Geisinger Medical CenterDanville, PA · 1 wage offer$27.81/ hr$28–$28
- Wellspan HealthMount Gretna, PA · 1 wage offer$26.77/ hr$27–$27
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$66.11/ hr$57–$75
- Veterans Health AdministrationLos Angeles, CA · 13 postings$63.41/ hr$32–$77
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Pennsylvania list
2What they are offering now
Low$29Median$43.00High$61
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 now: 2 Social Worker roles
- Licensed Social Worker / LSWPermanent$44.00–$48.00/ hour
- Medical Social WorkerPermanent$28.00–$35.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.