Inpatient Medical Social Worker - Full Time - 10-hour shifts
Listed compensation
$56.68-$76.51/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Salary Range: $56.68 - $76.51 + applicable differentials
The medical social worker is responsible for working in a team structure with the RN Case Manager in order to effect overall care coordination with the emphasis on psychosocial assessment and intervention, complex discharge planning, knowledge of community resources, appropriate documentation in the medical record and networking and collaborating with other hospital disciplines and community agencies.
The social worker assists the patient, family/guardian, and all members of the healthcare team in the transition of care/complex discharge planning process.
Social worker is accountable for assessments and intervening with patients and family, by applying critical thinking skills to monitor psychosocial status and issues that impact the clinical progression and transition/discharge planning for the patients, coping and decision making.
Demonstrates positive communication and interpersonal skills with patients, families and coworkers and participates in patient and family conferences as needed.
The social worker may be called on to manage behavioral emergencies beginning in the Emergency Department and continuing through the continuum of care as a back up to the ED social worker.
- Masters in Social Work required
- California LCSW preferred
- Three to five years of work experience in a health care setting
- Acute hospital experience preferred
- Knowledge of post-acute care community resources and referrals
- Medical terminology
- Basic computer skills required
- Demonstrates effective interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrates flexibility via an ability to adapt to changing priorities
- Demonstrates good customer relations
- Ability to prioritize assignments and effective time-management skills
- Basic knowledge of clinical and psychosocial aspects of patient care
- Must be detail oriented, flexible, and committed to patient advocacy
- Demonstrates skills in planning, organizing and managing multiple functions and complex processes
Key Responsibilities
The medical social worker collaborates with the RN Case Manager to provide psychosocial assessments, complex discharge planning, and care coordination. They also support patients and families through transitions of care and manage behavioral emergencies within the hospital continuum.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work and have three to five years of healthcare experience. Acute hospital experience and a California LCSW license are preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Social Worker Career Context
Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 52% are remote, 26% have no call, 64% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$139k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $125k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $118k–$159k | Social Work median $70k (middle half $64k–$76k)41 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$125k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Social Work listings in California | 724 active | 6,588 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 52% remote · 26% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California social worker listings (all specialties): 8% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment771 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Social Work listings | 2,537 in the last 30 days | 1,436 the 30 days before (+77%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
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