Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW)
Licensed clinical social workers earn an estimated median salary of $68,000 per year, with private practice LCSWs earning $80,000-$120,000+ and growing demand across all clinical settings.
Taylor Rupe
B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington — Seattle
Key Takeaways
- Clinical social workers (LCSWs) earn an estimated median salary of $68,000, well above the BLS median of $55,960 for all mental health social workers.
- The LCSW licensure premium is significant: clinical social workers earn 20-35% more than MSW holders without clinical licensure in comparable roles.
- Private practice LCSWs with established caseloads earn $80,000-$120,000+, making private practice the highest-paying setting for clinical social workers.
- VA Medical Centers and federal positions offer $70,000-$95,000 with excellent benefits, retirement pensions, and loan repayment programs.
- LCSWs are the largest group of mental health providers in the U.S., and strong demand across all settings gives licensed clinical social workers significant negotiating leverage.
Clinical social workers (LCSWs) earn above the overall social worker median because the LCSW credential enables independent clinical practice, higher insurance reimbursement rates, and access to premium-paying settings like private practice and hospital behavioral health departments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks LCSWs under "Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers" (SOC 21-1023), which reports a median of $55,960, but this figure includes all master's-level mental health social workers, not just those with full clinical licensure.
LCSW-specific salary data from the NASW and industry surveys consistently shows that fully licensed clinical social workers earn a median of $65,000-$75,000 in salaried positions, with private practice LCSWs earning $80,000-$120,000+ annually. The LCSW premium reflects the additional supervised clinical hours and advanced licensing exam required beyond the MSW.
How Much Do Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW)s Make?
The estimated LCSW-specific median of $68,000 is derived from the BLS Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers category (SOC 21-1023, median $55,960), adjusted upward for the LCSW credential based on NASW workforce surveys and industry compensation data.
The BLS category includes social workers at all licensure levels (LMSW, LGSW, and LCSW), which pulls the overall median down. Fully licensed LCSWs command higher salaries because they can practice independently, bill insurance at clinical rates, supervise trainees, and access private practice settings. The 10th-to-90th percentile range of $42,000-$105,000 reflects the wide gap between early-career LCSWs in community agencies and established private practitioners or hospital-based clinicians.
10th Percentile
$42,000
Median
$68,000
90th Percentile
$105,000
Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW) Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $82,000 | 12,500+ |
| New Jersey | $79,500 | 3,200+ |
| New York | $78,000 | 11,800+ |
| Massachusetts | $76,200 | 4,900+ |
| Connecticut | $75,800 | 2,100+ |
| Washington | $74,500 | 3,400+ |
| Maryland | $72,800 | 2,800+ |
| Oregon | $71,200 | 1,900+ |
| Colorado | $69,500 | 2,400+ |
| Virginia | $67,800 | 3,100+ |
Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW) Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Post-MSW / Pre-Licensure (0-3 years) | $45,000-$58,000 |
| Newly Licensed LCSW (3-5 years) | $58,000-$72,000 |
| Experienced LCSW (6-12 years) | $68,000-$95,000 |
| Senior / Director LCSW (13+ years) | $85,000-$120,000+ |
Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW) Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| Private Practice (Solo or Group) | $80,000-$120,000+ |
| VA Medical Centers | $70,000-$95,000 |
| Hospitals & Medical Centers | $60,000-$82,000 |
| Community Mental Health Centers | $50,000-$68,000 |
| Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities | $52,000-$70,000 |
Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW) Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| MSW (Pre-Licensure / LMSW) | $45,000-$60,000 |
| MSW + LCSW | $58,000-$90,000 |
| MSW + LCSW + Clinical Specialization (EMDR, DBT) | $68,000-$110,000+ |
| DSW/PhD + LCSW (Clinical Director/Academic) | $85,000-$130,000+ |
How to Increase Your Clinical Social Worker Salary (LCSW) Salary
Clinical social workers have clear pathways to increase their earnings through specialization, practice building, and strategic credential stacking. The NASW reports that LCSWs with specialized clinical training and established practices earn significantly above the profession median, and the current behavioral health workforce shortage gives licensed clinicians strong negotiating power.
- Build a private practice with a well-defined clinical niche. LCSWs specializing in trauma (EMDR), couples therapy (Gottman/EFT), or perinatal mental health fill their caseloads faster and can charge premium rates of $150-$250 per session.
- Pursue advanced clinical certifications like EMDR, DBT, or Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). These credentials justify higher session rates and attract referrals from professionals who need specialized providers.
- Target VA Medical Center positions, which offer $70,000-$95,000 with federal benefits, retirement pensions, loan repayment programs (up to $120,000 through EDRP), and no requirement to bill insurance.
- Become a clinical supervisor (LCSW-S in most states). Supervising post-MSW clinicians generates additional income ($50-$100 per supervision hour) while contributing to the field's workforce pipeline.
- Consider a hybrid practice model: maintain a part-time salaried position with benefits while building a private practice caseload. This provides income stability during the practice-building phase.
Related Pages
How to Become a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
The complete LCSW career path: MSW requirements, supervised hours, ASWB clinical exam, and daily practice.
Social Worker Salary (All Specialties)
Salary data across all three BLS social worker categories, including child welfare and healthcare social work.
Best Online MSW Programs
CSWE-accredited online MSW programs with clinical concentrations for aspiring LCSWs.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on the estimated median salary of $68,000, salaried LCSWs earn approximately $32.69 per hour. In private practice, LCSWs typically charge $120-$200 per session (45-50 minutes), with some specialties and markets supporting rates of $200-$250. Private practice hourly earnings are higher than salaried rates, but need to account for time spent on documentation, marketing, insurance paperwork, and business management. A private practice LCSW seeing 25 clients per week at $150 per session grosses $195,000 annually before expenses.
The salaries are very similar. The BLS median for mental health social workers ($55,960) and mental health counselors ($59,190) are in the same range, and at the clinical licensure level (LCSW vs. LPC), earnings converge further. Both credentials allow independent practice and insurance billing at comparable rates. Where LCSWs may have a slight edge is in healthcare and government settings, where the MSW is often the preferred credential. In private practice, the earning difference between an LCSW and an LPC is negligible and depends more on caseload, specialization, and business skills than the credential itself.
The LCSW premium is substantial. MSW holders without clinical licensure (working as LMSWs or under provisional titles) typically earn $45,000-$60,000, while fully licensed LCSWs earn an estimated median of $68,000 in salaried positions and significantly more in private practice. That represents a 20-35% salary increase for the LCSW credential. The premium reflects the independent practice privileges, higher insurance reimbursement rates, and access to private practice that the LCSW provides.
Yes, and many do. LCSWs in private practice with full caseloads (25+ clients per week) routinely earn $100,000-$120,000+, especially in higher-cost markets or with specialized niches. LCSWs in director/administrative roles at hospitals, nonprofits, and government agencies can also reach six figures. VA Medical Center LCSWs with seniority earn $85,000-$95,000+ with federal benefits that add significant value beyond the base salary. Reaching six figures typically requires either a well-built private practice, a clinical director position, or 10+ years of progressive experience in a well-paying setting.
For most clinical social workers, yes. The LCSW typically requires 2-3 additional years of supervised practice and passing the ASWB clinical exam. In return, you gain the ability to practice independently, bill insurance at higher rates, supervise trainees (which generates income), and open a private practice. The salary increase of 20-35% over LMSW-level positions means the investment pays off within a few years. The one exception: if you plan to work exclusively in non-clinical roles (policy, program administration, community organizing), the LCSW adds less value than an MSW with a macro concentration.
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