WI · Milwaukee · Updated October 15, 2026

Clinical Social Worker jobs in Milwaukee, WI

The median clinical social worker pay in the Milwaukee area is $32.17 per hour ($66,910 a year), with the typical range running from $27.62 to $38.76. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Milwaukee. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Milwaukee. The free report below lists employers near Milwaukee and what they pay.

Open Clinical Social Worker roles in Milwaukee

More open Clinical Social Worker roles in Milwaukee

3 more open roles from employers in Milwaukee. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Clinical Social Worker pay in Milwaukee, WI

The metro median is 3% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $31.36 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,190 healthcare social workers employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area, 1.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.21).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.46$48,80028% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$27.62$57,45016% below U.S. median
Median$32.17$66,9102% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$38.76$80,62018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$43.36$90,19032% above U.S. median

How Milwaukee ranks

  • 144th of 370 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 179th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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 Milwaukee

  • Overall prices in Milwaukee-Waukesha run 3% below the U.S. average (index 96.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $32.17 median hour buys what $33.19 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Milwaukee paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,158
  • Per year: $57,906
  • Per month: $4,826

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

Travel assignment per diem in Milwaukee

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$140
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,540
13-week assignment$20,020

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 Milwaukee

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Milwaukee, 2 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of clinical social workers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Ascension Se Wisconsin Hospital
Milwaukee, WI
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Aurora St Lukes Medical Center
Milwaukee, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Ascension St Francis Hospital
Milwaukee, WI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
Milwaukee, WI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Milwaukee Va Medical Center
Milwaukee, WI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Childrens Hospital Of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Mental Health Emergency Center, Inc
Milwaukee, WI
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

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

Mental health shortage areas in Milwaukee County

HRSA lists 12 active mental health shortage designations that include Milwaukee County (1 geographic, 1 population-group, 10 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 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
West Allis, WI5 mi$32.17/hr59,784
Waukesha, WI15 mi$32.17/hr71,461
Racine, WI25 mi$34.70/hr78,057
Kenosha, WI33 mi$32.00/hr99,578
Waukegan, IL48 mi$35.91/hr88,570
Janesville, WI59 mi$34.07/hr66,428

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.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Milwaukee

Milwaukee city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do clinical social workers make in Milwaukee, WI?

Clinical Social Workers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area have a median pay of $32.17 per hour, about $66,910 a year. The middle half earn between $27.62 and $38.76 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Milwaukee-Waukesha ranks 179th of 333 metro areas for clinical social worker pay after adjusting for local prices, and 144th of 370 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring clinical social workers in Milwaukee?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Milwaukee. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Milwaukee.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 12 active mental health shortage designations that include Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?

The federal per diem benchmark in Milwaukee is $140 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,540 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 Milwaukee?

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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Pay report · Social Worker near Milwaukee, WI
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

  1. Social Worker- Readjustment CounselorPermanent
    $79k–$103k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI · posted 8 days ago
  2. Behavioral Health Social Worker - PTPermanent
    $26.11–$43.81/ hour
    Mercy · Wisconsin · posted 30+ days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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