PermanentPosted today
Social Worker
SSM Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
Clinical Social Worker jobs in Madison, WI
Clinical Social Workers in the Madison area earn a median of $33.50 per hour, about $69,680 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $29.09 and $42.03. That ranks 109th of 370 U.S. metro areas for clinical social worker pay, and 129th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Madison. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Madison.
- $33.50median pay per hour, Madison
- $29–$42typical range per hour
- 570clinical social workers employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Clinical Social Worker roles in Madison
4 more open roles from employers in Madison. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Social Worker - HIV Clinic
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Social Worker - Ambulatory Primary Care
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Social Worker - Adult Neurology Clinic
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
Clinical Social Worker pay in Madison, WI
The metro median is 7% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $31.36 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 570 healthcare social workers employed in the Madison metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.16).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.70 | $51,380 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $29.09 | $60,510 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Median | $33.50 | $69,680 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $42.03 | $87,420 | 28% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $43.54 | $90,560 | 33% above U.S. median |
How Madison ranks
- 109th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 129th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd 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.
Get the Madison Clinical Social Worker pay report
Named employers near Madison, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Madison
- Overall prices in Madison run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $33.50 median hour buys what $34.43 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 Madison paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,206
- Per year: $60,300
- Per month: $5,025
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Madison metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Madison
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $124 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,428 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,564 |
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 Wisconsin
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Madison as they open.
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Social Worker- Readjustment Counselor
Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI
$79k–$103k/ year
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
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PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Social Worker, Behavioral Health Unit - Full Time
Mercy · Wisconsin
$26.11–$43.81/ hour
Hospitals in Madison
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, 4 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Va Medical Center Madison, WI | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Unitypoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority Madison, WI | Acute care | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison Madison, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Mendota Mental Health Institute Madison, WI | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 Dane County
HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Dane County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 35 mi | $34.07/hr | 66,428 |
| Waukesha, WI | 60 mi | $32.17/hr | 71,461 |
| Rockford, IL | 60 mi | $32.12/hr | 147,486 |
| West Allis, WI | 71 mi | $32.17/hr | 59,784 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 74 mi | $32.17/hr | 563,531 |
| Dubuque, IA | 76 mi | $30.40/hr | 58,987 |
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 Madison
Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do clinical social workers make in Madison, WI?
Clinical Social Workers in the Madison metro area have a median pay of $33.50 per hour, about $69,680 a year. The middle half earn between $29.09 and $42.03 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Madison a good place for clinical social workers once cost of living is counted?
Madison ranks 129th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 109th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do clinical social workers work in Madison?
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, led by Madison Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Madison 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 Madison in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active mental health shortage designation that include Dane 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 Madison?
The federal per diem benchmark in Madison is $124 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,428 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 Madison?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Madison and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Madison.
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What do employers near Madison 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.
Get your free pay report
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.