PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Social Worker- Readjustment Counselor
Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI
$79k–$103k/ year
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Appleton, WI
Pay for clinical social workers in the Appleton area centers on $31.07 per hour, or about $64,630 a year. The lower quarter earns under $27.58 and the upper quarter over $38.67. That ranks 182nd of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 162nd of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Appleton. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Appleton.
- $31.07median pay per hour, Appleton
- $28–$39typical range per hour
- 70clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Clinical Social Worker pay in Appleton, WI
The metro median is 1% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $31.36 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 70 healthcare social workers employed in the Appleton metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.49).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.09 | $50,110 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $27.58 | $57,370 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Median | $31.07 | $64,630 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $38.67 | $80,430 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $42.64 | $88,690 | 30% above U.S. median |
How Appleton ranks
- 182nd of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 162nd of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 10th of 12 Wisconsin 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 Appleton
- Overall prices in Appleton run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 70.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $31.07 median hour buys what $33.62 buys at the national price level, 3% 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.
Get the Appleton Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Appleton, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Appleton paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,119
- Per year: $55,926
- Per month: $4,660
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Appleton metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Appleton
| 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).
Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Wisconsin
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Appleton as they open.
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Behavioral Health Social Worker - PT
Mercy · Wisconsin
$26.11–$43.81/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
70+ more Clinical Social Worker roles for you in Wisconsin
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Social Worker, Behavioral Health Unit - Full Time
Mercy · Wisconsin
$26.11–$43.81/ hour
Hospitals in Appleton
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Appleton, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus Appleton, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton Inc Appleton, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Mental health shortage areas in Outagamie County
HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Outagamie County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WI | 20 mi | $31.80/hr | 67,242 |
| Green Bay, WI | 26 mi | $31.01/hr | 106,311 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 87 mi | $32.17/hr | 563,531 |
| Waukesha, WI | 88 mi | $32.17/hr | 71,461 |
| West Allis, WI | 90 mi | $32.17/hr | 59,784 |
| Madison, WI | 97 mi | $33.50/hr | 285,300 |
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Wisconsin · Clinical Social Worker jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Wisconsin
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Appleton
Appleton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Appleton, WI?
Clinical Social Workers in the Appleton metro area have a median pay of $31.07 per hour, about $64,630 a year. The middle half earn between $27.58 and $38.67 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Appleton a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Appleton ranks 162nd of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 182nd of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Appleton?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Appleton, led by Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Appleton as a clinical social worker?
MSW degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Appleton in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Outagamie 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 Appleton?
The federal per diem benchmark in Appleton 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 Appleton?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Appleton and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Appleton.
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What do employers near Appleton 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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70+ Clinical Social Worker roles in Wisconsin, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Social Worker pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Wisconsin list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- MercyWisconsin · 2 postings$34.96/ hr$26–$44
- 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 Wisconsin list
2What they are offering now
Low$26Median$34.96High$49
3 Social Worker postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 1 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 3 Social Worker roles
- Social Worker- Readjustment CounselorPermanent$79k–$103k/ year
- Behavioral Health Social Worker - PTPermanent$26.11–$43.81/ hour
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.