PermanentPosted yesterday
Social Worker (Substance Abuse)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Portsmouth, VA
$76k–$99k/ year
New this week
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Portsmouth, VA
Pay for clinical social workers in the Portsmouth area centers on $29.56 per hour, or about $61,470 a year. The lower quarter earns under $25.24 and the upper quarter over $36.49. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Portsmouth. That ranks 255th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 292nd of 333 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Portsmouth.
- $29.56median pay per hour, Virginia Beach
- $25–$36typical range per hour
- 510clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Portsmouth
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Get my free pay reportClinical Social Worker pay in Portsmouth, VA
The metro median is 4% below the Virginia statewide median of $30.86 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 510 healthcare social workers employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.56).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.46 | $44,640 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $25.24 | $52,500 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.56 | $61,470 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $36.49 | $75,900 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $38.79 | $80,680 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Portsmouth ranks
- 255th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 292nd of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 7 Virginia 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 Portsmouth
- Overall prices in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.56 median hour buys what $30.18 buys at the national price level, 8% 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.
Estimate your Portsmouth paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,064
- Per year: $53,208
- Per month: $4,434
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Portsmouth
| Item | Federal 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 Portsmouth
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portsmouth, 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center Portsmouth, VA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc Portsmouth Portsmouth, VA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Mental health shortage areas in Portsmouth city
HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Portsmouth city (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk, VA | 8 mi | $29.56/hr | 231,105 |
| Chesapeake, VA | 13 mi | $29.56/hr | 254,997 |
| Richmond, VA | 77 mi | $31.13/hr | 233,655 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 101 mi | $28.93/hr | 54,541 |
| Greenville, NC | 104 mi | $29.58/hr | 95,138 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 135 mi | $32.94/hr | 56,764 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Virginia · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Virginia
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Virginia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Portsmouth
Portsmouth city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Portsmouth, VA?
Clinical Social Workers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area have a median pay of $29.56 per hour, about $61,470 a year. The middle half earn between $25.24 and $36.49 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Portsmouth a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk ranks 292nd of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 255th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring clinical social workers in Portsmouth?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Portsmouth. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Portsmouth.
Do I need a Virginia license to work in Portsmouth as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Portsmouth in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active mental health shortage designations that include Portsmouth city. 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 Portsmouth?
The federal per diem benchmark in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Portsmouth and across Virginia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Portsmouth.
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What do employers near Portsmouth 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.
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Social Worker pay reportPortsmouth, VA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Sentara HealthcareHarrisonburg, VA · 5 postings$46.29/ hr$31–$56
- Mary Washington HealthcareMWHC Corporate, VA · 4 postings$37.08/ hr$31–$45
- VCU Health SystemRichmond, VA · 9 postings$35.25/ hr$28–$51
- AmedisysAbingdon, VA · 3 postings$32.93/ hr$29–$38
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$28Median$37.08High$51
26 Social Worker postings with published pay in Virginia, 22 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 26 Social Worker roles
- BRISTOL COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC (CBOC) SENIOR SOCIAL WORKERPermanent$94k–$123k/ year
- Psychiatric Social Worker (LCSW) - Virginia Treatment Center for Children - DaysPermanent$69k–$106k/ year
+ 24 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.