Salary AI Book a Demo

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salary in the United States

How much does a Licensed Clinical Social Worker make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the United States is $83,650 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,920
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,666 to $92,690
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,487
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salaries

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $79,627
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,298
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,325
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $88,103
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,777
Levels Salary
Entry Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker$79,627
Intermediate Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker$80,298
Senior Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker$84,325
Specialist Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker$88,103
Expert Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker$88,777
View as Graph

How Do Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Licensed Clinical Social Workers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $92,617.
  • California: $92,266.
  • Massachusetts: $91,036.

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $105,508
  • San Francisco: $104,353
  • Oakland: $102,153

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Clinical Social Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.21% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Psychotherapy (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing.
  • Integrated Care (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): It is care that is planned with people who work together to understand the service user and their carer(s), puts them in control and coordinates and delivers services to achieve the best outcomes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.21%
Psychotherapy 2.34%
Integrated Care 1.6%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Licensed Clinical Social Worker's salary.

  • Clinical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Care $86,996
4%
Psychiatric $86,996
4%
Organizational Skills $85,323
2%
Get Latest Data

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Licensed Clinical Social Worker salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $90,171. While startup companies pay approximate $76,504.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $76,504
Growth Stage 51~500 $80,865
Established 501~5000 $87,114
Enterprise 5000+ $90,171

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Clinical Social Worker roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Licensed Clinical Social Worker positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Licensed Clinical Social Worker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$100,380$48.020%

How Education impacts a Licensed Clinical Social Worker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed Clinical Social Worker enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 0.5%
Associates 1.6%
Bachelors 1.9%
Masters 94.5%
Doctorate 1.4%
View as Graph

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Clinical Social Worker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$74,666
Average $83,650/year
$92,690
$6,222
Average $6,971/month
$7,724
$1,436
Average $1,609/week
$1,783
$36
Average $40/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $92,690 $7,724 $1,783 $45
Average $83,650 $6,971 $1,609 $40
25th Percentile $74,666 $6,222 $1,436 $36

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salary Growth & Career Path

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Next Role

Advancement

For a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $81,902 - a projected growth of -2% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Here are companies hiring for Licensed Clinical Social Worker and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Licensed Clinical Social Worker Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Licensed Clinical Social Worker job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Licensed Clinical Social Worker

1. Where can a Licensed Clinical Social Worker earn the most?

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker is $105,508.

2. What is the highest pay for Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

The highest pay for Licensed Clinical Social Worker is $100,920.

3. What is the lowest pay for Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

The lowest pay for Licensed Clinical Social Worker is $66,487.

4. What are the responsibilities of Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

Provides clinical social work services to patients and their families. Counsels and provides crisis intervention for patients, including assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems. Coaches patients on how to manage ongoing health conditions and provides therapy to help patients make positive behavior changes. Requires a master's degree in social work. Requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Requires the applicable State License to Practice Clinical Social Work. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed Clinical Social Worker roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst