Best cities for a clinical social worker
The best cities for clinical social workers are Oakland, CA, Stockton, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for clinical social workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for clinical social workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a clinical social worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for clinical social workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for clinical social workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a clinical social worker. While the absolute best city for clinical social workers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for clinical social workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a clinical social worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for clinical social workers in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Clinical social worker jobs in OaklandTotal clinical social worker jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $90,126 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 1.50 2. Stockton, CA
Clinical social worker jobs in StocktonTotal clinical social worker jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $89,407 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 4.11 3. Fresno, CA
Clinical social worker jobs in FresnoTotal clinical social worker jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $87,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 1.78 4. Reno, NV
Clinical social worker jobs in RenoTotal clinical social worker jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $71,560 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 1.36 5. Portland, OR
Clinical social worker jobs in PortlandTotal clinical social worker jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $80,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.78 6. Anchorage, AK
Clinical social worker jobs in AnchorageTotal clinical social worker jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $79,157 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 1.04 7. Bakersfield, CA
Clinical social worker jobs in BakersfieldTotal clinical social worker jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $84,984 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 1.24 8. Sacramento, CA
Clinical social worker jobs in SacramentoTotal clinical social worker jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $89,583 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.97 9. Long Beach, CA
Clinical social worker jobs in Long BeachTotal clinical social worker jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $81,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 1.48 10. Newark, NJ
Clinical social worker jobs in NewarkTotal clinical social worker jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $77,782 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 0.75
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Best cities for clinical social workers
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Reno, NV
- Portland, OR
- Anchorage, AK
- Bakersfield, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Newark, NJ
- (46 clinical social worker jobs)
- (47 clinical social worker jobs)
- (32 clinical social worker jobs)
- (33 clinical social worker jobs)
- (86 clinical social worker jobs)
- (17 clinical social worker jobs)
- (18 clinical social worker jobs)
- (65 clinical social worker jobs)
- (29 clinical social worker jobs)
- (28 clinical social worker jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a clinical social worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $90,126 | $63,000 | 420,005 | 46 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $89,407 | $62,000 | 307,072 | 47 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $87,746 | $60,000 | 522,053 | 32 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $71,560 | $51,000 | 245,255 | 33 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $80,876 | $61,000 | 639,863 | 86 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $79,157 | $71,000 | 298,192 | 17 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $84,984 | $57,000 | 376,380 | 18 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $89,583 | $63,000 | 495,234 | 65 |
| 9 | Long Beach, CA | $81,068 | $54,000 | 470,130 | 29 |
| 10 | Newark, NJ | $77,782 | $52,000 | 281,764 | 28 |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $80,769 | $53,000 | 334,217 | 18 |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $80,756 | $53,000 | 324,722 | 21 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,774 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 202 |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $80,977 | $54,000 | 351,043 | 12 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,650 | $47,000 | 1,567,872 | 63 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,483 | $44,000 | 632,912 | 47 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $65,253 | $43,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 18 | Brookhaven, NY | $64,251 | $43,000 | 486,040 | 1 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $78,861 | $52,000 | 1,406,630 | 141 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,147 | $47,000 | 855,164 | 41 |
| 21 | Albuquerque, NM | $64,181 | $41,000 | 559,277 | 27 |
| 22 | Cleveland, OH | $72,500 | $50,000 | 385,809 | 11 |
| 23 | Hempstead, NY | $64,138 | $43,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $72,160 | $50,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 25 | Irvine, CA | $80,581 | $53,000 | 266,122 | 34 |
| 26 | Chula Vista, CA | $78,572 | $51,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 27 | Baltimore, MD | $64,481 | $42,000 | 614,664 | 129 |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,286 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 22 |
| 29 | Aurora, CO | $60,117 | $42,000 | 361,710 | 54 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $64,569 | $45,000 | 673,184 | 144 |
| 31 | Colorado Springs, CO | $59,929 | $41,000 | 465,101 | 82 |
| 32 | Columbus, OH | $70,827 | $47,000 | 860,090 | 24 |
| 33 | San Jose, CA | $89,872 | $62,000 | 1,025,350 | 48 |
| 34 | Jersey City, NJ | $77,767 | $52,000 | 264,152 | 26 |
| 35 | Cincinnati, OH | $69,447 | $45,000 | 298,800 | 14 |
| 36 | Gilbert, AZ | $59,309 | $38,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $72,535 | $50,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $59,210 | $43,000 | 252,551 | 19 |
| 39 | Seattle, WA | $73,984 | $58,000 | 704,352 | 66 |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $59,795 | $38,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $57,159 | $35,000 | 530,706 | 18 |
| 42 | Chesapeake, VA | $51,370 | $29,000 | 237,940 | 13 |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $55,578 | $35,000 | 597,337 | 19 |
| 44 | El Paso, TX | $52,886 | $32,000 | 683,080 | 13 |
| 45 | Denver, CO | $60,145 | $42,000 | 693,060 | 153 |
| 46 | Greensboro, NC | $51,913 | $30,000 | 287,027 | 16 |
| 47 | Wichita, KS | $56,610 | $37,000 | 389,902 | 9 |
| 48 | Virginia Beach, VA | $51,617 | $30,000 | 452,602 | 26 |
| 49 | Saint Louis, MO | $55,103 | $36,000 | 311,404 | 56 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,079 | $32,000 | 638,367 | 37 |
Highest paying cities for clinical social workers
| Rank | City | Avg. clinical social worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $90,357 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $83,409 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $81,195 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $77,341 |
| 5 | Toms River, NJ | $77,235 |
| 6 | Vancouver, WA | $74,533 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,650 |
| 8 | Richmond, IN | $71,408 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $69,953 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,483 |
| 11 | Worcester, MA | $64,938 |
| 12 | Syracuse, NY | $64,713 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $64,481 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $61,875 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $60,742 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $60,145 |
| 17 | Portland, ME | $55,627 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $55,103 |
| 19 | Richmond, KY | $54,921 |
| 20 | Charlottesville, VA | $53,747 |
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Updated January 8, 2025