Clinical Social Worker salary
The median clinical social worker pay is $43 per hour, or about $89,440 a year, based on 368 postings with published pay from 61 employers. Collected October 15, 2026.
- 368roles with published pay
- $43median pay per hour
- $31–$60typical published range
- 61employers hiring
Pay percentiles, per hour and per year
| Level | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34.33 | $71,406 |
| 25th percentile | $38 | $79,040 |
| Median | $43 | $89,440 |
| 75th percentile | $51.70 | $107,546 |
| 90th percentile | $59.58 | $123,935 |
Clinical Social Worker salary by state, BLS data
Nationally the BLS median is $32.74 per hour, about $68,090 a year, across 185,940 workers. Pick a state for its metro areas, rankings and open roles.
| State | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $44.70 | $92,970 | 19,680 |
| District of Columbia | $44.52 | $92,600 | 490 |
| Oregon | $40.94 | $85,150 | 2,050 |
| Hawaii | $40.69 | $84,640 | 680 |
| Connecticut | $39.37 | $81,900 | 2,010 |
| New Jersey | $39.29 | $81,710 | 4,390 |
| Rhode Island | $38.20 | $79,460 | 570 |
| Vermont | $37.69 | $78,390 | 300 |
| Alaska | $37.50 | $77,990 | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $37.50 | $78,000 | 530 |
| Nevada | $36.67 | $76,280 | 1,070 |
| Washington | $36.38 | $75,670 | 4,970 |
| Maine | $34.86 | $72,520 | 590 |
| Utah | $34.79 | $72,370 | 1,930 |
| Minnesota | $34.78 | $72,330 | 2,530 |
| Massachusetts | $34.75 | $72,280 | 7,540 |
| Idaho | $34.25 | $71,240 | 830 |
| Texas | $33.64 | $69,960 | 11,470 |
| Illinois | $33.04 | $68,710 | 5,240 |
| Maryland | $32.68 | $67,970 | 5,430 |
| New York | $32.33 | $67,250 | 22,880 |
| Indiana | $32.32 | $67,220 | 4,320 |
| Florida | $32.26 | $67,090 | 8,950 |
| Arizona | $31.99 | $66,540 | 2,830 |
| Michigan | $31.94 | $66,440 | 5,110 |
| New Mexico | $31.77 | $66,090 | 730 |
| South Carolina | $31.61 | $65,760 | 2,510 |
| Wisconsin | $31.36 | $65,240 | 3,810 |
| North Carolina | $31.32 | $65,140 | 4,650 |
| Kentucky | $31.18 | $64,840 | 1,900 |
| Wyoming | $31.16 | $64,800 | 150 |
| Ohio | $31.13 | $64,750 | 8,700 |
| Louisiana | $30.95 | $64,380 | 1,480 |
| Kansas | $30.91 | $64,280 | 1,420 |
| Virginia | $30.86 | $64,200 | 2,680 |
| North Dakota | $30.61 | $63,660 | 310 |
| Iowa | $30.40 | $63,230 | 1,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.30 | $63,010 | 6,560 |
| Delaware | $30.16 | $62,730 | 710 |
| Georgia | $29.85 | $62,090 | 6,780 |
| Arkansas | $29.83 | $62,040 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $29.76 | $61,910 | 5,780 |
| West Virginia | $29.17 | $60,670 | 890 |
| Nebraska | $28.99 | $60,300 | 990 |
| Montana | $28.25 | $58,760 | 650 |
| Alabama | $27.89 | $58,000 | 2,640 |
| Mississippi | $27.26 | $56,690 | 1,750 |
| Missouri | $25.51 | $53,060 | 4,630 |
| South Dakota | $24.98 | $51,960 | 680 |
| Oklahoma | $24.92 | $51,830 | 2,320 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Healthcare Social Workers.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $68.03 | $141,490 | 180 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $63.84 | $132,790 | 180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $55.74 | $115,930 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $55.04 | $114,480 | 190 |
| Chico, CA | $52.90 | $110,030 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50.96 | $106,000 | 790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49.73 | $103,440 | 2,730 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46.81 | $97,370 | 1,020 |
| Salinas, CA | $46.56 | $96,840 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $46.01 | $95,710 | 230 |
Clinical Social Worker pay by state
| State | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 3 | $59.78 | $124,342 |
| Georgia | 4 | $57.50 | $119,600 |
| California | 56 | $55.64 | $115,731 |
| Arkansas | 3 | $54.54 | $113,443 |
| Texas | 9 | $52.88 | $109,990 |
| Ohio | 3 | $51.55 | $107,224 |
| Wyoming | 4 | $50.61 | $105,258 |
| Oregon | 6 | $49.30 | $102,544 |
| Washington | 36 | $48.60 | $101,088 |
| Florida | 4 | $47.50 | $98,800 |
| Alabama | 3 | $46.05 | $95,784 |
| Arizona | 13 | $45.85 | $95,368 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43.77 | $91,042 |
| Maine | 5 | $43 | $89,440 |
| Colorado | 13 | $42.11 | $87,589 |
| Maryland | 8 | $41.77 | $86,882 |
| Michigan | 4 | $41.22 | $85,727 |
| Massachusetts | 43 | $41.21 | $85,717 |
| Minnesota | 23 | $40.41 | $84,053 |
| Connecticut | 6 | $40.31 | $83,845 |
Clinical Social Worker wage offers in federal filings
What employers reported they would pay, alongside what they publish.
| State | Wage offers | Typical range / hr | Median / hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 35 | $35–$41 | $36.81 |
| California | 43 | $28–$45 | $30 |
Employer-reported wage offers in PERM and LCA filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, decided July 2025 – June 2026: 107 distinct offers, median $34 per hour. They are not job postings. The table lists states with at least 5 offers.
Who pays what
| Employer | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montage Health | 1 | $66.34 | $137,987 |
| El Camino Health | 4 | $66.11 | $137,509 |
| Stanford Children's Health | 4 | $63.02 | $131,082 |
| MarinHealth | 1 | $58.66 | $122,013 |
| MemorialCare | 1 | $58.25 | $121,160 |
| MaineGeneral Health | 1 | $56.10 | $116,688 |
| LifePoint Health | 1 | $55 | $114,400 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 5 | $54.52 | $113,402 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 75 | $54.18 | $112,694 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 4 | $53.12 | $110,479 |
What moves your pay
- Experience and credentials: certifications and years in the specialty usually move you up the published range.
- Shift: nights, weekends and holidays often add a differential on top of the base range.
- Setting: academic centers, trauma hospitals and large systems often publish higher ranges than community sites.
- Location: pay follows local cost of living and demand, so compare cities, not only states.
Method
Figures are the midpoints of pay ranges that employers published in 368 postings from 61 employers, collected October 15, 2026. They are not survey estimates and do not include overtime or bonuses.
Common questions
How much does a clinical social worker make?
The median clinical social worker pay across 368 postings with published pay is $43 per hour, about $89,440 a year. Half of the postings fall between $38 and $52 per hour.
Which states pay clinical social workers the most?
Among states with at least 3 postings, the highest medians are Louisiana ($59.78/hr), Georgia ($57.50/hr), California ($55.64/hr).
What do clinical social workers get paid at other hospitals in California?
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA$66.11/hr
- Veterans Health AdministrationLos Angeles, CA$63.41/hr
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA$63.02/hr
See all employers by name, how pay is moving and the roles that pay more.
Get the free pay reportFree for candidates · email onlyWhat do other employers pay clinical social workers near you?
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- 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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Your Social Worker pay reportCalifornia · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- 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
- BrightSpring Health ServicesSAN DIEGO, CA · 4 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
56 Social Worker postings with published pay in California, 51 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 56 Social Worker roles
- Senior Social Worker (Acute Mental Health ED)Permanent$115k–$149k/ year
- Social Worker, LCSWPermanent$99k–$143k/ year
+ 54 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.