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Clinical Social Worker Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) GA: MSW must be supervised by LCSW up to obtaining LMSW IL: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) NJ: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OH: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) TX: ...

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Clinical Social Worker information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$45.9K

$98.2K

$165.9K

How much do clinical social worker jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for clinical social worker in Riverside, CA is $98,232.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,100.00 and $116,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a clinical social worker?

To thrive as a Clinical Social Worker, you need a thorough understanding of mental health assessment, therapeutic interventions, and case management, typically supported by a Master's in Social Work (MSW) and state licensure (LCSW). Familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs), DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based therapy models like CBT is common in this role. Strong communication, active listening, and empathy are crucial for building trust and supporting clients through challenging situations. These skills and qualifications are vital for providing effective mental health care, ensuring client well-being, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.

What is a clinical social worker?

Clinical social workers are licensed professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat mental health and emotional issues. They provide therapy and counseling to individuals, families, and groups, often in settings such as hospitals, clinics, or private practices. Clinical social workers also help clients access community resources and support systems, and they may collaborate with other healthcare providers to coordinate care. Their training emphasizes both psychological and social factors that impact a person's well-being.

What are some common challenges clinical social workers face when supporting patients in a healthcare setting?

Clinical Social Workers in healthcare settings often encounter challenges such as managing high caseloads, navigating complex family dynamics, and addressing patients' emotional needs alongside medical concerns. They must also coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams, which requires strong communication and advocacy skills. Additionally, handling emotionally charged situations and supporting patients through crisis or end-of-life care can be emotionally demanding, making self-care and supervision vital for long-term success in the role.

What is a clinical social worker?

Clinical social workers are health care professionals who assist patients with serious issues like mental illness, addiction, or abuse by providing therapy in a clinical environment. They often work with a patient’s doctor to develop a treatment plan. A professional clinical social worker will have a master’s degree in social work, and many will have a specialty practice, such as therapy for mental development or specializing in counseling with children. Clinical social workers must be licensed by their state to offer health services.

What do clinical social workers actually do?

Clinical social workers assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral issues through counseling and therapy. They often work in healthcare settings, providing support for individuals, families, or groups, and may coordinate care with other professionals. Licensing and strong communication skills are essential for this role.

What jobs can a clinical social worker get?

A clinical social worker can work in various settings such as hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and private practices, providing therapy, counseling, and case management. They often hold positions like mental health counselor, school social worker, substance abuse counselor, or clinical supervisor, and may require licensure or certification depending on the role and location.

What is the difference between Clinical Social Worker vs Licensed Professional Counselor?

AspectClinical Social WorkerLicensed Professional Counselor
CredentialsMaster's in Social Work (MSW), LICSW or LCSW licenseMaster's in Counseling or Psychology, LPC license
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, mental health agencies, schoolsPrivate practice, mental health clinics, schools
Industry UsageWidely used in healthcare and social servicesCommon in mental health counseling and therapy

Both Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Professional Counselors hold master's degrees and licenses, work in mental health settings, and serve similar client needs. The main difference lies in their training focus: social workers emphasize social systems and community resources, while counselors focus more on individual therapy. Understanding these distinctions can help clients choose the right mental health professional for their needs.

What are the most commonly searched types of Clinical Social Worker jobs in Riverside, CA? The most popular types of Clinical Social Worker jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What job categories do people searching Clinical Social Worker jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Clinical Social Worker jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Clinical Social Worker jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Clinical Social Worker job openings:
Infographic showing various Clinical Social Worker job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 2% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 81% In-person, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,232 per year, or $47.2 per hour.

$7.1K - $10K/mo

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

Patton State Hospital, Human Resources Department, is accepting applications for at least one (1) Permanent, Full Time Clinical Social Worker in the Social Work Services Department.
As part of the Interdisciplinary Team, Clinical Social Workers are responsible for providing Individual and Group Therapy; family services; preparing evaluations, referrals, and reports for patients; providing liaison services to family, significant others and community agencies as well as discharge planning services.
The successful candidate will have knowledge of principles and techniques related to Clinical Social Work with particular reference to Psychiatric and Forensic Social Work; demonstrate knowledge of recovery principles, possess excellent organization and communication skills.
Desirable Qualifications:
  • Experience managing complex tasks and effective time management skills.
  • Experience tracking and organizing data.
  • Experience working with high-risk patients with severe mental illnesses.
  • Application completed correctly, displays attention to detail.
  • Education in field and the ability to work independently.
  • Problem solving and communications skills.
  • Knowledge of Social Work theories and interventions.

REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must possess completion of a Master's degree in Social Work program from an accredited school of social work and must be registered with California Board of Behavioral Science (BBS) as either ACSW or LCSW.
In order to gain list eligibility and be appointed to the Clinical Social Worker (Safety) classification, please follow the link below to take the exam:
Clinical Social Worker Exam Bulletin
Please review the Duty Statement for a detailed description of the duties or you may contact Anthony Ortega, Chief of Social Work Service at (909) 672-1813 with any questions. All qualified and interested applicants should submit their application to the Human Resources - Employment Unit . Applications will be reviewed on the 1st and 15th of each month.
All applicants may be pre-screened for breadth and depth of experience. Only the most qualified applicants may be interviewed based on screening criteria. For this reason, it is especially important that applicants take special care in thoroughly and accurately completing the application.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Working Conditions
Patton is a forensic psychiatric hospital and was established in 1890 and opened in 1893. DSH-Patton provides treatment to forensically and civilly committed patients within a secure treatment area. The hospital does not accept voluntary admissions.
Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
  • CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER (HEALTH/CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) - SAFETY
Additional Documents
  • Job Application Package Checklist
  • Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-519994
Position #(s):
502-081-9872-XXX
Working Title:
Clinical Social Worker
Classification:
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER (HEALTH/CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) - SAFETY $7,142.00 - $9,387.00 U
$7,684.00 - $10,066.00 V
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
San Bernardino County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
Department of State Hospitals - Patton
Department Information
DSH - Patton
3102 E. Highland Avenue
Patton, CA 92369
http://www.dsh.ca.gov
Department Website: https://www.dsh.ca.gov/Patton
Special Requirements
  • The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) a(n) registration with BBS as ACSW or LCSW License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Examination/ Employment Application (STD. 678) including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYY). Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.
A completed STD. 678 and any other relevant documents (e.g., unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers account. Please reference Job Control # 519994 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e., social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.
Complete Application Packages (including your STD. 678 and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov . Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.
Unless there is a specific request to be notified via USPS mail, our main contact will be via email. Email correspondence regarding this job posting will primarily come from PattonHREmploymentUnit@dsh.ca.gov . It is the applicant's responsibility to check their email inbox, including junk/spam emails for any correspondence regarding their application status. In addition, applicants are encouraged to keep their CalCareers profile updated with a current telephone number, mailing address, and email.
***Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: DSH Recruitment Survey
Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of State Hospitals - Patton
N/A
Attn: Human Resources Employment Unit
Exam/Hiring Unit
3102 E. Highland Ave
Patton , CA 92369
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of State Hospitals
Department of State Hospitals - Patton
Human Resources Employment Unit
3102 East Highland Avenue
Patton , CA 92369
HR is closed on weekends and holidays
07:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Desirable Qualifications:
  • Experience managing complex tasks and effective time management skills.
  • Experience tracking and organizing data.
  • Experience working with high-risk patients with severe mental illnesses.
  • Application completed correctly, displays attention to detail.
  • Education in field and the ability to work independently.
  • Problem solving and communications skills.
  • Knowledge of Social Work theories and interventions.

Benefits
Please review the Benefits Summary that may also be found on the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website. You will find information on the benefits afforded by membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), benefits and protections provided to public employees by the State Civil Service Act, and salary ranges and a summary of the Clinical Social Worker classification.
Contact Information
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website: https://www.dsh.ca.gov/Patton
Human Resources Contact:
HR - Employment Unit
(909) 742-5550
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
Rachel Guerrero
(909) 742-5243
rachel.guerrero@dsh.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.