What is the average Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salary in the US?

The national median Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salary is $68,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $52,000, while senior professionals earn $115,000 or more.

Which city pays Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)s the most?

New York City offers the highest median Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salary at $127K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salaries growing?

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salaries are growing at 5.8% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Mental Health50% remote-eligible+5.8% YoY growth

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Salary
by City (2026)

Provide clinical mental health services, therapy, and case management. National median: $68K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$68K

Top 10% earn

$115K

Entry level

$52K

Salary growth

+5.8%/yr

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$97K	$127K	$165K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$96K	$126K	$163K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$96K	$126K	$163K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$91K	$119K	$154K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$89K	$117K	$151K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$86K	$112K	$145K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$86K	$112K	$145K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$84K	$110K	$143K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$82K	$107K	$139K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$81K	$105K	$136K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$78K	$102K	$132K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$77K	$101K	$130K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$77K	$101K	$130K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$75K	$99K	$128K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$75K	$99K	$128K	145	10.75%
San Francisco, CA	$73K	$95K	$123K	224	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$73K	$95K	$123K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$72K	$94K	$121K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$72K	$94K	$121K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$72K	$94K	$121K	138	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$70K	$92K	$119K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$68K	$88K	$114K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$68K	$88K	$114K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$68K	$88K	$114K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$65K	$85K	$110K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$65K	$85K	$110K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$63K	$83K	$107K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$63K	$83K	$107K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$63K	$83K	$107K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$63K	$83K	$107K	122	6.99%
Arlington, VA	$62K	$82K	$106K	148	5.75%
Nashua, NH	$62K	$82K	$106K	120	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$62K	$82K	$106K	192	11%
Frisco, TX	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$61K	$80K	$104K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$61K	$80K	$104K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$61K	$80K	$104K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$61K	$80K	$104K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$61K	$80K	$104K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$60K	$78K	$101K	128	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$60K	$78K	$101K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$60K	$78K	$101K	130	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$60K	$78K	$101K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$58K	$76K	$99K	112	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$58K	$76K	$99K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$58K	$76K	$99K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$58K	$76K	$99K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$58K	$76K	$99K	112	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$58K	$76K	$99K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$57K	$75K	$97K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$57K	$75K	$97K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$57K	$75K	$97K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$57K	$75K	$97K	106	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$57K	$75K	$97K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$56K	$73K	$95K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$56K	$73K	$95K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$56K	$73K	$95K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$56K	$73K	$95K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$56K	$73K	$95K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$56K	$73K	$95K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$56K	$73K	$95K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$56K	$73K	$95K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$56K	$73K	$95K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$56K	$73K	$95K	104	6.8%
Boise, ID	$56K	$73K	$95K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$56K	$73K	$95K	108	6.6%
Aurora, CO	$55K	$72K	$93K	112	4.55%
Austin, TX	$55K	$71K	$92K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$55K	$71K	$92K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$55K	$71K	$92K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$55K	$71K	$92K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$55K	$71K	$92K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$55K	$71K	$92K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$55K	$71K	$92K	118	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$55K	$71K	$92K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$55K	$71K	$92K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$55K	$71K	$92K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$55K	$71K	$92K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$55K	$71K	$92K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$55K	$71K	$92K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$55K	$71K	$92K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$53K	$69K	$90K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$53K	$69K	$90K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$53K	$69K	$90K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$53K	$69K	$90K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$53K	$69K	$90K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$53K	$69K	$90K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$53K	$69K	$90K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$53K	$69K	$90K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$52K	$68K	$88K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$52K	$68K	$88K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$52K	$68K	$88K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$52K	$68K	$88K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$52K	$68K	$88K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$52K	$68K	$88K	100	6.6%
Fresno, CA	$51K	$67K	$86K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$51K	$67K	$86K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$51K	$67K	$86K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$51K	$67K	$86K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$51K	$67K	$86K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$51K	$67K	$86K	90	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$51K	$67K	$86K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$51K	$67K	$86K	98	7.15%
Corpus Christi, TX	$49K	$65K	$84K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$49K	$65K	$84K	88	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$50K	$65K	$84K	95	None ✓
Glendale, AZ	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$50K	$65K	$84K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$49K	$65K	$84K	82	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$50K	$65K	$84K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$50K	$65K	$84K	82	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$50K	$65K	$84K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$50K	$65K	$84K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$50K	$65K	$84K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$50K	$65K	$84K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$49K	$65K	$84K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$49K	$65K	$84K	95	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$49K	$65K	$84K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$49K	$65K	$84K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$49K	$65K	$84K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$48K	$63K	$81K	82	None ✓
Midland, TX	$48K	$63K	$81K	92	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$48K	$63K	$81K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$48K	$63K	$81K	92	5.75%
Athens, GA	$48K	$63K	$81K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$48K	$63K	$81K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$48K	$63K	$81K	90	4.25%
Duluth, MN	$48K	$63K	$81K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$48K	$63K	$81K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$48K	$63K	$81K	88	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$48K	$63K	$81K	92	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$48K	$63K	$81K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$48K	$63K	$81K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$48K	$63K	$81K	88	5.9%
Cheyenne, WY	$48K	$63K	$81K	92	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$47K	$61K	$79K	78	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$47K	$61K	$79K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$47K	$61K	$79K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$47K	$61K	$79K	90	4.95%
Knoxville, TN	$47K	$61K	$79K	85	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$47K	$61K	$79K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$47K	$61K	$79K	90	5.3%
Tulsa, OK	$47K	$61K	$79K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$47K	$61K	$79K	82	5.7%
Fargo, ND	$47K	$61K	$79K	90	2.5%
Laredo, TX	$46K	$60K	$77K	76	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$46K	$60K	$77K	88	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$46K	$60K	$77K	82	4.9%
Beaumont, TX	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$44K	$58K	$75K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$43K	$56K	$72K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$42K	$54K	$70K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$41K	$53K	$69K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$41K	$53K	$69K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$41K	$53K	$69K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$41K	$53K	$69K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$41K	$53K	$69K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$41K	$53K	$69K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$39K	$51K	$66K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$39K	$51K	$66K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $68K Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is $68,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $52,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $88,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)s nationally earn $115,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Social Work; LCSW license. This role is 50% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) compensation is growing at 5.8% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)s significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Salaryby City (2026)