Disciplines / LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
LCSWs provide diagnosis and psychotherapy across community mental health, integrated care, schools and private outpatient settings.
- Advertised pay
- $62k – $95k
- Credential
- State clinical licensure (LCSW, LICSW, LISW depending on state)
- Live roles
- None open today
What is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and what does the role pay?
What the role does
- Complete biopsychosocial assessments and diagnose
- Deliver individual, family and group psychotherapy
- Coordinate care and connect clients to community resources
- Manage crisis and safety planning
- Supervise associate-level clinicians
Credential and route in
State clinical licensure (LCSW, LICSW, LISW depending on state) · State social work boards; ASWB examinations
- 1MSW from a CSWE-accredited program
- 2Post-graduate supervised clinical hours (typically 2 to 3 years)
- 3Pass the ASWB Clinical examination
- 4State licensure and continuing education
Advertised pay
| Career stage | Advertised pay | What typically sits behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $62k | Newly credentialed, supervised caseload |
| Mid-career | $78k | Full caseload, independent, some supervision of others |
| Senior | $95k | Lead or multi-site scope, clinical quality ownership |
Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026. For federal wage and outlook data, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation page.
Full LCSW salary guideWhere LCSWs work
Community mental health · Integrated primary care · Hospitals · Schools · Substance use treatment · Telehealth
Specialties
- Community mental healthMedicaid-funded outpatient and community programs delivering therapy, prescribing, case management and crisis services.
- Substance use treatmentDetox, residential, IOP, outpatient and MAT programs across the full continuum of addiction care.
- School-based servicesDistrict-employed and contract services across special education: evaluations, IEP-aligned therapy, behavior support and school mental health.
- Inpatient and residentialPsychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers and PHP programs treating high-acuity mental health presentations.
- Telehealth and virtual careRemote therapy, teletherapy, telepsychiatry and remote supervision across state lines, delivered by platforms and traditional providers alike.
Demand right now
Broad and persistent. Community mental health and substance use providers compete directly with telehealth platforms for the same licensed pool.
Hiring LCSWs?
Productivity expectation, caseload mix and whether supervision toward licensure is offered decide these searches more than base salary.
Submit a roleLive LCSW roles
No live LCSW roles today. Join the talent network and we will contact you when one opens in your state.
Join the talent networkQuestions we get asked
- Will an employer supervise me toward clinical licensure?
- Many will, and it is worth real money. Ask whether supervision is free, in-house, weekly and documented; that is the difference between two and four years to licensure.
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