SC · Charleston · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Charleston, SC

Clinical Social Workers in the Charleston area earn a median of $34.78 per hour, about $72,340 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $25.29 and $38.03. That ranks 84th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 128th of 333 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Charleston and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Charleston.

Open Clinical Social Worker roles near Charleston

Roles in other cities of the Charleston-North Charleston area.

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

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Clinical Social Worker pay in Charleston, SC

The metro median is 10% above the South Carolina statewide median of $31.61 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 330 healthcare social workers employed in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.70).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$19.96$41,52039% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$25.29$52,60023% below U.S. median
Median$34.78$72,3406% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$38.03$79,10016% above U.S. median
Top 10%$45.03$93,66038% above U.S. median

How Charleston ranks

  • 84th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 128th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 8 South 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 Charleston

  • Overall prices in Charleston-North Charleston run 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 20% above the U.S. average (index 119.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $34.78 median hour buys what $34.45 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Charleston paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,252
  • Per year: $62,604
  • Per month: $5,217

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

Travel assignment per diem in Charleston

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$246
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,366
13-week assignment$30,758

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 Charleston

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Charleston, 2 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Charleston Va Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Roper Hospital
Charleston, SC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Bon Secours-St Francis Xavier Hospital
Charleston, SC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Trident Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Musc Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health
Charleston, SC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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

Mental health shortage areas in Charleston County

HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Charleston County (2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 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
Mount Pleasant, SC6 mi$34.78/hr95,604
North Charleston, SC8 mi$34.78/hr126,005
Savannah, GA91 mi$30.36/hr148,808
Columbia, SC100 mi$31.05/hr144,788
Augusta, GA127 mi$30.96/hr201,737
Wilmington, NC153 mi$29.72/hr125,284

Clinical Social Worker jobs in South Carolina · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in South Carolina

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

South Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

South Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Charleston

Charleston city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Charleston, SC?

Clinical Social Workers in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area have a median pay of $34.78 per hour, about $72,340 a year. The middle half earn between $25.29 and $38.03 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Charleston-North Charleston ranks 128th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 84th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring clinical social workers in Charleston?

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

Do I need a South Carolina license to work in Charleston as a clinical social worker?

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

Is Charleston in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Charleston 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 Charleston?

The federal per diem benchmark in Charleston is $246 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,366 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 Charleston?

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

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

Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your South Carolina list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • AmedisysColumbia, SC · 3 postings$30.77/ hr$27–$60
  • 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 posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Carolina list

2What they are offering now

Low$27Median$38.63High$57

4 Social Worker postings with published pay in South Carolina, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 4 Social Worker roles

  1. Medical Social Worker Home HealthPermanent
    $57k–$71k/ year
    Amedisys · Columbia, SC · posted 15 days ago
  2. Licensed Clinical Social Worker / PRNPer diem
    $45.00–$48.00/ hour
    BrightSpring Health Services · Columbia, SC · posted 23 days ago

+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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