Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist) salary, United States
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The median annual wage for Child, Family, and School Social Workers (the closest BLS occupation to Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist)) in the United States was $59,550 in BLS OEWS May 2025, and the middle half of workers earned between $48,270 and $76,070.
What does the published band tell you about a LCSW offer?
The published annual P25 to P75 band for LCSW in the United States is $48,270 to $76,070. That LCSW band spans $27,800 in the United States; it is a spread of reported wages, not a suggested offer. For this LCSW opening, compare regular pay with the duties you need covered in the United States. Neither end of the LCSW band labels a worker's experience or promises what a candidate will accept.
How does LCSW pay in the United States compare with the nation?
BLS reports $59,550 as the annual median for SOC 21-1021, Child, Family, and School Social Workers, in the United States. LCSW in the United States has a annual median $0 away from the national median of $59,550. LCSW may cover different duties within that published occupation. We ask what this LCSW must handle before you use the the United States median in an offer.
What does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA add to this LCSW comparison?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports $71,250 for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in BLS OEWS May 2025. The LCSW median gap between the United States and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is
What does New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ add to this LCSW comparison?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $66,540 for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in BLS OEWS May 2025. The LCSW median gap between the United States and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $6,990 on this annual basis. A LCSW candidate moving between these markets still has to weigh the work and schedule. For LCSW in the United States, this the United States comparison does not measure living costs, commuting distance or relocation expense.
Which published industries help you read LCSW pay?
For LCSW, Home Health Care Services, NAICS 621600, reports a national median of $78,990. For LCSW, Offices of Dentists, NAICS 621200, reports a national median of $70,720. These Child, Family, and School Social Workers estimates are national, not industry pay rates for the United States. Top-coded industry medians are not placed in this numeric LCSW ranking. Use the LCSW setting and duties to decide whether that industry comparison belongs in your brief.
What changed between releases for LCSW in the United States?
LCSW in the United States had a annual median of $58,570 in BLS OEWS May 2024. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median for the same LCSW mapping is $59,550. Subtracting those two the United States medians gives $980 more in reported pay. That LCSW comparison is not a forecast, an inflation adjustment or a promised raise.
What belongs beside base pay in your LCSW offer?
LCSW wages in the United States include base rates and guaranteed or production pay under the BLS definition. Price the LCSW shift separately when you discuss differentials or extra cover. For this LCSW brief, overtime, shift differentials and on-call pay sit outside the OEWS wage. A non-production sign-on payment for LCSW is also outside that the United States figure. We discuss those LCSW terms without inventing an amount to add.
What else should you ask about this pay table?
LCSW maps to SOC 21-1021, Child, Family, and School Social Workers. The the United States annual median is $59,550. For LCSW in the United States, this is a broader occupation, not a separate survey of this exact title.
Does the United States publish a separate wage for LCSW?
LCSW maps to SOC 21-1021, Child, Family, and School Social Workers. The the United States annual median is $59,550. For LCSW in the United States, this is a broader occupation, not a separate survey of this exact title.
Where should you place a LCSW offer inside the the United States band?
The published annual P25 to P75 band for LCSW in the United States is $48,270 to $76,070. That LCSW band spans $27,800 in the United States; it is a spread of reported wages, not a suggested offer. For LCSW in the United States, we do not assign a percentile between the published points or call a point an experience level.
Can the LCSW figure in the United States stand in for the whole package?
LCSW pay in this the United States table is not total compensation. For LCSW in the United States, shift differential, on-call pay and non-production sign-on payments are excluded by the OEWS definition. For LCSW in the United States, write those terms separately before comparing offers.
Which markets can you compare with the United States for LCSW?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have published rows for Child, Family, and School Social Workers. For LCSW in the United States, they are employment-based comparison markets, not a claim about nearest locations. Each linked LCSW table names its own area and SOC.
Is the LCSW change in the United States a forecast?
LCSW in the United States had a annual median of $58,570 in BLS OEWS May 2024. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median for the same LCSW mapping is $59,550. Subtracting those two the United States medians gives $980 more in reported pay. That LCSW comparison is not a forecast, an inflation adjustment or a promised raise.
The LCSW national comparison markets use published employment, not geographic proximity. Read the geography and wage definitions.
BLS occupation: Child, Family, and School Social Workers.
BLS reports Child, Family, and School Social Workers as one occupation. It does not publish a separate estimate for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist), its setting or its engagement terms.
What does this occupation pay nationally?
BLS publishes five national pay points for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, SOC 21-1021, in BLS OEWS May 2025: the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles. The range bar and table below show each published point. Percentiles describe the spread of pay across workers, not experience levels.
- P10 to P90 published range
- P25 to P75 middle range
- P50 median
| Point | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,280 |
| 25th percentile | $48,270 |
| Median | $59,550 |
| 75th percentile | $76,070 |
| 90th percentile | $95,530 |
| Mean (average) | $64,000 |
For Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the United States, BLS reports a median of $59,550; the middle half of workers earned between $48,270 and $76,070 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
- P10 to P90 published range
- P25 to P75 middle range
- P50 median
| Point | Hourly wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $20.33 |
| 25th percentile | $23.21 |
| Median | $28.63 |
| 75th percentile | $36.57 |
| 90th percentile | $45.93 |
| Mean (average) | $30.77 |
For Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the United States, BLS reports a median of $28.63; the middle half of workers earned between $23.21 and $36.57 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What BLS wages include and exclude
Included
- Base rates
- Commissions
- Cost-of-living allowances
- Deadheading pay
- Guaranteed pay
- Hazard pay
- Incentive pay
- Longevity pay
- Over-the-road pay (Mileage)
- Piece rates
- Portal-to-portal rates
- Production bonuses
- Tips
Excluded
- Attendance bonuses
- Back pay
- Clothing allowances
- Discount
- Draw
- Holiday bonus
- Holiday premium pay
- Jury duty pay
- Meal and lodging payments
- Merchandise discounts
- Non-production bonuses
- On-call pay
- Overtime pay
- Perquisites
- Profit-sharing payments
- Relocation allowances
- Severance pay
- Shift differentials
- Stock bonuses
- Tool/equipment allowances
- Tuition repayment
- Uniform allowance
- Weekend premium pay
- Year-end bonuses
Employment: 392,550 jobs nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. SOC 21-1021 Child, Family, and School Social Workers, United States. BLS page for this occupation. CSV
How has published pay changed since the last BLS release?
These are separate BLS estimates, not a wage growth forecast. Survey coverage and area boundaries can change. The table places the published median for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in United States from BLS OEWS May 2024 next to BLS OEWS May 2025. A top-coded value is a floor, not an exact median.
| Pay basis | BLS OEWS May 2024 | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| annual | $58,570 | $59,550 |
| hourly | $28.16 | $28.63 |
Prior release: 2024-05, published 2025-04-02. Current release: 2025-05, published 2026-05-15. A top-coded value is a floor, not an exact median.
What does this pay include, and what does it leave out?
OEWS counts base rates, guaranteed pay and production incentives. It describes pay reported for employees, not an offer for this vacancy. Benefits and self-employed earnings are outside these wage estimates. Compare the regular pay for the duties you need covered.
A BLS occupation can include different settings, shifts and levels; it does not price your exact schedule.
Overtime, shift differentials and on-call pay are excluded. If this job has a call rota or extra shifts, spell out those payments rather than treating the BLS median as the whole package.
Meal and lodging payments and relocation allowances are excluded. A travel per diem for those costs is not part of this wage. Keep it separate from the pay comparison.
Non-production bonuses are excluded. A sign-on or retention payment that is not tied to production should be discussed separately. BLS does not publish an amount to add for that payment.
BLS pay definitions. These notes do not add an estimated bonus or premium.
Which metro areas publish pay for this occupation?
This table lists every metro area where BLS published a median for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in BLS OEWS May 2025. Each row shows the median, the middle half of pay from the 25th to the 75th percentile, employment and the location quotient. Metros without a published median are left out rather than estimated.
| Metro area | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,420 | $62,150 to $97,860 | 7,070 | 1.04 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,550 | $59,480 to $97,080 | 6,490 | 0.82 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,280 | $60,800 to $88,090 | 5,540 | 1.05 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,020 | $58,760 to $102,660 | 5,840 | 0.97 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $71,250 | $50,430 to $97,760 | 26,220 | 1.66 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $70,900 | $52,180 to $89,070 | 3,520 | 1.95 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $70,530 | $56,560 to $84,410 | 4,150 | 0.84 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $67,560 | $56,800 to $90,660 | 4,240 | 1.04 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,910 | $56,120 to $80,130 | 4,330 | 1.42 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $66,540 | $58,790 to $89,450 | 24,350 | 1.02 |
| Northern New Jersey market: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Shared metro, not New Jersey-only. | $66,540 | $58,790 to $89,450 | 24,350 | 1.02 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,790 | $53,950 to $82,640 | 13,550 | 1.19 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,270 | $50,560 to $74,490 | 3,550 | 1.30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $63,230 | $50,970 to $77,350 | 5,810 | 1.34 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $62,700 | $51,210 to $75,840 | 1,460 | 0.78 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,770 | $50,010 to $76,700 | 3,820 | 0.98 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $59,710 | $48,450 to $64,180 | 4,460 | 0.63 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,270 | $47,800 to $74,270 | 6,540 | 1.36 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,540 | $49,690 to $74,140 | 2,160 | 0.59 |
| Columbus, OH | $58,460 | $48,870 to $60,980 | 3,200 | 1.15 |
| Cleveland, OH | $57,860 | $48,300 to $73,160 | 3,840 | 1.47 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $57,080 | $48,110 to $64,670 | 4,480 | 0.44 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $56,930 | $48,410 to $60,420 | 1,460 | 0.41 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $56,670 | $48,790 to $64,240 | 4,080 | 0.49 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $55,930 | $47,250 to $73,500 | 6,850 | 0.94 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $51,080 | $47,020 to $61,000 | 3,790 | 1.12 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $50,150 | $46,660 to $57,540 | 5,060 | 0.84 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $49,800 | $44,570 to $63,710 | 3,120 | 1.11 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $49,720 | $42,930 to $62,790 | 3,990 | 0.55 |
How do you find pay for a state or nonmetro area?
Choose a state, metro or nonmetropolitan area below to open the published figures for Child, Family, and School Social Workers. If BLS did not publish a median, the guide shows the state or national estimate with a clear fallback label. It does not create a salary page for that missing combination. Every area page names its source row.
Does this pay differ by healthcare industry?
National industry estimates for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, SOC 21-1021. Industry names are the names published by BLS. These are not local industry wages. Each row uses the pay basis BLS published for that industry, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with employment. Cells BLS did not publish stay blank rather than estimated.
| Industry / NAICS | Basis | P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | annual | $45,830 | $49,450 | $56,090 | $69,090 | $85,480 | 770 |
| Offices of Dentists NAICS 621200 | annual | $64,620 | $67,080 | $70,720 | $82,600 | $82,600 | Not published by BLS |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | annual | $41,350 | $44,210 | $46,180 | $62,210 | $79,280 | 6,880 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | annual | $41,660 | $46,750 | $57,230 | $69,420 | $79,410 | 5,810 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | annual | $49,560 | $63,860 | $78,990 | $84,380 | $91,840 | 1,640 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services NAICS 621900 | annual | $51,740 | $51,760 | $61,770 | $65,090 | $77,480 | 330 |
| Hospitals NAICS 622000 | annual | $46,700 | $54,110 | $64,450 | $79,840 | $99,570 | 4,470 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities NAICS 623000 | annual | $36,970 | $43,490 | $49,040 | $58,820 | $69,570 | 15,900 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | annual | $39,310 | $48,970 | $61,660 | $69,570 | $83,860 | 430 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities NAICS 623200 | annual | $37,120 | $43,680 | $49,660 | $62,590 | $77,510 | 4,990 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly NAICS 623300 | annual | $34,960 | $43,950 | $48,730 | $55,010 | $67,370 | 360 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. National industry-specific estimates. A value marked “or more” is top-coded.
Where is published pay highest and lowest for this occupation?
Highest and lowest published numeric medians for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, SOC 21-1021. Top-coded medians cannot be ranked exactly and are not placed in this list. The table shows up to ten metros at each end, with employment and location quotient. Location quotient describes employment concentration, not pay. A metro missing here may still publish a capped value.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $87,600 | 2,120 | 0.74 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $81,830 | 450 | 1.40 |
| Salisbury, MD | $81,520 | 120 | 0.87 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $80,450 | 130 | 1.21 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $80,430 | 580 | 1.75 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $79,920 | 2,200 | 1.45 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $78,970 | 1,140 | 1.12 |
| New Haven, CT | $78,970 | 810 | 1.15 |
| Greeley, CO | $78,530 | 280 | 0.93 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $78,270 | 130 | 1.04 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $43,740 | 60 | 0.42 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $42,990 | 170 | 0.71 |
| Altoona, PA | $42,590 | 140 | 0.97 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $42,310 | 40 | 0.41 |
| Monroe, LA | $42,290 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $42,160 | 70 | 0.18 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $40,580 | 1,560 | 3.92 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $40,580 | 2,600 | 1.49 |
| Lafayette, LA | $36,340 | 40 | 0.09 |
| Alexandria, LA | $35,260 | 40 | 0.28 |
How does this pay compare with all wages in each metro?
We divide this occupation's median by the all-occupations median for the same area and pay basis. This is simple arithmetic on BLS rows. It is not a cost-of-living adjustment or a percentile. Location quotient is shown separately. A ratio above one means this occupation's median is higher than the area's all-occupations median.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Median ratio | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guayama, PR | $53,100 | $25,260 | 2.10 times | 1.79 |
| Arecibo, PR | $53,280 | $26,120 | 2.04 times | 1.14 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $53,750 | $26,480 | 2.03 times | 1.08 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $51,170 | $25,270 | 2.02 times | 1.11 |
| Ponce, PR | $53,440 | $26,940 | 1.98 times | 1.29 |
| Salisbury, MD | $81,520 | $48,710 | 1.67 times | 0.87 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $66,520 | $40,230 | 1.65 times | 1.32 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $58,040 | $35,830 | 1.62 times | 0.80 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $78,270 | $48,470 | 1.61 times | 1.04 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $65,810 | $41,360 | 1.59 times | 0.55 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OEWS May 2025. SOC 21-1021 Child, Family, and School Social Workers, metropolitan areas listed above. BLS page for this occupation. CSV
What do we see when recruiting for this role?
Read the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist) brief alongside the occupation mapping. Required credentials, current duties and the work setting can differ within Child, Family, and School Social Workers. A BLS wage is a description of surveyed workers, not an offer recommendation. This is a qualitative view from our search work, not BLS data.
Compare the actual responsibilities and the candidate's preferences before changing the brief.
What is the median pay for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
$59,550 nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025). 50% of workers in this occupation earned less than this and 50% earned more. The median covers every setting BLS surveyed, so it is a midpoint of reported pay, not an offer benchmark for your vacancy. Read the mapping note and the percentile range before you set pay.
How much do the best-paid workers earn?
10% of workers in this occupation earned more than $95,530, and 10% earned less than $42,280.
Is this the pay for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist) exactly?
No. BLS reports Child, Family, and School Social Workers as one occupation. It does not publish a separate estimate for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist), its setting or its engagement terms. Treat these figures as the closest published evidence, not an exact-title benchmark.
What is the hourly equivalent?
The BLS median hourly wage is $28.63. BLS converts hourly to annual with 2,080 hours a year, so the annual median is $59,550.
Where is the median highest?
Among the metro areas listed on this page, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest published median at $87,600.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimates 392,550 jobs nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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