Travel LCSW Jobs
Licensed Clinical Social Worker travel contracts at VA medical centers, hospital behavioral health units, and community mental health. LCSW has no compact — but the right multi-state license strategy unlocks the highest-paying markets.
Quick Answer
Travel LCSWs average $2,456/week across our open contracts in 2026, reaching $3,453 at the top — the highest-paying behavioral health credential we staff, and well above travel psychiatric RN at $1,811. School-based LCSW contracts sit at the upper end. Unlike RNs, LCSWs have no compact license — every state requires a separate endorsement, which takes 4–12 weeks. Our open LCSW contracts are concentrated in California, so that is the endorsement to get first; add states as demand grows.
| Setting | Weekly Pay | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Highest demand, most consistent; PSLF-eligible | |
| Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High acuity; crisis stabilization focus | |
| Hospital Behavioral Health Unit | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Acute care setting; discharge planning | |
| Corrections / Forensic | ⭐⭐⭐ | Premium pay; security clearance required | |
| FQHC / Community MH Center | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | NHSC loan repayment available; PSLF-eligible | |
| School-Based / Telehealth | ⭐⭐⭐ | Flexible; lower acuity; emerging demand |
11 open now — apply right here, it takes about a minute.
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcora (SATF)
Corcoran, CA
$3,453/wk
26 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP)
Ione, CA
$3,422/wk
27 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
High Desert State Prison (HDSP)
Susanville, CA
$2,782/wk
28 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation
Tuba City, AZ
$2,778/wk
13 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP)
Delano, CA
$2,773/wk
27 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Good Samaritan Hospital - Regional Medical Center of San Jose
San Jose, CA
$2,704/wk
13 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Providence-Mission Hospital Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo, CA
$2,635/wk
13 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Providence Portland Home Care East
Portland, OR
$2,479/wk
13 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
Providence Portland Home Care East
Portland, OR
$2,252/wk
13 weeks · 8hr Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQ)
San Quentin, CA
$1,521/wk
22 weeks · 10hrs Days
Healthcare Travel Assignment
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQ)
San Quentin, CA
$1,281/wk
13 weeks · 10hrs Days
No LCSW Compact in Effect — Every State = Separate Endorsement
Unlike RNs (who have a 41-state compact), LCSWs must obtain a separate state license for every state where they practice. A pilot LCSW Compact was introduced in 2024 and select states have passed enabling legislation, but it is not operationally active as of 2026. Most travel LCSWs hold 3–5 state licenses and plan their assignments around markets where they are already licensed.
| State | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4–6 weeks | Fastest endorsement; no compact needed in high-volume state |
| Florida | 4–6 weeks | Fast processing; large VA + hospital demand |
| New York | 8–12 weeks | Slowest major market; apply early |
| California | 6–10 weeks | Highest pay; BBS processing varies by season |
| Massachusetts | 6–8 weeks | Strong academic medical center market |
| Washington DC | 6–10 weeks | Dense VA presence; premium pay |
Apply to your next state 2–3 months before your current contract ends to avoid assignment gaps.
Tier 1 — High Pay States
Get licensed in California first — it is where our LCSW contracts actually are, averaging $2,624 and reaching $3,422, with school-based roles up to $3,453. New York is a reasonable second for market size, though we hold no open NY LCSW contracts today. Processing: CA 6–10 weeks, NY 8–12 weeks.
Tier 2 — Fast + Volume
Add Texas (4–6 weeks) and Florida (4–6 weeks) as fast-endorsement markets. Both have large VA systems and strong FQHC demand. Good backup when CA/NY assignments aren't available.
Tier 3 — Specialty Markets
Add DC (VA-dense), Massachusetts (academic medical centers), or Washington State based on where your recruiter has active contracts. Apply 10–12 weeks before your current contract ends.
Updated every 4 hours from CatSol's live inventory.
Travel LCSW — Corcoran, CA
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcora (SATF) · 26 weeks · 8hr Days
$3,453/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Ione, CA
Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP) · 27 weeks · 8hr Days
$3,422/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Susanville, CA
High Desert State Prison (HDSP) · 28 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,782/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Tuba City, AZ
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation · 13 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,778.28/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Delano, CA
Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) · 27 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,773/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — San Jose, CA
Good Samaritan Hospital - Regional Medical Center of San Jose · 13 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,704/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Mission Viejo, CA
Providence-Mission Hospital Mission Viejo · 13 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,635/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Portland, OR
Providence Portland Home Care East · 13 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,479/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — Portland, OR
Providence Portland Home Care East · 13 weeks · 8hr Days
$2,252/wk
Quick Apply →
Travel LCSW — San Quentin, CA
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQ) · 22 weeks · 10hrs Days
$1,520.8/wk
Quick Apply →
CA
8
open positions
OR
2
open positions
AZ
1
open positions
MSW from CSWE-Accredited Program
Master of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program. Required for all LCSW positions.
2 Years Post-Graduate Supervised Hours
Most states require 2 years / 3,000+ hours of supervised clinical experience after MSW. Hours are verified during licensure endorsement.
ASWB Clinical Exam (Passed)
Association of Social Work Boards Clinical Level exam. Required for LCSW in all states. Score transfers via ASWB for most endorsements.
Active LCSW License — State of Assignment
No compact — you must hold an active license in the specific state where you will work. Allow 4–12 weeks for endorsement.
Telehealth Platform Experience (Optional)
Growing VA and FQHC demand for hybrid telehealth delivery. Familiarity with VA Video Connect, Doxy.me, or Zoom for Healthcare adds contract options.
Substance Use / SUDS Experience (Optional)
Substance Use Disorder expertise opens SAMHSA-funded programs, opioid treatment clinics, and corrections settings — all with premium pay.
LCSWs at VA Medical Centers, FQHCs, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) hospitals qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) — 120 qualifying payments wipes out remaining federal student loan debt. Travel assignments at qualifying facilities count toward PSLF while you earn travel stipends. The average LCSW enters practice with $60,000–$100,000 in student loan debt — PSLF can eliminate that entirely while you're earning around $2,456/week as a travel clinician.
CatSol's behavioral health recruiters specialize in LCSW placements at VA medical centers, hospital behavioral health units, and community mental health programs. Tell us which states you're licensed in — we'll match you to the highest-paying open contract.
