Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Also called: Case Manager · Clinical Social Worker · Clinical Therapist · Clinician · Counselor · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Mental Health Therapist · Social Worker
O*NET-SOC 21-1023.00 (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker salary
Wages for mental health and substance abuse social workers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $28.98.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $46,450 | $79,000 | $147,300 |
| Texas | $36,870 | $46,630 | $79,210 |
| Florida | $38,180 | $51,590 | $77,610 |
| New York | $54,650 | $79,380 | $122,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,790 | $48,290 | $73,940 |
| Illinois | $39,910 | $49,960 | $79,050 |
| Ohio | $34,700 | $46,080 | $75,610 |
| Georgia | $32,990 | $52,030 | $83,500 |
| North Carolina | $38,970 | $58,210 | $79,720 |
| Michigan | $42,150 | $60,830 | $82,750 |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 138,900 jobs in 2025 to 153,200 in 2035 (10% change).
- About 12,500 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become a licensed clinical social worker
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.5%
- High school diploma or equivalent3%
- Some college, no degree5.9%
- Associate's degree3%
- Bachelor's degree14%
- Master's degree69.7%
- Doctoral or professional degree4%
Related training programs
- Clinical/Medical Social Work
- Social Work
- Social Work, Other
What does a licensed clinical social worker do?
Common tasks
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
- Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
Most important skills
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker certifications
8 of 35 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- The Breining Institute · Advanced
- International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization · Advanced
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) · Advanced
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) · Specialty
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) · Advanced
- National Association of Social Workers · Advanced
- NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals · Advanced
- Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)National Association of Social Workers · Advanced
See all 35certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Licensed Clinical Social Worker jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more social work jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Social Work jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Mental Health Counselors
- Social Worker
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Clinical Psychologist
- Child and Family Social Worker
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatrist
- Clinical Neuropsychologists
More social work careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.