VA · Richmond · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Richmond, VA

The median clinical social worker pay in the Richmond area is $31.13 per hour ($64,750 a year), with the typical range running from $27.55 to $37.01. 8 open roles with published pay are listed for Richmond. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Richmond. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Richmond.

Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Richmond

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Clinical Social Worker pay in Richmond, VA

The metro median is 1% above the Virginia statewide median of $30.86 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 470 healthcare social workers employed in the Richmond metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.59).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$22.32$46,43032% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$27.55$57,30016% below U.S. median
Median$31.13$64,7505% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.01$76,98013% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.83$84,93025% above U.S. median

How Richmond ranks

  • 179th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 235th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd 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 Richmond

  • Overall prices in Richmond run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 99.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $31.13 median hour buys what $31.81 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Richmond paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,121
  • Per year: $56,034
  • Per month: $4,670

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

Travel assignment per diem in Richmond

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$157
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,659
13-week assignment$21,567

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 Richmond

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Bon Secours St Marys Hospital
Richmond, VA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Richmond Va Medical Center
Richmond, VA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Cjw Medical Center
Richmond, VA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Henrico Doctors' Hospital
Richmond, VA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Medical College Of Virginia Hospitals
Richmond, VA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital
Richmond, VA
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedYes

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

Mental health shortage areas in Richmond city

HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Richmond city (1 population-group, 3 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Newport News, VA61 mi$29.56/hr183,056
Hampton, VA73 mi$29.56/hr137,596
Suffolk, VA74 mi$29.56/hr103,105
Portsmouth, VA77 mi$29.56/hr96,482
Norfolk, VA80 mi$29.56/hr231,105
Chesapeake, VA87 mi$29.56/hr254,997

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.

Virginia state guide

Other healthcare roles in Richmond

Richmond city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Richmond, VA?

Clinical Social Workers in the Richmond metro area have a median pay of $31.13 per hour, about $64,750 a year. The middle half earn between $27.55 and $37.01 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Richmond ranks 235th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 179th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring clinical social workers in Richmond?

We list 8 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Richmond. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Richmond.

Do I need a Virginia license to work in Richmond 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 Richmond in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active mental health shortage designations that include Richmond 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 Richmond?

The federal per diem benchmark in Richmond is $157 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 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 Richmond?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Richmond and across Virginia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Richmond.

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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 Richmond, VA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Social Worker pay reportRichmond, VA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • VCU Health SystemRichmond, VA · 9 postings$35.25/ hr$28–$51
  • Sentara HealthcareHarrisonburg, VA · 5 postings$46.29/ hr$31–$56
  • Mary Washington HealthcareMWHC Corporate, VA · 4 postings$37.08/ hr$31–$45
  • 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

  1. BRISTOL COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC (CBOC) SENIOR SOCIAL WORKERPermanent
    $94k–$123k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Bristol, VA · posted today
  2. Psychiatric Social Worker (LCSW) - Virginia Treatment Center for Children - DaysPermanent
    $69k–$106k/ year
    VCU Health System · Richmond, VA · posted today

+ 24 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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